The Science of Memorable Names

Memory doesn't care about meaning. It cares about patterns. The sounds in "TikTok" are more memorable than "ShortVideoApp" because our brains evolved to remember rhythmic patterns. Poems stick. Prose fades.

Great brand names exploit this. PayPal uses alliteration. Coca-Cola repeats sounds. Lululemon creates rhythm. These patterns work because they're easier for brains to encode and retrieve.

Alliteration: Same Starting Sounds

PayPal, Dunkin Donuts, Best Buy - alliterative names stick because the repeated sound creates a pattern. The brain processes patterns more efficiently than random sequences.

When creating alliterative domains, test pronunciation. "Perfect Products" works. "Zany Zebra" feels forced. The best alliteration sounds natural when spoken.

Repetition: Repeated Sounds or Syllables

TikTok, Lululemon, Hubspot - repeated sounds create rhythm that aids memory. The repetition doesn't need to be exact; similar sounds work too.

This technique works especially well for invented words. If you're creating a made-up name, building in repetition increases the odds people remember it.

Unexpected Combinations

Mailchimp, Snapchat, Firefox - these names pair words that don't usually go together. The surprise creates a memory hook. Your brain notices the unusual combination.

The words should still feel connected after explanation. Mail + chimp makes sense once you see their playful email mascot. Random combinations (like "BananaMath") confuse rather than stick.

Rhythm Patterns

Names with natural rhythm match how we speak. DA-da (Uber), da-DA (Airbnb), da-da-DA (Instagram) - these stress patterns feel right when pronounced.

Read your domain name aloud. Does it have a natural rhythm? If you're stumbling over syllables, the name probably won't stick in conversation.