AI Startup Naming Trends in 2026: How the Smartest AI Companies Name Themselves

The AI startup landscape has exploded, and with it, distinct naming patterns have emerged. If you're launching an AI company, understanding these trends helps you either ride them or deliberately differentiate.

Current AI Naming Trends

Human Names

A major trend: giving AI products human names. Claude (Anthropic), Alexa (Amazon), Siri (Apple), Jasper (AI writing tool). Human names make AI feel approachable and personable.

Why it works: Reduces the intimidation factor of AI technology. Creates an emotional connection.

The risk: Human names may trivialize the technology or create unrealistic expectations about AI capabilities.

The "-ify" / "-ly" Pattern

Modifiers that turn concepts into product names: Simplify, Amplify, Replit, Grammarly. These imply transformation and action.

Portmanteau Names

Blending two words: ChatGPT (Chat + GPT), TensorFlow (Tensor + Flow), DeepMind (Deep + Mind). These communicate the product's essence in a single coined word.

Abstract/Invented Names

Completely new words: Anthropic, Cohere, Mistral, Perplexity. These are ownable and distinctive, though they require more marketing to establish meaning.

Descriptive + AI

Direct naming: Character.ai, Stability AI, Scale AI, Runway AI. Adding "AI" removes ambiguity about what the company does.

Mythology and Science References

Drawing from mythology, science, or literature: Prometheus, Atlas, Cerebras, Palantir. These add gravitas and intellectual credibility.

The .ai Domain Effect

The .ai extension has become nearly mandatory for AI startups. Having a .ai domain:

Instantly communicates your industry
Provides a shorter, cleaner URL than adding "AI" to a .com
Has become an investor expectation in the AI space
Example: stability.ai, character.ai, perplexity.ai

Standing Out in a Crowded Space

The Problem

With thousands of AI startups launching, differentiation is harder than ever. Names blending together: another "[concept]AI" or "[verb]ify" name gets lost.

Differentiation Strategies

Go Against the Grain: When everyone uses tech-sounding names, choose something warm and human. When everyone uses human names, choose something abstract.

Be Specific: Instead of "AI Analytics Platform," name it after a specific metaphor or concept unique to your approach.

Avoid AI in the Name: Counterintuitive, but as AI becomes ubiquitous, having "AI" in your name may become as meaningless as having "Internet" in it.

Find Your Category's Whitespace: Study competitor names and deliberately choose a different naming direction.

What Makes AI Names Age Well

Avoid Buzzwords

"Blockchain AI Solutions" or "Quantum ML" chains your name to current hype cycles. When the buzzword fades, the name feels dated.

Don't Describe Your Current Model

"GPT-5 Tools" becomes obsolete when GPT-6 arrives. Name the company, not the technology.

Choose Timelessness

"Anthropic" will still work in 2036. "ChatGPT-Powered Solutions" won't.

Naming by AI Sub-Sector

LLM and Chatbots

Human names and conversational terms dominate: Claude, Gemini, Character.

Computer Vision

Visual and perception-oriented names: Runway, Midjourney, Sight Machine.

Developer Tools

Functional names with developer appeal: Hugging Face, Weights & Biases, Replit.

Enterprise AI

More traditional, trust-building names: Palantir, C3.ai, DataRobot.

AI Infrastructure

Technical names that signal reliability: Cerebras, SambaNova, Groq.

Test Your AI Brand Name

Once you have a shortlist, validate it quickly by checking availability across domains and platforms.

Use BrandScout to check your AI startup name across .ai, .com, and other domains plus social media platforms. See what's available and launch with confidence.