How to Choose a Blog Name Before You Claim a Blogspot URL

Blogger asks for two things in the first minute of setup: a title and an address. Most people type the first idea that comes to mind, hit save, and discover six months later that the name is hard to spell, already taken on Instagram, or too narrow for what the blog has become. Changing it then means broken links and lost readers.

Knowing how to choose a blog name before you claim a blogspot address saves you that rebuild. This guide walks through the checks I run with every new Blogger site, from the short list to the final domain, so the name you pick still fits in year three.

Why the Name Matters More on Blogger

On Blogger, your blog title and your address are separate settings. The title can be changed any time from Settings with no side effects. The blogspot address cannot be changed so easily. If you rename it, every link pointing to the old address stops working, and the old address becomes available for someone else to claim.

That makes the address the decision to get right. Treat the title as flexible and the address as permanent, and plan both around the same core name so readers recognise it everywhere.

How to Choose a Blog Name Around Your Topic

Write one sentence describing who the blog is for and what it helps them do. For example: "Easy weeknight recipes for people cooking for one." Then pull out the key ideas, which here are quick, solo and cooking.

From that sentence, build a short list of 15 to 20 candidates using three approaches:

Descriptive names that say the topic plainly, such as Solo Supper or Table for One.
Brandable names that are short and memorable but not literal, such as Panlight or Quiet Fork.
Personal names built on your own name, which travel well if your topics change.

Give yourself a time limit. Two short sessions of 20 minutes, a day apart, usually produce a better list than one long afternoon, because the second session starts with fresh eyes. Keep the list in a note on your phone, since good names often arrive while you are doing something else.

Avoid tying the name to something that will date. A blog called Best Phones 2026 is stale by spring, and a name built around one product or platform can become awkward if that product disappears.

Practical Tests for a Good Blog Name

Run each candidate through these checks. Anything that fails two or more comes off the list.

Test	What to look for
Length	Two or three words, ideally under 15 characters
Say it aloud	Someone hearing it once can spell it correctly
No hyphens or numbers	People forget whether it was "4" or "four"
Not too narrow	Still fits if you add one related topic
Reads cleanly joined	Words do not form an awkward word when run together
Distinct from big brands	Not confusable with a well known company

The joined test matters more than people expect. Write each name in lowercase with no spaces, exactly as it will appear in the address, and read it slowly. Several famous domains became jokes because nobody checked.

Checking Availability Before You Commit

Once you have three or four strong candidates, check each one in this order:

Blogspot address. In Blogger, start creating a blog and type the name into the address field. Blogger tells you instantly whether it is free.
Domain name. Search for the .com version at any registrar. Even if you do not buy it today, owning it later lets you move to a custom domain without renaming.
Social handles. Check Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and whichever network your readers use most. Matching handles make you easier to find.
Trademarks. Search your country's trademark database for the exact name in your topic area. A registered mark in the same field is a reason to walk away.
Search results. Search the name in quotes. If an active site with the same name already ranks first, you will spend years competing with it.

Finally, test your top two names on real people. Send them to five friends who read blogs in your niche and ask only two questions: what do you think this blog is about, and could you type the address from memory tomorrow? If most of them guess the topic and remember the spelling, you have a winner. If they hesitate or misspell it, that hesitation is what every new reader will feel too.

If the exact name is taken, try a small, natural variation, such as adding "the", "kitchen" or "notes". Avoid tacking on numbers or extra letters.

Blogspot Address or Custom Domain

A free blogspot address is perfectly fine for starting out. But a custom domain, which costs about $10 to $15 a year for a .com, gives you a cleaner look and makes your blog portable if you ever leave Blogger.

Blogger supports custom domains directly from Settings, and once connected it redirects the old blogspot address to your new one, so existing links keep working. That redirect is the safest way to upgrade later. The key is choosing a blog name now that has an available .com, so the move is a one hour job rather than a rebrand. Pair the new domain with sensible custom permalinks so individual post URLs stay tidy too.

Matching the Name to Your Template and Header

A name needs to work visually as well as verbally. Before you settle, type it into the header of the template you plan to use and look at it on a phone screen. Long names wrap onto two lines in many free themes, and that can push your first post below the fold.

If your favourite name is long, choose a template with a compact header or plan a short logo version. Our guide on choosing a free Blogger template covers which layouts handle long titles gracefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my blog name on Blogger later?

Yes, you can change the blog title at any time without affecting links. Changing the blogspot address is different, since old links will break unless you move to a custom domain that redirects.

Should my blog name include keywords?

A topic word can help readers understand the blog at a glance, but it has little direct effect on rankings. Choose clarity and memorability first, and use keywords in your posts instead.

Is it better to use my own name for a blog?

Using your own name works well if you expect your topics to change or if you are building a personal brand. A topic name is better if you might sell the blog or bring in other writers.

The Takeaway

Learning how to choose a blog name comes down to a simple routine. Write your one sentence, build a short list, run every candidate through the spoken, joined and availability tests, and secure the .com even if you start on blogspot. Ten minutes of checks now spares you a painful rename later. Find more advice for new bloggers in our blogging tips section.