Y Combinator startups follow naming patterns. 67% use invented words (Stripe, Airbnb, Instacart). 23% use compound words (Dropbox, PayPal). 10% use real words unexpectedly (Apple, Slack). Follow proven patterns or explain why you're different.
The Invented Word Trend
Stripe, Plaid, Figma, Notion, Airtable. Made-up words = strong trademarks, available domains, no baggage. Tech startups coin new words because real words already taken.
Formula: Modify spelling (Lyft, Fiverr), blend words (Instagram = instant + telegram), add suffix (Shopify, Spotify), remove vowels (Tumblr, Flickr). Make it sound real even if invented.
Two-Syllable Dominance
Stripe (1), Airbnb (2), Uber (2), Lyft (1), Slack (1), Plaid (1). Short, punchy, memorable. Easy to say in pitch: "We're Stripe for X."
Three syllables work but slower: "Instacart" (3), "DoorDash" (2). Four+ syllables rare in successful tech. "Facebook" (2 syllables spoken, not 3). Keep it tight.
The Elevator Pitch Test
30-second elevator pitch. You say name 3 times. If name takes >1 second to say, it eats pitch time. "Stripe" = 0.5 seconds. "Enterprise Software Solutions" = 2.5 seconds. Short names = more time explaining value.
Investor hears 50 pitches/day. Name must stick instantly. Two syllables = remembered. Five syllables = forgotten after 3 companies later.
Avoid Startup Clichés
2010s: Everything ended "-ly" (Bitly, Shopify). 2020s: Everything ".ai" (domain hack). 2024: Avoid trendy suffixes. They date your company to specific era.
"Acme.ai" screams "founded 2023 during AI hype." "Acme" = timeless. VCs notice dated naming patterns. Shows you follow trends, not set them.
The .io trap: Developer tools use .io (GitHub, Notion.so used to). But .io = Indian Ocean Territory, disputed. Could disappear (like .su Soviet Union). Build on .com for permanence.
Category Name Patterns
Fintech: One-syllable strong sounds (Stripe, Plaid, Chime, Dave). SaaS: Two-syllable, friendly (Slack, Asana, Notion, Airtable). Marketplace: Compound descriptive (Airbnb, DoorDash, Instacart).
Match category conventions or intentionally contrast. Fintech using playful name (Chime, Dave) = differentiates from serious banks. SaaS using formal name = targets enterprise vs SMB.
The .com Reality
73% of unicorns own exact-match .com. Those that don't: Usually bought it later for $50K-$500K. "Stripe.com" cost unknown but definitely bought. Don't launch on .io planning to "upgrade later."
Can't afford .com? Name isn't right. Find coinable name with available .com. "Notion.so" rebranded to "Notion.com." Saved headache by securing .com early (or paid later).
Investor Name Patterns
VCs favor: Short, coined words that sound like real words. "Stripe" (sounds like stripe, isn't used that way). "Plaid" (real word, unexpected use). "Notion" (real word, abstract meaning).
VCs avoid: Acronyms (IBM-style dated), long descriptives ("Cloud-Based Enterprise SaaS Platform"), obvious puns (too playful for $100M+ outcomes). Professional > clever.
The API Test Revisited
Will your name work in code? "import stripe" = clean. "import cloud_based_enterprise_platform" = awful. Developer-first products especially: Name affects SDK, API docs, code examples.
Shopify API, Twilio API, Stripe API - all clean, professional, short. "EnterpriseCloudSolutions API" - no one writes that. Short names = better DX (developer experience).
Check This First
YC company search: Is your name similar to funded startup? Coinable word with available .com? Two syllables or less? Works in code? Not trendy suffix? Category-appropriate tone?
All yes? You have fundable name. Any no? VCs will notice. Name signals thinking quality. Bad name = questions about judgment. Good name = focus stays on product.
Trademark Lens compares your name against 1,000+ YC portfolio companies, unicorn naming patterns, and VC preferences - showing you if your tech startup name fits funding-ready conventions before you file.