Naming a Podcast: Make it Memorable, Meaningful, and Easy to Find

If I recommended a podcast to you, called “Let’s Talk,” you could easily find it, right? Try it. As of this writing, there are at least seventeen different shows in Apple Podcasts with that title. Over fifty shows in Apple Podcasts use “Let’s Talk” and a modifier. That’s just one example of the significant overlap in podcast names.

Not only does your podcast title need to stand out in a crowd, but it also has to demonstrate why people should download and remember it. Podcast directories are where 50% of the respondents to our Discovery Survey reported finding new podcasts. This makes sense: the directory displays the podcast’s name and show art, and the description is only a click away. Outside of podcast directories, though, the title has to work harder. 

Your podcast name has to be accurate, intriguing, and memorable. I’ll show you why and how to craft a podcast name that can do all three. Then I’ll show you four podcast-naming tactics to help you avoid some common traps for podcasters. 

You can easily remember the three common podcast naming conventions with our MAP framework:

• Metaphor (99% Invisible, The Moth, Serial)
• Accuracy (The Property Podcast, Football Weekly, Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast)
• Personal (The Tim Ferris Show, The Joe Rogan Experience, WTF with Marc Maron)

What Podcast Naming Conventions Do The Pros Use? 

Katie analyzed what the most popular podcast names have in common, and found that:

• Accuracy: descriptive names (that say what the show does) were the most common overall (40%)
• Metaphor: creative names, clever references, or puns were second (35%), and 
• Personal: host-based names were the least common (25%). 

This varies by podcast category for myriad reasons. Check out Katie’s article for details about why different genres popularize different name styles. For now, let’s look at which approach might work best for you.

3 Podcast Naming Conventions (and Why They Work) 

To demonstrate how your podcast’s name hooks attention, let’s compare podcasts in the same category. There are dozens of video game podcasts displayed in the Apple Podcasts charts alone. These video game podcasts address various issues, employ distinct tones, and cater to different audiences. To hook the audience for your video game podcast, you could use

• an accurate description (like Games Daily, or Xbox Podcast)
• a memorable metaphor or pun, (like Get Played, or Watch Out for Fireballs)
• a personal name (such as The Jeff Gerstmann Show: A Podcast About Video Games, or The Kit & Krysta Podcast)

Let me show you how and why these strategies work (or don’t) to name your podcast. 

Accurate Podcast Descriptions Deliver the Goods Immediately. 

When you make tuna salad, you don’t open a can labeled “soup.” A good podcast title should be equally clear about what to expect. This accuracy is particularly good for shows that solve problems. Shows like Games Daily or Xbox Podcast tell you exactly what the hosts intend to give you in each episode. Descriptive titles are solidly professional, and attract an audience that wants the information your show provides. 

If you’re just starting in podcasting, or launching a show that’s outside your usual area of expertise, a descriptive title will help you gather an audience more than any other option. 

Metaphors or Puns are Memorable When Your Audience Solves The Puzzle.

When you hear a title with a metaphor or pun, you have to work a little bit to decode it in context. And when you get it, you feel a mini-reward of recognition. For example, Get Played and Watch Out for Fireballs both highlight the frustration video game players feel when they can’t quite beat a level, and the relief that comes with insider game information. Titles that incorporate metaphors or puns appeal to audiences seeking entertainment alongside their information. 

The (Insert Your Name Here) Podcast Show

The popularity of shows like The Joe Rogan Experience tempts podcasters to name their podcasts after themselves. However, celebrity isn’t the big draw that it seems to be. Our most recent Podcast Discovery Survey showed that respondents felt a podcast’s description is more convincing than whether or not they’d heard of the presenter. 

When credibility or authority is at stake, the creator’s name matters. Katie observed that the Health & Fitness and Business categories have the most podcasts named after their hosts. When you want information affecting your money or your life, you want a person’s reputation to back up that information.  

For example, Jeff Gertmann and Kit & Krysta have worked in the video game industry for years, and built a following before their current podcast. They aren’t household names, but among gamers, their reputations precede them to a niche audience. And, that niche audience is who they hope to attract. If you’re considering shelling out $70 for a AAA+ video game, you care how Kit & Krysta or Jeff Gertmann review the game. 

If your name lends credibility to your podcast’s topic, then it’s worthwhile to use it. However, if you’re new to your podcast’s topic, your name in the title won’t be as helpful. Instead, a descriptive title or a metaphor demonstrating your show’s tone will do a better job of attracting your ideal audience. 

And, if you’re unhappy with your podcast’s name, you can always rebrand to a new name in the future. 

I hope you don’t have to rename your podcast, but there’s no shame in it. Renaming moves you closer to the podcast you truly want to make. And, as podcasts evolve over time, you may find that a new name better reflects what your show does and intrigues the audience you want to cultivate. 

While we’re on the topic of fixing what doesn’t work, let’s examine four podcast-naming tactics we’ve learned the hard way. 

Four Time-Tested Principles of Podcast Names

Over the past decade, everyone here at The Podcast Host has witnessed numerous podcasts launch and grow. We’ve also seen podfade aplenty. Here are four principles to use when naming your podcast, based on what we’ve learned from the school of tough love.

1. Hollywood Uses Focus Groups, and So Can You.

You don’t need a Paramount budget, but a few smart friends. Try out your new podcast name on a couple of pals and ask what they think the podcast is about. If they answer accurately in a few seconds or less, the name’s a keeper. 

What if you get multiple answers? Ask what aspect of the name told them that it’s about the topic they mentioned. If their answer is realistic, take it seriously and rethink your title. 

2. Spelling and Pronunciation Matter. 

As voice search grows in popularity, spelling and pronunciation become more important than you’d think. Whether people search for podcasts while driving, up to their elbows in soapy dishwasher, or they’re just sick of typing, more people would rather tell Siri or Alexa to play their favorite podcast. So, make sure that your podcast’s name is spelt the way it sounds (and vice versa) to your audience. 

Take it from the woman who produced a podcast based on Norse mythology and called it Jarnsaxa Rising. Potential audience members used voice search and ended up in a section of their podcast directory that’s all about knitting socks. I love knitting socks, but the podcast had nothing to do with it. 

3. Keep It Short.

Podcast directories will cut off a podcast name that’s too long. Not only does a podcast name that’s 30 characters or fewer look better in directories, but it’s also easier to remember. You want your audience to tell their friends, so be brief. 

Some people stuff their podcast title full of keywords in the hopes of manipulating search engine optimization. But, podcast directory SEO favors your podcast’s description and individual episode titles and descriptions. Long podcast names feel redundant.

4. Check Your Work to Avoid Confusion.

When you’ve found a podcast name you want, search for the name in your favorite podcast app to check if it’s already taken. If you use the same name as another show, and it’s trademarked, you may find yourself legally actionable. 

In 2024, a judge found that “finfluencer” Canna Campbell infringed the trademark “Financial Foreplay,” registered by podcaster Rhondalynn Korolak in 2017. The judge ordered Campbell to pay AUD$114,000. 

Additionally, search on a domain name search tool like Namechk, to learn if the domain name is available. If the simplest version of your podcast name isn’t available, chances are good that someone’s already using it. 

Potential legal issues aside, having the same name as one or more other podcasts will hamper your growth, so choose one that isn’t taken. Not even by some show that podfaded in 2011.

Again, you want to stand out in a crowd, not be the crowd. 

Should I Use An AI Podcast Name Generator?

Sure, why not? But, like everything else with AI, to get a meaningful result, you need to use the right prompt and provide context. 

“Give me five names for a podcast” is too vague. Instead, try entering a prompt like:

“Give me podcast name ideas for a [publication frequency] podcast about [topic], hosted by a [role], aimed at [target audience].”

For example: “Give me podcast name ideas for a weekly podcast about golf, hosted by a retired golf pro, aimed at Buddhist golfers who love Japanese golf courses,” you could find titles such as:

• Japanese Golf Weekly for Buddhists,
• Walking the Eighteenfold Path
• The Ryokō Round

Or, if you like to get cozy with ChatGPT, you can try this:

“Hi, ChatGPT. I’m starting a podcast called [working title if you have one], and I need help coming up with a meaningful and memorable name. The show is about [topic/theme], and it’s for [target audience]. The tone is [tone: e.g., playful, serious, mysterious, academic, etc.]. I want the name to evoke [feelings, images, or values you want the audience to associate with the show]. Could you give me a list of name ideas, including a mix of literal, metaphorical, and poetic options?”

This provides ChatGPT with more information about tone, mood, and how you want your audience to feel while listening to your podcast.

And, you may get unforgettable titles like The Sound of One Club Swinging. I’m not into golf, and I’m not the target audience, but I’d tap play on that.

If you need guidance on topics, target audiences, tone, and more, The Alitu Showplanner can walk you through these steps, asking questions about various aspects of your podcast. Then, the Showplanner can generate a list of podcast names based on your preferences and priorities. 

How You Name Your Podcast is Important, but Not Earth-Shattering. 

Naming your podcast isn’t like naming a dog. You won’t have to worry about it getting lost, or some kleptomaniac insisting that the podcast only comes when called by their true name. Podcasters rebrand or create new shows throughout their career. Guy Raz has created podcasts with three different names. So has Jesse Thorn. Again, you can always rebrand.

Don’t be afraid to make bold choices when you name your podcast. You want your podcast to be a topic of conversation, but not this one: “I heard this on a really exciting podcast. You should listen. Hmm, I can’t remember what it’s called… Oh well.”

Your show name should be memorable, accurate, and personal, reflecting the credibility and creativity that support the show’s ideas. Again, The Alitu Showplanner isn’t just a podcast name generator: it can help you bring out what’s most important about your podcast, generating names that are meaningful, memorable, and timely.