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The Unofficial Name RegistryAI business name generatorVol. I — No. 274 ● Domain desk open

§ 36Industry file · Blog or media

Blog and media names that work as a masthead.

A blog or media name is a masthead: a word that will head every page, newsletter and social post for years. The best ones carry a voice or a point of view, are short enough to type into an email and avoid the Daily, Weekly and Times words that sound like everyone else.

§ 01Form BN-1

Write your own, for a blog or media site.

The industry is already filled in. Say what is particular about yours (the street, the customer, the thing you do better) and you get twelve more names with their domains checked, each typeset as a brand.

Or start from the twelve examples below.

FORMBN-1
Application for a nameThree fields. No account needed.

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3ToneTick up to three

.com .io .co .ai checked live.com .io .co .ai liveFree

§ 02Exhibits A to L

Twelve names for a blog or media site.

Chosen by hand, each with the reason it works here. Save the ones you like, or check which domains are free.

12 examples · save any to your shortlist

  • № 0036–01Two words · 3 syllables

    The Margin

    Where notes and second thoughts live; suits a newsletter with commentary or analysis.

    Say-it-out-loud
  • № 0036–02Two words · 4 syllables

    Field Notes Weekly

    Observations from the field in a regular rhythm; flexible across subjects and clearly periodic.

    Say-it-out-loud
  • № 0036–03Compound · 3 syllables

    Longform & Lamp

    A style of writing and a reading light; for a magazine that wants people to take their time.

    Say-it-out-loud
  • № 0036–04Two words · 3 syllables

    Dispatch Row

    A street where news is sent from, with a physical, old-media image for a reported newsletter.

    Say-it-out-loud
  • № 0036–05Two words · 2 syllables

    Plain Sight

    Things hidden in the open; good for investigative, culture or explainer writing.

    Say-it-out-loud
  • № 0036–06Real word · 3 syllables

    Sidebar

    A boxed extra on the page and a conversation off the main topic; suitable for a quirky or niche site.

    Say-it-out-loud
  • № 0036–07Two words · 2 syllables

    The Fold

    The line on a newspaper that decides what you see first; relevant for a news-focused outlet.

    Say-it-out-loud
  • № 0036–08Compound · 3 syllables

    Ink & Index

    Print and reference, in a pair that suggests substance; for a research-led blog.

    Say-it-out-loud
  • № 0036–09Two words · 4 syllables

    Thirdspace Review

    A place between work and home, and a review that goes deeper; for culture and design writing.

    Say-it-out-loud
  • № 0036–10Two words · 4 syllables

    Quarter Page

    A small advert size and a short read; a good name for a brief, tightly edited newsletter.

    Say-it-out-loud
  • № 0036–11Two words · 3 syllables

    Daybook Press

    A daily record and a publishing house; sounds credible and traditional.

    Say-it-out-loud
  • № 0036–12Two words · 2 syllables

    Slow Scroll

    The opposite of the feed; for a blog that asks readers to stay awhile.

    Say-it-out-loud

Examples, not recommendations: they may already be in use. Search your trademark register before you commit.

§ 03House rules

Naming a blog or media site: what to weigh.

  1. R.01

    Name the voice, not the topic

    A topic-based name (Best Hiking Boots Online) caps your growth and is hard to own. A name with a voice (The Margin, Plain Sight) can handle new subjects and builds a personality.

  2. R.02

    Check it as a newsletter name

    Search Substack, Beehiiv, Ghost and Medium for the name. Newsletters collide quickly, and subscribers will find the wrong one if the names are similar.

  3. R.03

    Make it look good as a masthead

    A short, symmetrical name looks strong at the head of a page. Check it in a serif and a sans, in caps and in lowercase.

  4. R.04

    Avoid Daily, Weekly and Times

    They signal a newspaper but add nothing. If you publish daily, say so in the tagline, and use the name for the idea.

  5. R.05

    Own the domain and the email

    A site is a long-term asset, and your subscribers’ emails are worth more than a platform’s algorithm. Use a domain you own for your newsletter sender address.

DoPatterns that work

  • A part of the page: The Margin, Sidebar, The Fold, Quarter Page.
  • A writer’s tool pair: Ink & Index, Longform & Lamp.
  • A place from old media: Dispatch Row, Daybook Press.
  • An attitude toward reading: Plain Sight, Slow Scroll.

Don’tThings to avoid

  • Daily, Weekly, Times, Herald and Post unless you really are a news operation.
  • A topic keyword in the name, which will trap you.
  • Names too close to a major publication, which can bring a trademark claim.
  • Clever punning that does not survive being said aloud.
Q.01Should a blog name describe the topic?
If you want search traffic from day one, a descriptive name helps. For a lasting brand, a name with a voice is better, and you can put the topic in the subtitle and the page titles.
Q.02How do I choose between my own name and a brand name?
Your own name suits a personal blog or a newsletter built on your reputation. A brand name is better if you want contributors, a team or the option to sell. Many writers use a brand and put their name in the byline.
Q.03Does a media site need a .com?
It helps, since readers type it from memory, but a clear alternative (.co, .media, .news) works if the .com is taken. Be sure the name is easy to say and spell when it is shared by voice.
Q.04How do I check a blog name is available?
Search the web, Substack and the major social handles for the name, then the trademark register in classes 41 and 16 (publications). Look for other publications in your niche with similar names.