How to come up with catchy event name ideas

If you’re working on naming your association’s next event, it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed. After all, an event name is an important factor in sparking your audience’s desire to attend. 

A catchy event name is attention-grabbing and makes prospective attendees want to register. It communicates what the event is while simultaneously piquing interest

If a name is too boring, it won’t catch on. If a name is too obscure, it won’t click with your target audience.

Read on to learn more about how to create an event name that attracts a crowd. 

Characteristics of catchy event names:

• Easy to remember
• Easy to say
• Short 
• Clear 
• Clever 
• Likeable
• Different 
• Generates a positive first impression

Tips for creating memorable event name ideas:

1. Consider your brand and goals.

Focus on your brand first. Think about: 

• Your purpose, vision and values
• Your brand voice
• Your event’s value proposition

2. Dig deep into your target audience.

What are they interested in? Why will your event appeal to them? What do they care about? The goal here is to understand your audience so you can identify what resonates.

3. Look at competitor events.

Have there been similar events to the one you’re planning? Google how others have named their events for: 

• Awareness and inspiration
• Assurance you don’t create a name that already exists, therefore creating high competition on search engines. 

4. Throw spaghetti at the wall.

In this phase, there’s no such thing as a bad idea. Sure, you’ll come up with a lot of terrible event names, but that’s unimportant right now. Keeping your brand and audience in mind, start coming up with a long list of event name ideas. A dictionary, thesaurus and Wikipedia are all helpful resources. Don’t be afraid of puns, wordplay, or even made-up words. 

5. Pare down your list.

Now’s the time to judge your event name ideas. Narrow it down to your favorites, and identify the names that generate the feeling you want to instill in your attendees. 

6. Double check.

Once you’ve got a favorite event name idea, Google it. Check to see if the name or web domain has already been taken, or if the name you’ve chosen has any negative connotations. You don’t want your catchy event name idea to turn into a PR nightmare! Come up with potential nicknames and abbreviations for your name, as well. The most innocent name could possibly turn into something offensive or crude when abbreviated. Vetting your event name is a critical step in the event naming process you don’t want to skip.