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Ask HN: Name my startup?

4 points by scottschulthess ↗ HN
I'm making a startup that is essentially a weekly meal planner. We'll generate your weekly meal plan based on dietary preferences.

I can't think of a decent name though -

Here's ones I've considered

- Harvest - MessHall - Cafeteria - Cookbook - Apicius (the first ancient cookbook)

Any suggestions?

20 comments

[ 4.8 ms ] story [ 43.2 ms ] thread
steventruong
Personal opinion so take what I say as such.

1. From experience, the company name often are more of personal gripes founders have than necessarily to dictate the success of the company itself (within reason). The important factors, if any, are generally more on is it short and easy to spell/pronounce than necessarily the naming of the startup. To see proof of this, you only need to look at all the ridiculous names people have come up over the years for their startup to see that naming only really goes so far. How you position the brand is far more important.

2. While I get the urge to stick to a name that represents what you do currently, I personally prefer a generic name in the event you guys decide to pivot, add new products, etc. Don't let the name end up holding you back.

3. Make sure whatever name you choose, you can easily get the .com, twitter handle, etc etc... for that name. Branding is a huge aspect.

That said, IF I had to go with the above, base on criterias I've just listed, Apicius would take my vote if for nothing else, no one would know its an ancient cookbook unless you explicitly explain so. Its vague enough that it allows good branding to be built around it and not necessarily strike me as food related. Clearly the others all stand for food for obvious reasons.

Side note, you could go with something like meekly (meal + weekly). Mashup words are common these days and can still remain vague.

atulveer
I liked meekly! fits in exactly with the idea of the app!
russell
Hopefully you got the domains as soon as you got the ideas, otherwise they are probably gone by now.

EDIT: they all seem to be gone.

samlev
meek.ly isn't taken (according to whois)
mjs00
MealTrac(.com), MealMix(.com)
[deleted]
(comment deleted)
[dead] j45
Some ideas focusing on the word meal

mealdaily thinkmeal mealous mealfirst mealbuild

amorphid
How about Weekly Meal Planner?
eps
Mealstones :)
rikacomet
how about

"Kylix Weekly"

Kylix is the ancient food vessel used by greeks. Weekly goes well with it.

the name is unique, the use of 'x' to end it is synonymous with our generations preference to end things with 'Z' as in "zee" , etc

hope it helps

blakehill
I like MealPlan as the product name. Most people who went to college are familiar with that term. For the domain you could do something like MealPlanit.com or GetMealPlan.com, etc.

MealGrid is good too. I think you need to find the true value proposition of your business and see how it applies to your target consumer. So, it wouldn't be "A site to revolutionize meal planning:, it would be something like, "Know what meals to eat ahead of time.". Hopefully, you get my point - just focus on the solution that the customer is getting. Then, have that drive the actual name.

Brainstorm:

MealPrep MealWeek MealWeekly FoodPlan MealPlanet GoodMeals MealsByWeek MealsInAdvance MealsAhead MealsOnSchedule