As a business owner trying to leverage Instagram‘s marketing potential, choosing the perfect memorable and recognizable username is the first step. But the pressure of distilling your brand essence into a single unique handle can be daunting!
This comprehensive guide will compare the top 8 username generators that can help identify available, customized name options tailored to you in seconds.
We’ll cover:
- Key considerations for choosing an Instagram handle
- Benefits of using a business username generator
- Breakdown of 10 leading generators for branded names
- Factors to evaluate when selecting a platform
- Tips for customizing and finalizing your ideal username
So let’s help you build your brand’s identity the strategic way!
Why Naming is Everything on Instagram
With over 200 million businesses using Instagram for marketing, standing out from the crowd is vital. And it all starts with the unique handle or username that your brand becomes recognized by.
Beyond just establishing an identity, your Instagram handle impacts:
Branding and Discovery
A name that encapsulates what your brand offers makes it easier for ideal customers to discover your profile and connect the dots to your website or store.
SEO and Keyword Targeting
Strategic usernames featuring relevant terms can improve your discoverability in Instagram search results when users search those keywords.
Trust and Professionalism
A polished, branded username aligns with your social media branding for consistency rather than an overly personal name. This builds user confidence.
With these implications, it’s clear usernames require thought rather than random creation.
An Inc. Magazine poll found 68% users said a custom Instagram handle was important to connect with brands professionally.
But where do you even start crafting such a strategic name?
Why You Need a Business Username Generator
Tool
Trying to manually ideate a fitting brand username that’s unavailable proves frustrating fast.
This is where username generators come in – the much simpler, faster route to sourcing the perfect handle!
Username generators leverage AI to create hundreds of customized, branded name suggestions in seconds that you’d likely never think of on your own.
Benefits include:
Variety and Volume
Instead of racking your brains for a single viable option, get endless name ideas for consideration.
Creativity
Generators combine keywords and name components in innovative ways you wouldn’t conceive.
Relevance
Input your brand specifics like industry niche and naming style to get tailored ideas.
Availability Checks
Tools scout availability of names not just on Instagram but other major platforms too.
Inspiration
View creative conventions like rhyming, alliteration, mixes of numbers and special characters.
Customization
Tweak settings to get names by length, format and additional branding elements.
Time Savings
What could take you hours is simplified to seconds with the right generator!
Given these advantages, identifying the ideal platform that aligns to your brand becomes vital.
8 Best Instagram Username Generators
I’ve curated a selection of the top 8 generators perfect for crafting branded, catchy yet professional handles to represent your business.
1. Shopify Business Name Generator
Best For: Ecommerce brands
Shopify’s name generator creates tailored suggestions for online stores and small businesses selling physical products or services. I love how they format ideas clearly:
[Descriptor] + [Product] + [Category]
Or
[Random Adjective] + [Relevant Noun]
So names manage to be highly specific to different industries. Other perks:
Pros
- Filters by product types
- Favorites exporting
- Quick availability checks
Cons
- Limited customization settings
- Doesn’t consider long-term domain usage
2. NordPass Business Name Generator
Best For: One-word names and security-focus
The NordPass generator is best known for creating crisp, professional-sounding single word names – perfect as Instagram handles!
Simply enter any keyword and filter suggestions by categories like tech, food, fashion or view all names.
Standout benefits include:
Pros
- One-word name focus
- Robust platform availability checks
- Varied customization filters
Cons
- Requires scrolling through alphabet pages
- Doesn’t consider domain usage
3. Shopify Business Name Generator
Best For: Retail and ecommerce brands
Another fantastic Shopify tool, this generator delivers creative organization name ideas framed against colorful, inspiring backgrounds.
I especially appreciate how they indicate if your root keyword is featured in each name or not at a glance. Useful custom touches like:
Pros
- Visually engaging output
- Favorites export options
- Presentations tailored for retailers
Cons
- Availability checks limited
- Interface less intuitive than alternatives
4. Panabee Business Name Generator
Best For: Ultra-specific brand name ideas
Panabee takes a uniquely personalized approach – instead of entering just one keyword, you input entire phrases encapsulating your brand vision and niche.
For example, a handmade jewelry brand could enter:
natural stones ethically sourced fair wages small batch
And get back hyper-targeted names like:
*Faircrafted Jewelry_
Benefits include:
Pros
- Context-driven niche names
- Advanced customization settings
- Easy availability checks
Cons
- Requires more upfront effort
- Favorites tracking unavailable
5. Shopify Business Name Generator
Best For: Retail and ecommerce brands
Catering to ecommerce store owners specifically, this Shopify name generator creates tailored name options featuring your product or service category right within each suggestion.
For example:
[Adjective] + [your product] + Store_
Or
[Descriptor] + [Your category] Market
I love how this sets you up with built-in SEO optimization and instant customer awareness regarding what you sell!
Pros
- Ecommerce-optimized names
- Descriptors indicate availability
- Handy favorites feature
Cons
- Requires signing up
- Less niche-specific than alternatives
6. Business Name Generator
Best For: General business names across niches
Housing over 800,000 name recommendations across all major industries, this aptly-named generator nevertheless delivers tailored output once you start typing keywords.
I especially appreciate how name structures are broken down for inspiration like:
[Key term] + [Descriptor]
[Rhyming Prefix] + [Your word]
Pros
- Enormous database of names
- Availability check across multiple sites
- Varied name convention examples
Cons
- Less customization than niche-specific tools
- No favoriting options
7. Namelix
Best For: Unique, branded name+domain packages
Namelix is ideal for pairing your Instagram username idea to an available, matching domain for your eventual website needs too.
It allows inputting 2-3 keywords which are then mixed and matched to create one-of-a-kind branded names. Useful extras like:
Pros
- Domain name generation
- Advanced naming settings
- Easy social sharing of favorites
Cons
- Availability checks could be expanded
- requires more effort upfront
8. The Name App
Best For: Visually validating name ideas
Unlike most generators focused solely on text, The Name App shows your potential names applied across mockups of branded mugs, logos and other creatives.
This helps envision the branding cohesion before finalizing any names!
Pros
- Visually engaging name demonstration
- Conveys brand personality well
- Different naming conventions
Cons
- Limited customization filters
- Availability checks missing
Generator | Key Perks | Use Case |
---|---|---|
Shopify Business Name Generator | Ecommerce-optimized, quick availability checks | Online stores and retailers |
NordPass Business Name Generator | One-word names, robust customization filters | Tech startups, niche brands |
Panabee | Hyper-targeted names using full brand description | Super-specialized businesses |
Business Name Generator | Huge global database of names, structured inspiration | Mainstream small businesses |
Namelix | Domain bundling, advanced settings | Scaling startups, web presence |
The Name App | Visual validations across mockups | Creative agencies, personal brands |
Choosing Your Platform: Key Factors
With an overview of leading generators capable of crafting hundreds of personalized names aligned to your brand, how do you select the right one?
Consider these elements when researching and comparing generator tools:
Customization Range
More naming settings and filters allow better tailoring to your niche and preferences. Prioritize generators offering robust custom touches.
User Interface
Intuitive, simple dashboards make navigating the platform easier especially for repeated use. Ensure your chosen tool has enough visual guidance.
Availability Checks
The most useful generators connect to Instagram’s database for real-time feedback on handle availability beyond theoretically suggesting names.
Onboarding Effort
Some generators require minimal inputs like one root keyword. But niche-specific tools ask for descriptive details upfront to allow ultra-targeted outputs. Decide your comfort level.
Branding Relevance
If representing your industry niche is important, seek name generators with databases catering to key sectors like retail, tech, beauty etc.
Identifying the generator aligning closest to the criteria that will shape your perfect brand username requires due diligence.
But the effort pays dividends considering you’ll likely use the final name for years!
Finalizing Your Username Selection
Once you’ve identified a promising shortlist of potential usernames from your generator, here are some steps to finalize your choice:
Double Check Availability
Paste each individual name into Instagram’s search bar and try creating a dummy account. This validates availability despite what some generators indicate.
Try Username Variations
Get creative with hyphens, numbers, underscores or other separators if your first choice isn’t available. For example:
fitnessHQ
Becomes:
fit_nessHQ
Envision Cohesive Branding
Say potential names aloud, picture matching logo visuals and branding elements. Select the handle that conveys your brand essence effortlessly.
Search Alternative Spellings
Before deciding a name is completely unavailable, play around spelling using phonics or creative twists. You may uncover gems!
Lean Into Simplicity
Between creative coined names and ones directly featuring your brand name – go with whatever rolls off the tongue and is easiest for customers to grasp.
By spending time with these validation steps instead of hurriedly just picking a name, you give yourself the highest chance of landing on an impactful brand handle to grow with on Instagram.
Key Takeaways
There’s no denying an Instagram handle effectively encapsulating your brand is marketing gold. Thankfully instead of struggling solo, business name generators leverage AI to provide endless naming possibilities.
I recommend options like Shopify’s generator for ecommerce brands, NordPass for versatility or Panabee for hyper-specificity based on unique business visions.
Remember to evaluate tools on customization range, naming formats and availability checks to determine the best platform before diving in.
With the right generator, you have the confidence of a polished, brand-aligned handle representing you professionally to Instagram audiences in seconds!
So which one will you try first to kickstart your brand identity?