Choosing the name for your podcast feels like a big decision. And in a way, it is—you’ll say it in every intro, write it in your social bios, and hopefully, people will type it into Spotify or Apple Podcasts to find you. But don’t overthink it to the point of paralysis. Picking a name isn’t complicated—it’s more about being smart and practical than coming up with the most “creative” phrase on earth.
When I started my podcast, the first thing I did after brainstorming names was simple: I went on Google, Spotify and Apple Podcasts and typed the name plus the word “podcast.” Why? Because I wanted to see if it already existed. If I found another podcast with the same name, that was an instant red flag. And here’s the thing—even if that podcast was inactive or dead for years, it still wasn’t worth the risk. Imagine your show suddenly takes off, and then you get tangled in brand confusion or worse, legal issues. That’s the kind of headache you don’t want later.
So here are some practical tips to help you choose a podcast name that works long-term:
1. Keep It Short and Searchable
Podcast directories like Spotify, Apple, or even Google search give preference to shorter titles. Aim for under 30 characters if you can. A long, complicated title might sound fun in your head, but will get cut off in listings and SEO. You want something that fits neatly, is easy to type, and even easier to remember.
Think about some of the most successful podcasts—“Serial,” “The Daily,” “SmartLess.” Notice the trend? Short, punchy, easy to search. Of course, you still gave characters to spare to add another word to it.
2. Make It Relevant but Flexible
Your podcast name should give people an idea of what it’s about, but don’t box yourself in too much. For example, if you call your podcast “The TikTok Marketing Show,” what happens if you later want to talk about YouTube or Instagram? Leave yourself some breathing room. Pick something relevant, but not so niche that you’ll feel trapped if your content evolves.
You technically can change your podcast name later, but I wouldn’t recommend it. By then, you’ve already put work into promoting the original name, created graphics, and built at least some brand recognition. Switching names can confuse not only your current listeners but also people who are just discovering your show.
3. Avoid Overused Words
Words like “uncut,” “uncensored,” or “raw” are slapped onto so many podcast titles that they’ve lost meaning. The same goes for clichés like “diary,” “corner,” or “hour.” If you’re serious about standing out, skip the generic words and aim for something a little fresher. One of my students in my podcasting course suggested the name in French. Nobody in the room understood what it meant, and he said, “That’s great because you’re clearly not my target audience”.
If I named my podcast “The fourth wall”, would you know what is it’s about? The filmmakers would know because this term is used in filmmaking. Everyone else probably never heard of it before.
In conclusion, your podcast name also depends on your target audience. Do your potential listeners and fans understand the word exclusively? Will you not want a broader audience as well? Being exclusive and inclusive both have many advantages, so it’s really up to you which route you’ll be taking. Having said that, being too broad and wide will hurt you. It’s like the biggest marketing mistake – targeting absolutely everyone from 16-year-olds to 90-year-olds. No, I don’t think 90-year-olds know who is Taylor Swift.
4. Test How the Name for your Podcast Sounds Out Loud
You’re going to say your podcast name a lot—at the start of every episode, on social media, in conversations. If it feels awkward to say out loud, that’s a sign you need to tweak it. I always say: if it doesn’t roll off your tongue, it won’t stick in anyone’s brain. You need to create a brand in the future.
Take The Joe Rogan Experience as an example—most people just say “Joe Rogan” or even “Rogan.” Audiences naturally shorten long titles, and that’s completely fine. It actually works in your favour, because it means your podcast can be recognised by more than one name. The same goes for The Diary of a CEO—in casual conversation, it’s often just called The Diary.
5. Check Social Media Handles
This step gets overlooked a lot when thinking about the name for your podcast. Even if you don’t plan to launch social accounts immediately, check if the handles are available. Nothing’s worse than naming your podcast, only to realize someone else is already sitting on the Instagram handle. Ideally, you want consistency across platforms. It’s also good to consider creating account on Instagram and TikTok to reserve that handle, whether or not you’ll use it in the future.
6. Think Long-Term
Picture yourself saying the name three years from now. Does it still make sense? Does it still represent your vibe? Avoid trendy buzzwords that might feel dated after six months. Go for timeless rather than gimmicky. Sometimes, it’s smart to use words or phrases with hidden, double or smart meaning so you can always find yourself in it despite changing the topics. For instance, “Cut to the chase”, “In the corner”, “Second take”, “In Progress”, “No filter”, “Side notes” and so on.
7. Don’t Obsess Over Perfection
At the end of the day, the name matters, but the content matters more. You can spend weeks stressing about finding the “perfect” title and delay actually recording. Don’t do that. Pick something that feels right, check it’s not taken, make sure it’s easy to say, and move forward. Your episodes will build the brand—your name is just the entry point. From my experience in my podcasting trainings, the best names came naturally within 5-10 minutes, and they were always the best ones in the end.
Final Thought
Your podcast name is the first impression, but it’s not the end-all-be-all. People will stay for your content, your personality, and your consistency. So pick something short, searchable, and unique, then get to work on the actual episodes—that’s where the magic happens.
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