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How to Name Your Podcast: The Complete 2026 Guide

By SparkPod Team
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Your podcast name is the very first thing a potential listener sees. Before they hear your voice, read your description, or press play on a single episode, they see a name. That name has to do a lot of heavy lifting: communicate what the show is about, stand out in a crowded directory, stick in someone's memory, and look good on a podcast app icon.

Choosing the right podcast name might feel like a small decision, but it shapes everything that follows -- your branding, your discoverability, your audience growth, and even how seriously people take your show before they give it a chance.

Whether you are launching your first podcast or rebranding an existing one, this guide walks you through everything you need to know about how to name a podcast in 2026. We will cover proven naming strategies, common mistakes, availability checks, SEO optimization, and how AI tools like the SparkPod AI Podcast Name Generator can help you brainstorm the perfect name.

Podcast naming brainstorm

Why Your Podcast Name Matters

With over 4 million podcasts available across platforms, your name is one of the primary ways listeners decide whether to tap on your show or keep scrolling. Here is why it matters so much:

Discoverability

When someone searches for a topic in Apple Podcasts or Spotify, your podcast name is a key ranking factor. A name that includes relevant keywords makes it easier for new listeners to find you organically.

First Impressions

Think about browsing a podcast directory. You see hundreds of shows. The name and cover art are the only two things you have to go on. A clear, intriguing name earns clicks. A confusing or generic one gets skipped.

Brand Identity

Your podcast name becomes the foundation of your brand. It shows up on social media, in search results, on your website, in word-of-mouth recommendations, and on every piece of marketing you create. It needs to work across all of these contexts.

Memorability

If someone hears about your show at a dinner party, can they remember the name well enough to search for it later? The best podcast names are easy to recall, easy to spell, and easy to share.

7 Strategies for Choosing a Great Podcast Name

Finding the right name takes a combination of creativity and strategy. Here are seven approaches that consistently produce strong podcast names.

1. Prioritize Clarity Over Cleverness

The most common naming mistake is choosing something that sounds cool but tells the listener nothing about the show. Your name should give people an immediate sense of what they will get when they press play.

Strong examples:

Weaker examples:

A clever name can work, but only if you already have an established audience. For new podcasters, clarity wins every time.

2. Include a Keyword When It Fits Naturally

If your podcast is about personal finance, having "money," "finance," or "investing" somewhere in the name helps with search discoverability. This does not mean you should stuff keywords awkwardly -- the name still needs to sound natural and appealing.

Good keyword usage:

3. Check Availability Before You Get Attached

Before you fall in love with a name, check whether it is already taken. You will need to verify availability across multiple platforms (more on this below). There is nothing worse than designing cover art and buying a domain only to discover another podcast already uses your name.

4. Keep It Short and Memorable

The ideal podcast name is two to five words. Short names are easier to remember, easier to fit on cover art, and easier to search for. They also display better in podcast apps, which often truncate long titles.

Aim for:

5. Consider Your Niche and Audience

Your name should resonate with your target listeners. A true crime podcast and a business leadership podcast require very different tones.

6. Test It With Real People

Before committing, say the name out loud to at least ten people. Ask them:

Their gut reactions will tell you more than hours of brainstorming alone.

7. Think Long-Term

Avoid painting yourself into a corner. If you name your podcast "The 2026 Marketing Show," you have given it an expiration date. If you call it "Two Guys Talking Tech" and then one host leaves, the name no longer works.

Choose a name that allows your show to grow, evolve, and expand over time without becoming inaccurate or irrelevant.

Common Podcast Naming Mistakes to Avoid

Learning from other people's mistakes is faster than making your own. Here are the most frequent podcast naming pitfalls:

Too Generic

Names like "The Business Podcast" or "Health Talk" are so broad they blend into the noise. There are hundreds of shows with nearly identical names.

Too Clever or Obscure

Puns, inside jokes, and abstract references might make sense to you, but they confuse potential listeners. If someone needs context to understand your podcast name, most people will not bother figuring it out.

Already Taken

Not checking availability is one of the most avoidable mistakes. Having the same name as another podcast causes confusion and can create legal headaches down the road.

Too Long

Names with six or more words get cut off in podcast apps, look cramped on cover art, and are hard to remember.

Hard to Spell or Pronounce

If your name includes unusual spelling, foreign words most of your audience will not recognize, or words that sound different from how they are spelled, you are creating unnecessary friction.

Podcast Name Mistakes You Need to Avoid

How to Check If Your Podcast Name Is Available

Once you have a shortlist of names you like, run each one through these availability checks:

1. Podcast Directories

Search for your proposed name on both major platforms:

2. Domain Name

Check if a matching domain is available using Namecheap or your preferred registrar. Ideal formats:

3. Social Media Handles

Check availability on Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), YouTube, and LinkedIn. Consistent handles across platforms make your brand easier to find.

4. Trademark Search

For a more thorough check, search the USPTO trademark database to ensure your name does not conflict with a registered trademark.

Using AI to Generate Podcast Name Ideas

Coming up with a great podcast name from a blank page is tough. This is where AI tools shine -- they can generate dozens of options in seconds.

How SparkPod's AI Podcast Name Generator Works

The SparkPod AI Podcast Name Generator is designed specifically for podcasters:

  1. Describe your podcast topic -- Be specific. "Business" is too vague. "Helping solopreneurs scale from $0 to $100K" gives the AI much more to work with.
  2. Specify your tone -- Tell the AI whether you want something professional, playful, edgy, or conversational.
  3. Add constraints -- Want it under three words? Want it to include a specific keyword? Say so.
  4. Generate and iterate -- Don't stop at the first batch. Tweak your inputs and generate again.

Tips for Better AI-Generated Names

If you are also working on content for your podcast, check out the AI Podcast Script Generator to help with episode planning.

7 Tips for Naming Your Podcast

Podcast Name Examples by Category

Sometimes the best way to find inspiration is to see what works in your niche:

Business & Entrepreneurship

Comedy

Education & Learning

True Crime

Technology

Notice the patterns: the best names are short, clear about the topic or tone, and easy to remember.

SEO Tips for Your Podcast Name

A great podcast name does more than sound good -- it helps people find your show.

Use Keywords Strategically in Your Title

If you can naturally include a keyword that people search for, do it. Someone searching "true crime" is more likely to find "Crime Junkie" than "The Weekly Whodunit."

Optimize Your Subtitle

Most podcast platforms let you add a subtitle or tagline. This is prime SEO real estate. Use it to include keywords that did not fit in your main title.

Write a Keyword-Rich Description

Your podcast description should naturally include your main topic keywords, related terms your audience might search for, your unique value proposition, and who the show is for.

For a deeper dive, check out our podcast SEO guide which covers transcripts, show notes, and other SEO strategies.

Consistency Across Platforms

Use the exact same name everywhere -- on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, your website, your social media profiles, and your YouTube channel.

Start Naming Your Podcast Today

Choosing a podcast name does not have to be overwhelming. Here is a quick recap:

  1. Brainstorm broadly -- Write down every idea, good or bad
  2. Use the AI Podcast Name Generator to expand your list
  3. Apply the seven strategies -- clarity, keywords, availability, brevity, niche fit, testing, longevity
  4. Avoid the common mistakes -- generic, obscure, taken, long, or hard to spell
  5. Check availability across podcast directories, domains, and social media
  6. Test your top three with real people in your target audience
  7. Commit and move forward -- a good name executed well beats a perfect name you never launch with

If you are ready to go beyond the name and start creating your podcast, SparkPod makes it easy to start a podcast without recording your own voice. You can also explore the best AI podcast generators to find the right tool for your workflow, or see how SparkPod works for content creators.

Ready to find your perfect podcast name? Try the SparkPod AI Podcast Name Generator -- it is free, fast, and built to help you brainstorm names that are memorable, brandable, and optimized for discoverability.