Names people forget within 24 hours cost you every referral opportunity. Brand recall drops 67% for every syllable beyond three.
Short Wins
2-3 syllables stick. Amazon, Google, Meta. Long names get shortened anyway.
Hard Consonants
K, T, P sounds punch harder. Kodak, Netflix, Pepsi. Soft sounds (L, M, S) fade.
Rhythm Matters
Coca-Cola (da-DA-da-DA). PayPal (DA-da). Natural rhythm aids recall.
Unique First Letter
Q, X, Z are rare. Xerox, Zillow, Quora stand out in alphabetical lists.
Meaning (Optional)
Amazon (big river), Apple (simple, approachable). Meaning helps but isn't required.
Test 24-Hour Recall
Tell 20 people your name. Check tomorrow - 70%+ should remember it.