Have you noticed that the names of start-ups are getting stranger and stranger! Anyway, Mike Li, co-founder of Sixth Sense popped in today, and he lamented, “We cannot use any English names, because most of the good ones are taken.” That explains why we are suddenly seeing an influx of Japanese names. I am currently using a massively cool “scrapbook-meets-note taker” product from Bare Bones Software called YoJimboYesterday, John Cook had blogged about Kasyaka, which is Japanese for home lifestyle. Interesting trend! Any meaningful Japanese names you can suggest for start-ups?
Supr.c.ilio.us says I might have limited vocabulary and of course learn how to misspell namez!
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7:06 PM PT
[...] A new threat to Bubble 2.0 is growing, Om Malik reports Mike Li, co-founder of Sixth Sense popped in today, and he lamented, “We cannot use any English names, because most of the good ones are taken.” That explains why we are suddenly seeing an influx of Japanese names. I am currently using a massively cool “scrapbook-meets-note taker” product from Bare Bones Software called YoJimbo. Yesterday, John Cook had blogged about Kasyaka, which is Japanese for home lifestyle. [...]
12 comments so far
5:06 PM PT
How about “Atari”? Seems like it would be pretty catchy.
5:47 PM PT
Actually, every English word is taken, most combinations of short English words are taken, and anything that looks like an English word is taken. I built this while searching for my new company’s name:
(link)
6:43 PM PT
yeah it seems impossible to find a decent domain name that isn’t taken. beau, nice tool i must say
9:25 PM PT
Reaching out to other languages isn’t a new situation other than with trade names, several companies can use the same name in different industries or product sectors. Domain names stress the system because that isn’t the case, there is only one XYZ.com.
11:11 PM PT
What’s funny is you now need to get a suitable domain name BEFORE you register a company!
11:21 PM PT
How about this one?
“Kanben shite kure” (”Gimme a break”)
1:23 AM PT
Om,
You know we’d never suggest that! The problem is with enterpenuers lacking in imagination (and not only in the naming department coughajax homepagecough)
5:42 AM PT
webkatsucurry
7:11 AM PT
Joyce Park (and friends) have Renkoo, which is a sort of internetification of the Japanese word Renku.
11:51 AM PT
I think the name is “Kasayka”. I’m a Japanese, so it’s fun seeing Japnese words popping up as web-site names. But as you can see, even om would make a mistake and not notice when it’s in foreign words.
Is “bento” taken? I think it suites for one of those AJAX homepages. It all looks like bento box arrangement to me.
12:13 PM PT
Yeah, this is crazy, pretty much everything less than 7 characters that’s just readable is not only taken but for sale and anything that’s close to having a meaning commands 5-digit pricing
12:18 PM PT
How about using Japanese English words (Gairaigo) instead? Japanese have adopted a lot of English, German, etc. words into their vocabularly. For instance, Japanese English words will sound the following way (English = Japanese):
Hello = Haro, Device = Debaisu, Girl = Garu, Friend = Furendo, Digital = Dijitaru; Internet = Intaanetto, etc. Ask me more if you want.
I guess, the best name will be a combination of English and Japanese (just somes shots):
Happy Debaisu (Happy Devices)
Smart Sentaku (Smart Choice)
Digital Kokoro (Digital Heart)
Furendo Network (Friends Network)
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