The most fun and challenging part of the band creation process is choosing a name. If you want to find a classic name that describes your band in a unique and creative way, you can learn to make a list of names and then choose the best option of all.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Brainstorm
Step 1. Write the music first
You must choose the name of your band after having found the members who will be part of it; you have to know these people as musicians and as friends. Practice all together several times, know what kind of music you want to play, what your target audience is, what interests you share, what are your plans and other important aspects to consider.
Basically, you are creating a product and trying to sell it to listeners. For this product to be successful, it must target the right group of people. You have to be very enthusiastic and passionate about the identity of your band
Step 2. Try one-word names
These types of names have the advantage of being short, forceful and easy to remember. Some of the best bands of all time have one-word names that can be iconic and easy to represent in a good logo:
- "Velvety", "Zoé", "River", "Mana" and "Swarm" are single word names that can serve as inspiration. Start flipping through the dictionary to see if you find great words.
- Add "the" or "the" at the beginning if you want the name to sound a bit more traditional or add a punk word. Check some foreign words, they can help you. "Pantera", the legendary metal band, got its name from Spanish (pantera in English is panther).
- If you want, add an adjective to your name like they did in "Hidden Faces", "White Rat" and "Minuscule Division".
Step 3. Think about where you come from or where you practice
"Portishead", "Lindisfarne", "Sleater-Kinney", "Boston" and "Beirut" are names of bands, but they are also the names of geographic locations that meant something to the members of the band. Think about the streets you grew up on or the name of the place where you band. Keep the name a little local.
Step 4. Join two words to form a "kenning"
The "kennings" are unique words formed from the fusion of two different words. They are common techniques used in poetry and for the creation of band names. "Radiohead", "Torreblanca" and "Genitallica" are examples of band names formed from two words that they merge to create a new one.
Step 5. Choose the name of an animal
Animals are very popular with gang names. "Scorpion", "The Paranoid Mice", "Gorillaz" and "Elephant" are classics of this genre. Start thinking of weird animal names that have yet to inspire another band. Dark Squid? Blue Mantis? Sleeping Lion? Think of your spirit animal and decide.
Step 6. Go for a long name
All the short, cute and cool names may already be the name of some Canadian jam bands. Go for long names like "The Red Hot Chili Peppers" or "Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota"; make sure it's safe. It doesn't matter if it sounds a bit silly.
Step 7. Find a text that serves as a literary reference
A good way to find a name for a band is to pick an old epic poem and start flipping through it until you find random poetic phrases that you can use as a literary reference to name your band. "Genesis" and "Hamlet" are names that were born from Faulkner's stories.
Check out ancient English poets like John Milton, John Donne, or Wordsworth. There you can find phrases in English, like "Disintegrated Angels", which can be good name options for your band
Step 8. Listen to how others describe you
The Band has already gone through a lot of names including "The Hawks", "The Crackers" and "The Hokeys" until staying with "The Band" (name with which it all started). Don't try to move mountains, just try to use a simpler method that is right in front of you.
Step 9. Change the name a little bit
Sometimes you have to change the phrase a bit to make it sound great. "Soda Stereo" is already a famous band, but what do you think of "Stereo", "Stereo Sound", "Stereomanía" or "Sterio Silencio"? How do you think "Eagles of Death Metal" created their name? (They were inspired by "The Eagles").
If you choose a name in English, you can choose one that is not correct in that language to make sure that no one else has it. Some examples of such names are "Ditto the umlaut" "Def Leppard", "Led Zeppelin", "Mötley Crüe" and "Blue Öyster Cült". However, you have to be careful with bad spelling. Sometimes it works and other times it feels like you're in a hair metal band
Step 10. Try an online name generator
There are many web pages that generate possible band names. Type the phrase "generate band names" into your favorite search engine to find them. Keep in mind that the names they suggest may be silly.
Step 11. Keep your list updated
If a name may seem stupid and strange to you at first, but (everyone) keeps coming back to it, then follow your heart. There is a reason they take it back into account. In the end, the same is his band. As long as everyone knows the reasons why they chose the name and feels identified with it, then they will never have any problem when it comes to selling it as a product. Plus, it will be something you can be proud of 10 years from now when you meet up in meetings with your classmates or at family events etc.
Part 2 of 2: Choose the name
Step 1. Pick a name that matches your sound
If you are in a metal band, an indie-rock type name would not be ideal. What you want is that someone who has never heard them know what kind of music they play just by hearing the name of their band. "Insurgent" may be a great name, but it might be better for a psych-rock band than a metal band.
Step 2. Get a few criticisms
After you've chosen a couple of names that you like, start telling your friends. Ask if they think "Collateral" is a good name for your new pop-punk band. Listen to their criticism and take into account what they tell you.
Ask your friends who are in a band how they chose the name. Once you decide what your band name is going to be, ask your family or friends if they think it sounds good, catchy and appropriate for the genre they play
Step 3. Make sure everyone in the band likes the name
You may not be thrilled by the idea of your band's name being "Dazzo", but everyone else is. You may be willing to accept it now, but it can become a problem in the future if you are not happy. It is important that you solve the problems as soon as possible so that you do not end up resenting your band.
If you are embarrassed to say the name to others, then it is not correct. You may need to exclude names that contain profanity, are insulting to a particular person or group, and are sexually explicit
Step 4. Register your band name and make sure registration is free
One of the most difficult aspects of choosing a name for your band is that many of the best names have already been chosen and it can be difficult to find a good one. The Green Dwarfs? Sorry, try again. The grandparents of nothing? Very late. The prisoners? They already use it. Fortunately, there is a free and simple band name database with which you can register your name at the beginning and thus prevent someone else from taking it. Go to www.bandname.com and search for your favorite names.
Step 5. Don't force it
Many bands like to use a formula to create a name. Each member thinks of a word at random, or perhaps they are trying to force a phrase into all the words. However, it is not going to sound good. Remember that you will stay with that name for the rest of your music career. Make it a good phrase that fits.
- Take some time. There is no rush to find a name that you like. If you can't think of anything, choose one of their last names and try one each day. Do not choose a name that you may regret in the future.
- You could change the name if it doesn't work, but it's a waste of time and almost always damages your reputation. Finding the correct name is obviously very important to your band's identity; so it is good to take some time for the natural process of name creation to take place.
Advice
- Make your name the easiest thing to remember.
- Be original.
- Research the names that are already being used by local gangs.
- Avoid getting into trouble with other bands. For example, if someone is in a band, do not take them out of there to include them in yours because the person in charge of that band can get angry.
- If you are part of a tribute band you need a cool name that is similar to the band you imitate like "Alice in Cooperland", "AB / CD", "Dread Zeppelin" and "Bjorn Again" which is a satire of "ABBA".