Requesting an AI chatbot to generate names for a podcast, Wi-Fi network, or small business often results in a list of options that tend to sound quite similar.
Big language models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can easily produce a dozen names for your project or website. However, obtaining a list of names that are truly distinct, original, and impactful is considerably more challenging—but still achievable. The key is to guide the AI in specific directions to maximize diversity.
Start by asking ChatGPT to generate not just 10 or 20 ideas but a full 100. According to a study from Wharton School [PDF], the suggestions tend to become more interesting the further down the list, especially in the later entries. This approach is part of a two-phase prompting technique that encourages a broader range of ideas.
In the second phase, instruct ChatGPT to analyze the list, identify similar or redundant ideas, and replace them with new, varied options. The aim is to cultivate the widest and most diverse set of ideas possible.
For example, your initial prompt might look like this:
Provide 100 ideas for [topic], numbered 1–100. Keep each as a brief title or name—no explanations or details. Include obvious, poor, quirky, and unfinished ideas. Prioritize quantity over quality; refinement comes afterward.
Once the list is complete, follow up with a second prompt:
Revise the list to maximize diversity. For any similar ideas based on the same core concept, retain only the best and replace the others with fresh concepts from different perspectives. The goal is 100 completely distinct ideas, each representing a different underlying theme, not just different wording.
If desired, you can add a third step where you ask the AI to select the top 10 most intriguing ideas from the revised list; however, I recommend reviewing all 100 options manually for the best results.
What are the 10 most interesting ideas from the second list?
I applied this “100-idea” method—adapted from a prompt discussed in the Wharton study—to come up with names for my long-standing dream: opening a coffee shop. Naming a place is a significant challenge, so I used this two-stage prompt process to help generate options.
Here’s a sample of the first 10 suggestions from the initial batch:
- The Daily Grind
- Bean There
- Brewed Awakening
- Central Perk
- The Coffee House
- Morning Cup
- Java Junction
- Common Grounds
- Cup & Bean
- The Roasted Bean
Many are classic choices, with some nodding to well-known brands like “Central Perk” from Friends.
After applying the second prompt and optionally filtering further with the third, I ended up with more creative and unconventional names such as:
- Warm Noise
- Morning Object
- Public Living Room
- Moth & Match
- Localhost
- Borrowed Sugar
- Unfinished Sentence
- Blue Hour
- The Loading Bar
- Sunday Weather
These options are notably more unique and imaginative. Some lean towards techy (“Localhost”), while others are whimsical (“Morning Object”), but a few, like “Blue Hour” and “Borrowed Sugar,” really caught my eye.
Next time you need fresh ideas, give this two-stage “100-idea” prompt a shot. Even if it doesn’t land on the perfect name, it’s sure to spark your creativity and lead to unexpected options.