Using AI to Name Things (Brands, Pets, Projects)

By Pip, your lighthouse keeper · 2026-05-15 · 2 min read

Hello, friend, Pip here. Naming something is surprisingly hard, isn't it? You stare at the new kitten, or the little side business, and your mind goes completely blank. This is one of the loveliest little jobs to share with AI, because it's wonderful at handing you a long menu to choose from when you can't think of even one.

Think of it like asking a big, friendly family for baby-name ideas. You don't take the first thing anyone says, but hearing fifty options jogs something loose, and suddenly you know the feel you're after. So ask for a pile: "Give me 20 names for a fluffy orange cat with a grumpy face." Then react. "More playful." "Something old-fashioned." "Shorter, one syllable." The back-and-forth is where the gem usually turns up.

Tell it what the name is for

The secret is context. A name for a calm little pottery studio should feel different from a name for a kids' birthday party company, and AI can only match the mood if you describe it. Mention what the thing is, the feeling you want (cosy, bold, funny, classic), any words you love, and any you can't stand. Try "Name a dog-walking business that sounds friendly and trustworthy, avoid anything cutesy."

One practical nudge for business or project names: AI can't reliably tell you whether a name is already taken or whether the website address is free. So once you fall for one, do a quick search yourself and check it's available before you print the signs. AI hands you the spark; you check the wiring.

Pick something in your life that's gone nameless too long and ask for twenty ideas this week. The names that truly fit only turn up when you've learned how to describe the feeling you're chasing, and that back-and-forth is a skill worth having. Come and let me teach you the moves.