Help us find an international name for our startup

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4184710

by stoffr • 14 years ago

10 13 14 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Hi everyone,

We're at a loss to find an internationally viable name for our online menu app, StamSted.

In Danish, StamSted means your 'haunt', 'that local place down on the corner' and that's what we're all about. Local menus, you can order directly from.

We're not sure if the the StamSted will be catchy/memorable in english.

We considered stuff along the lines of 'patronify.com' - but patronize is probably more about being condesending, than being a patron these days!

Cheers if you have any thoughts or ideas! :)

stoffr from StamSted.com, Denmark.

elssar2• 14 years ago

Try http://namestation.com --> go over there & start a name contest. It's kinda like crowd sourced name picking. You might get 20-30 odd names, but other than that the participation isn't great. For instance, people don't seem to vote on name ideas given by others & are more interested in posting their own ideas.

But FWIW I think that StamSted is quiet good, and homestead means a persons home, so I can see the connection there. In fact, if you don't use it, I might commandeer the domain :P

stoffr5• 14 years ago

OK that's great to hear. Thanks elssar.

would StamStead be better?

elssar2• 14 years ago

Well, both are very similar & since StamSted is in Danish, I'd say go with it. Could even mention that on your site, maybe made to look like a Danish-English dictionary entry. At least that's how I'd do it.

revorad2• 14 years ago

I find the key in naming is that it's memorable. Everything else, including the meaning, is secondary.

Here are some random ideas:

dishdrum.com

menubowl.com

plumplate.com

tastytango.com

menulia.com

foodflava.com

menusandwich.com

fooduppa.com

tastyrelish.com

tastytricks.com

You can tell I like alliteration ;-)

stoffr5• 14 years ago

cheers, I can tell you do! Thanks.

revorad2• 14 years ago

If you want to use the word menu, then these are also available:

menuli.com

menulio.com and menul.io

menulix.com

genwin• 14 years ago

StamSted isn't horrible to me, but it is a bit awkward because it's two harsh syllables together.

I'm fond of somewhat memorable made-up names (the better ones being long gone), over two dictionary words concatenated. I think most people don't care if the name connotes what the site is about. For example, I like Spotify better than RadioSave.

How about including some part of "local" or "menu" in the name? Give me an address to mail an idea for one that's not taken (team@stamsted.com?).

stoffr5• 14 years ago

Hi genwin,

Thank you for your comments :)

I agree that something with local in it would be good. I'm thinking there might be a good word for those 'hidden' places that only the locals know.

Anyways: You're welcome to write us at team@stamsted.com

Best,

Kristoffer (@stoffr)

Mz• 14 years ago

I don't see any problem with going with StamSted.

Google did not mean "search the web" until a company by that name improved search. America did not have an English word for glastnost until the Russians gave us their word for it. For the international market, I would just make an effort to adequately convey the concept. You might find that some countries don't really have a word for it because they don't really have it as a practice. In the U.S., that idea is kind of old fashioned and not the way most Americans think of their lives. To my American ears, it sounds like a delightful practice found elsewhere or that might have been around when I was growing up with my pet dinosaur and rotary phone. It sounds attractive but it doesn't sound like something we really have currently. I would be thrilled to have some foreign company teach my country such things.

Best of luck.

stoffr5• 14 years ago

Thanks for your, comment Mz. I find it really insightful as to how Danish words are understood in foreign ears. Thanks!

ideaoverload• 14 years ago

try http://domaintyper.com

Very fast domain availability check and gives you suggestions for names based on partial input.

stoffr5• 14 years ago

Thanks! That site is really cool.

Jfly• 14 years ago

One of the sites that helped me find great name suggestions was http://www.squadhelp.com. I got 400+ business and startup name suggestions in 2 days. They engage people across the world who submit ideas – and the best idea wins the award amount. It sure beats the time and energy I would have spent myself to come up with names. You might want to check them out

Help us find an international name for our startup

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