How to Choose an Impactful Company Name for Your Singapore Incorporation

You’ve decided to take the plunge and grab a badge for your business incorporation in Singapore. Congratulations! Now comes one of the most important decisions you’ll make as an entrepreneur which is choosing a company name in Singapore. Setting up a business is difficult, but coming up with a company name can be much more difficult. The name you pick will be your business’s first impression, because the name you pick will be the name by which your consumers will recognise you, it should describe the image you wish to convey. Giving it some extra thought might make a big impact as your company expands.

But what names can be okay? What should you think about before naming a company in Singapore? Don’t worry, with some thought and creativity you can develop an impactful company name that resonates with your target customers. If you place a high value on durability and long-term vision, you need to carefully consider all elements of name selection before making a decision. The key is finding a name that is memorable, conveys your business’s essence, and has a clear .com domain available. Easier said than done, but we have compiled an in-depth list of suggestions that’s going to help you in coming up with the right name. 

Think About the Brand Image and Tone You Want to Convey

Choosing a company name in Singapore is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. It’s your brand’s first impression and shapes how people perceive your business. Think carefully about the image and tone you want to convey. Do you want a name that’s bold and edgy or warm and friendly? Formal or casual? Mysterious or transparent? The options are endless. Brainstorm words, sounds or made-up terms that capture your vision. Say them out loud to get a feel for how they roll off the tongue.

For example, a tech startup may want a short, catchy name with an available .com web address. A luxury brand may prefer an elegant name that inspires prestige. An eco-friendly company may want a natural-sounding name with “green” references.

Consider your target customers and the emotions you want to evoke. A good name sparks interest, sticks in people’s minds, and builds brand recognition. Put in the work now, and you’ll reap the benefits for years to come.

Keep It Simple and Avoid Confusing Names

For your process of naming a company in Singapore, keep things simple and avoid confusing names. Opt for a straightforward name that is easy to pronounce and spell. Complicated, made-up words or obscure references will only puzzle people and be hard to remember. Shorter names, around 2 to 3 syllables, tend to work best. Include powerful and impactful words that evoke positive feelings about your company. Words like “innovate”, “inspire”, “create” or “empower” convey a sense of strength and vision. 

You can check business registries to see if your preferred name is available and not too similar to others. A meaningful name that relates to your company’s purpose or product can be impactful. For example, “Uber” conveys a sense of scale and ambition for a transport company. However, obscure references that only make sense to you may confuse customers. Strike a thin line balance between meaningful and straightforward. Your perfect company name in Singapore is out there, you just have to find it.

Consider Your Target Audience

Your target audience should be top of mind when deciding on company name in Singapore. Who do you want to attract and appeal to? Tailoring your name to your audience will help build brand recognition and loyalty. For a B2B company, you may want a more formal name to convey professionalism, such as “Singapore Business Solutions” or “Lion City Consulting”. B2C startups often opt for a catchy, memorable name like “Grab” or “RedMart” to capture consumer interest.

If you’re targeting younger generations, a short, unique name may be ideal, i.e. “Carousell” or “Vulcan Post”. For older demographics, a more traditional name like “Singapore General Store” could resonate better. Once you determine your target customers, do some research on their preferences and values. The more tailored your name is to your audience, the more it will resonate and stick in their minds. With the right name, you’ll be well on your way to building a loyal customer base.

Consider How It Sounds and Rolls Off the Tongue

When choosing a company name in Singapore, how it sounds and rolls off the tongue is an important consideration. A name that is awkward or difficult to pronounce can reflect poorly on your business and be off-putting to customers. Go for a simple, easy to say name with two syllables or less. Shorter names are more memorable and help to convey a straightforward, no-nonsense image. Examples of simple but impactful company names include Apple, Google, and Nike.

It should sound natural and pleasing to the ear. Harsh or abrupt sounding names can seem unfriendly. Soft, rounded vowel sounds tend to be more appealing. For example, “Oasis” sounds more pleasant than “Brash”.

Avoid names with repetitive letters or syllables that could trip up your customers or be difficult to pronounce. Names like “Tutti Frutti” may seem clever but can be tongue twisters for many. A name that rolls off the tongue and sounds as good as it looks is key to branding success.

Check How It Looks in Writing

Once you have a few company name options in mind, it’s important to see how they look in writing. Some names that sound great when spoken may look odd or be hard to read when written down. Imagine seeing your company name in print on your business cards, letterhead, marketing materials, and products or service packaging. Is it legible and visually appealing in a standard font at a small size? Or does it look cluttered, uneven, or hard to decipher? Names with a simple, balanced structure tend to look best in print.

Check if your name options are available as social media handles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Shorter names with no spaces or punctuation tend to make the best social media handles, as they’re easiest to type and remember. The name you pick should clearly convey your brand image and be versatile enough to work across platforms, in both digital and print formats. 

Do a Quick Trademark Search

After you’ve narrowed down your list of potential company names in Singapore, it’s time to do a quick trademark search to ensure the names are available for use. Conducting a trademark search, also known as a trademark clearance search, will help you avoid choosing a name that is already trademarked, which could lead to legal issues down the road.

Search the trademark databases for Singapore to see if your potential company names are registered locally. In Singapore, you can search the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore’s (IPOS) Trade Marks Register. Enter each of your name options to make sure none are already registered trademarks. If a name produces search results, it’s best to avoid using that name.

You may want to consider using a professional trademark search service. They can also search common law trademarks, unregistered names that still have legal rights. The fees for a professional search will vary but are often a few hundred dollars. Conducting a quick trademark search on your own, at a minimum, will help in naming a company in Singapore.

Be Creative but Not Too Obscure

You want to be creative but not too obscure. A name that is too abstract or vague can confuse customers and make your business hard to find. At the same time, a name that is boring or uninspired won’t attract attention or convey your brand identity.

Look for ways to combine words in a meaningful, memorable way. For example, you could blend industry terms with action words (e.g. TechSpark, CureMD), Positive attributes with your location or target market (e.g. Green Valley Organics, Global Giving Foundation) and rhyme for a catchy sound (e.g. Presto Prints, Zoom Photography, Clicktography)

Once you have some name options, get feedback from others. Ask colleagues, friends, family and even potential customers what they think of the names. With some creativity and consideration, company name in Singapore for incorporation that is meaningful, memorable and built for success.

Check Availability of Potential Names

After finalizing your list of potential company names in Singapore, it’s time to check if they’re actually available. There’s no point falling in love with a name only to find out it’s already been claimed.

• Search your country’s business registration records to see if the name is already registered. In Singapore, you can search the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority’s (ACRA) register. If it’s taken, cross it off your list.
• Having a matching domain name is key for your company’s online presence. See if your potential names are available as .com, .sg and any other relevant domain extensions. If the .com is taken but .sg is available, that could still work, but a .com is always preferable.
• Conduct a Google search for each name to uncover any existing companies with similar names. Look for businesses in your industry and location. If there are too many similar results, it may cause confusion for customers and hurt your SEO, so consider dropping that name.
• Search for the potential names on major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to see if any profiles already exist. Come up with some alternatives.

Checking name availability thoroughly now will save you headaches down the road. While it can be frustrating to have options rejected, it’s worth the effort to find a name that is truly one-of-a-kind, sets you apart, and helps your new company make a name for itself. Keep brainstorming your perfect name is out there waiting to be discovered.

Consider How Your Name Translates into Different Languages & Culture

Singapore is an international hub with a diverse, multicultural population. So, it’s important to consider how it will translate into different languages and cultures Your company name needs to resonate across languages and cultural groups to have the biggest impact.

Some words or phrases may have negative or unintended meanings in other languages that you’re unaware of. Do research on your name ideas to ensure there are no offensive or inappropriate connotations in major languages like English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, which are widely spoken in Singapore. The last thing you want is for your company name in Singapore to turn off potential customers or come across as insensitive.

Consider SEO and Keyword Strategy

The keywords and phrases in your company name in Singapore can impact how easily people can find you online. Include one or two keywords that are relevant to your industry or business focus. For example, if you’re a digital marketing agency, consider including words like “digital,” “marketing,” or “agency.” These keywords will make you more visible in searches for those terms.

A simple, easy to remember name will rank higher in search results. Avoid overly complex or confusing company names with strange spellings. Keep your company name under 3 words for the best SEO. An SEO-optimized name, combined with a strong online presence, can help establish your business as a leader in the industry.

Takeaway

Singapore incorporations cannot be possible unless their names are first registered with ACRA. If the chosen company name in Singapore does not comply with the law and regulations, it will either be rejected outright or challenged through the ACRA processes. Before submitting a name application, it is critical to do thorough due diligence to limit the possibility of rejection.

Seek out help from Company Incorporation Services, we will handle the business name approval task automatically as part of the incorporation process. With some creative thinking and research, they can develop options that are memorable, meaningful, and help to build your brand. The name today select today will be with you for the lifetime of your company, so take your time and choose wisely. The possibilities are endless if you open your mind to them.