How to Find an Interesting Name for Your Band

Are you looking for a memorable name for your band that's intriguing and unique? Here are some steps you can take to find one.

Steps

1. Find a random word in the dictionary and make that your band name. That's what REM did.
2. Use a pop cultural reference. A famous example is the band Veruca Salt, which took their name from the book Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.
3. Make up a name using the initials from the names of each band member. That's how N SYNC got its name.
4. Make a list of your favorite words and draw on that.
5. Pick a really cool word and spell it all wrong.
6. Take an old band, or a band that nobody likes, and use the opposite to that name.
7. Use a name that's an inside joke or has significance to you.
8. Run the name by friends before you adopt it. A name that sounds cool to you might have a different connotations for someone else.

Tips

• Avoid using names that don't apply to what you're writing about. Try to use a name that applies to your style of music. If you play death metal, a name like "Sugar Lollipops" doesn't make much sense. Unless you're trying to have a name that doesn't make sense

Warnings

• Make sure to research the name you pick to make sure it's not taken by another band.
• Don't use words in your band name that a lot of other bands have used. For example, avoid using a band name with the word 'wolf' in it since right now there are a bunch of bands from Canada that have the word 'wolf' in their name (Wolf Parade, We Are Wolves). People get sick of repetition, and you want a name that stands out.
• Try to stay away from names that are long or hard to pronounce.

From wikiHow