How to Name Your AI Startup (With .ai Domain Strategy)

AI is the hottest sector in tech. But with thousands of new AI startups launching, how do you stand out with your name?

This guide breaks down naming strategies from successful AI companies and shows you how to secure the perfect .ai domain.

How Successful AI Companies Got Their Names

OpenAI

• Style: Open + Industry (AI)
• Message: Accessibility, transparency
• Why it works: Positions against "closed" AI development

Anthropic

• Style: Scientific term
• Message: Human-centric AI
• Why it works: "Anthropic" relates to humans—fitting for AI safety

Midjourney

• Style: Abstract metaphor
• Message: Creative exploration
• Why it works: Evokes the journey of imagination

Stability AI

• Style: Quality + Industry
• Message: Reliable, dependable AI
• Why it works: Contrasts with "unstable" AI concerns

Perplexity

• Style: Single dictionary word
• Message: Curiosity, discovery
• Why it works: Captures the feeling of exploring with AI

AI Naming Patterns That Work

Pattern 1: Scientific/Cognitive Terms

Names that evoke intelligence and research:

• Anthropic (human-related)
• Cognition (thinking)
• Cohere (unity)
• Inflection (change point)
• DeepMind (deep understanding)

Best for: Research-focused AI, enterprise AI, foundational models

Pattern 2: Abstract Metaphors

Creative names that suggest capability:

• Midjourney (exploration)
• Runway (launching creativity)
• Hugging Face (friendly AI)
• Character (personality)

Best for: Creative AI, consumer-facing AI, AI tools

Pattern 3: Function + AI Indicator

Names that describe what you do:

• Copy.ai (AI copywriting)
• Jasper (AI assistant)
• Scale AI (AI data)
• Shield AI (AI defense)

Best for: Clear product-market fit, B2B AI applications

Pattern 4: Invented Words

Unique names with no prior meaning:

• Synthesia (synthesis)
• Moveworks (automation)
• Adept (skillful)
• Rasa (blank slate in Latin)

Best for: Maximum trademark protection, broad applications

The .ai Domain Advantage

Why .ai Is Perfect for AI Companies

1. Instant industry signal - yourcompany.ai tells everyone what you do
2. Better availability - Short names still available (unlike .com)
3. Premium positioning - Higher price = more serious companies
4. Memorable - Easy to remember and share

.ai Domain Pricing

Standard .ai domains are around $65/year through namemyapp.

Famous Companies Using .ai

• Stability.ai
• Character.ai
• Perplexity.ai
• Writer.ai
• Anthropic (anthropic.com but .ai would fit)

AI Naming Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Generic "AI" Prefix

❌ AIWriter, AIPhoto, AISolutions ✅ Jasper, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion

Why: Thousands of companies start with "AI"—you won't stand out.

Mistake 2: Technical Jargon

❌ NeuralTransformerLLM ✅ Anthropic, Cohere

Why: Most customers don't know (or care about) the technical details.

Mistake 3: Overpromising

❌ SuperIntelligence, GodAI, PerfectAI ✅ Names that age well without being grandiose

Why: AI moves fast—don't lock yourself into claims.

Mistake 4: Ignoring Pronunciation

❌ Xynthqai, Mnmncai ✅ Names people can say after hearing once

Why: Word of mouth matters. "Have you tried [unmemorable]?" doesn't work.

The AI Startup Naming Process

Step 1: Define Your Positioning

• Research-focused or product-focused?
• Enterprise or consumer?
• Specialist or generalist AI?
• Serious or playful?

Step 2: Choose Your Naming Style

Based on positioning:

• Research = Scientific terms
• Consumer = Abstract/friendly
• B2B = Function + clarity
• Platform = Invented words

Step 3: Generate Candidates

Use namemyapp to generate names with available domains. Filter for:

• .ai availability (ideal for AI companies)
• .io availability (tech alternative)
• .com availability (maximum trust)

Step 4: Validate

• Trademark search (USPTO.gov)
• Pronunciation test
• Global meaning check
• Social handle availability

Step 5: Secure Everything

Once you decide:

• Buy the domain immediately
• Register key social handles
• Consider trademark filing

Should You Use .ai or .com?

Choose .ai if:

• AI is central to your identity
• You want to signal industry immediately
• Short .com isn't available
• You're targeting tech-savvy users

Choose .com if:

• You're targeting non-technical users
• You plan to expand beyond AI
• You can get a short, memorable .com
• Maximum trust is essential (enterprise)

The Best of Both Worlds

Many companies own both and use .ai as primary:

• Primary: yourcompany.ai
• Redirect: yourcompany.com → yourcompany.ai

Generate Your AI Startup Name

namemyapp specializes in generating brandable names with available .ai domains. Every name you see is verified available and purchasable.

Generate AI Startup Names →