5 Best Ways to Come Up with a YouTube Channel Name

A great channel name follows four core principles: it's short, easy to say, meaningful, and memorable. Get these right and your name will stick with viewers long after they've left your page.

5 Ways to Name Your YouTube Channel

1. Lead with a Keyword

Start by defining your channel's topic, then brainstorm a handful of keywords closely associated with it. Working a strong keyword into your channel name makes it easier for people to find you through search — and immediately signals what your content is about.

2. Speak Directly to Your Audience

The best channel names feel like they were made for the viewer. If your content targets young girls, for example, weave in words that resonate with them — think Barbie, dolls, or princess themes. When your audience sees the name, they should instantly feel it was made for them.

3. Use Familiar Phrases and Quotes

Catchy idioms and well-known expressions give a channel name a musical, familiar quality. Channels referencing popular songs or classic fairy-tale phrases have amassed millions of subscribers — because the name already lives in the audience's head before they even click Subscribe.

4. Use Your Personal Brand or Company Name

Naming a channel after yourself or your business builds recognition faster than any other approach. It anchors your content to a real identity, accelerates personal brand growth, and makes collaborations and press coverage far easier down the line.

5. Analyze Your Competitors

Stuck? Spend time studying channels in your niche. Look at what names work, what patterns appear, and what gaps exist. You don't copy — you get inspired and find an angle no one else has claimed yet.

How to Change Your YouTube Channel Name

Don't be afraid to experiment — YouTube lets you update your channel name at any time. Just keep in mind you can only change it twice within any 14-day period.

Step 1. Open your channel and navigate to Creator Studio.

Step 2. Click Channel Settings, then go to the Basic Information tab.

Step 3. Enter your new channel name in the appropriate field and click Publish to save.

Find the Right Keywords with Creator Tools

A great name is just the start. To climb YouTube's search rankings, your video titles and descriptions need to match what your audience is actually searching for.

Try Creator Tools free and put the world audience within reach.