Many creators hoping to become influencers on YouTube spend little time choosing a name for their channel. It may not seem fundamental– particularly if your content is strong – but choosing thoughtfully can pay off in the long run. Channel names aren’t the be-all and end-all, but they can definitely impact your growth.
“How your viewers engage with your content will always be the most important thing, but a memorable name can certainly help,” according to a video posted by the platform itself.
Choosing the best option from a list of YouTube channel name ideas can:
- Build your personal brand
- Help people recognise and recommend your channel
- Improve searchability and discoverability
Those are all important steps for going viral on YouTube and building a loyal community. Here are some distinctions to know and fundamentals to consider.
JUMP TO
A channel name and a username are not the same thing.
- YouTube channel name: This is displayed below videos and in search results, making it your most visible identifier and how most users know you.
- YouTube handle: This is the unique three- to 30-character identifier that starts with the @ symbol. It’s used to tag your channel and create your YouTube homepage URL.
Some creators use the same name for both, such as Colin Furze. Others don’t. Marques Brownlee, for example, uses the full name for his channel but the shorter ‘@mkbhd’ as his handle.
1. First name + second name, such as Tom Scott
2. Name + niche, such as Jack G Animations
3. Niche + name, such as English With Lucy
4. Niche + synonym of “expert,” such as GeoWizard
5. Niche + angle, such as Motorhome Luxury
6. Niche + who you are, such as Map Men
7. Initials + niche, such as vt.physics
8. Plain description of content, such as Tiny Home Tours
9. Comedic play on name, such as Duncanyounot
10. Name + “productions” (or similar), such as Mark Felton Productions
11. Name + location, such as Kelsey in London
12. Name + what you do, such as Damien Talks Money
13. Niche + word describing your vibe or aesthetic, such as Adventures and Naps
14. Name + relevant verb, such as Katie Roams
15. Profession + name, such as Doctor Khalid
16. Audience or personality + relevant noun, such as Nerdforge
17. Name + role or area of expertise, such as Dan the Creator
18. Name + what you offer people, such as Make Money Matt
19. Goal or accomplishment, such as Life Work Balance
20. One short neutral word, such as Fern
21. Location + niche, such as UK Explored
22. Memorable variation of your name, such as Limmy (from Brian Limond)
Credit: Mehaniq/Shutterstock
It’s unique
Must your channel name be unique? No. Should your channel name be unique? Yes.
Uniqueness builds your brand, simplifies searching, and prevents misidentification with other creators. The best names are both unclaimed and specific enough to stand out.
Plenty of channels are named “Tech Tips” (or something equally generic), for example, while “Linus Tech Tips” is an identifiable brand.
It’s simple
The harder it is to spell your channel name, the more people will struggle to tag it, search for it, and recommend it to others. Word-of-mouth marketing is equally hindered when words are tricky to pronounce.
Evade those issues by:
- Avoiding random numbers or symbols
- Using English words that are easy to spell
- Using title case
It’s clear
“Distinctiveness matters more than cleverness,” according to YouTube channel-management tool TubeBuddy. “A name that creates a clear mental association with your content increases retention.”
Channel names that clearly communicate what kind of content they offer are generally far more effective than cleverer or more creative ones.
For example:
The above won’t win awards for creative flair, but they earn full marks for letting potential viewers know exactly what they’re getting.
It’s memorable
Having a channel name that sticks in people’s heads is an obvious plus, so consider the following tips.
- Remove meaningless numbers: When MrBeast6000 simplified to MrBeast, his name instantly became easier to remember.
- Use alliteration: Alliterative names like Charisma on Command and Make Money Matt tend to stick. “My real name’s Matt Parr, but it’s much easier for people to remember Make Money Matt because of alliteration,” the creator said.
- Include a relevant word: Names related to your niche, such as Map Men and JaidenAnimations, are typically easier to recall.
It’s consistent
Username availability tools can check whether prospective names are unclaimed across all social media platforms. Claiming them now simplifies future expansion and foils any would-be impersonators.
Grace Long’s Gdiddlydog violates quite a few of our tips, but she’s at least recognisable across YouTube, Instagram, X, and TikTok with that same distinctive name.
1. Real name or brand name?
Using either your real name (such as Lisa Eldridge) or a memorable abbreviation (such as MatPat rather than Matthew Robert Patrick) tends to work when:
- You’re a central feature of the channel and appear often
- You’re trying to build a strong personal brand
- You want a strong personal connection with viewers
- You’re interested in various niches
By contrast, a brand name (such as Defunctland or Fern) may be preferred when:
- You rarely show your face
- You want your channel to speak for the brand
- You’re dedicated to a targeted niche
- You’re creating more detailed or complex content
2. Does it reflect your content?
Your channel name should vibe with your content. Are you funny or serious? Are you producing content to entertain general viewers or as a portfolio to help secure content creation work? Capturing the right tone attracts the right audience.
For example:
- Duncanyounot’s fun play on his name reflects his laid-back comedic content.
- Mark Felton Productions uses the word “productions” to reflect his channel’s well-researched historical documentaries.
- Practical Islamic Finance uses a name that reflects both his niche and target audience.
3. Will it work long term?
Even though channel names can be changed twice every 14 days, you’re better off sticking with the same one to avoid confusing fans or sacrificing name recognition.
Keep your name evergreen by:
- Steering clear of anything too specific
- Avoiding current trends
- Avoiding years
4. Have you Googled it?
Checking availability is crucial when creating a YouTube channel, but exact matches aren’t the only potential problems. It’s also worth giving prospective names a Google to root out:
- Close matches. Creators with similar names can still impact search engine optimisation (SEO) and create confusion.
- Negative connotations. One reason Cathrin Manning decided to drop “The Content Bug” name was that anything digital connected with the word “bug” turned out to be a bad thing.
Name wisely and reap the rewards.
