How I Named My Cup of Cocoa • My Cup of Cocoa

When I started this blog last year, I wanted a name for it that would speak about happiness, favorite things, and comfort. I wrote down lots of ideas and started searching for a blog name that was available. In case you didn’t know, you have to purchase a domain name when you set up a blog like this one. I looked around for advice and did some research and I’m happy with how it’s all worked out.

What’s in a Name?

I started with the song “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music in mind. Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens were already taken. So were Bright Copper Kettles and Warm Woolen Mittens. Brown Paper Packages was also a no go. So much for naming the blog after my favorite things.

Then I went in another direction. I thought, well, you’re going to be talking about things that you like. How about “My Cup of Tea” a saying which means something one likes or excels at according to Merriam-Webster. But of course, someone else had beat me to it. Then I thought, you don’t really drink tea anyway. You love hot chocolate (okay, okay any chocolate). No one had taken the name “My Cup of Cocoa” and the rest is history.

My Cup of Cocoa made sense on a variety of levels for me. I love chocolate and I love trying different kinds of hot chocolate (here’s some recipes for you). I love all things warm and cozy. This blog is about what creates happiness and sharing good thoughts. I also write about books and reading (look here and here for some of my latest book posts). A cup of cocoa and a good book go together like peanut butter and chocolate or bacon and eggs. (Can you tell I’m a little hungry?) I also love collecting and sharing quotes and looking for reasons to celebrate (National Bubble Bath Day was January 8th and I missed it!). My Cup of Cocoa just seemed to fit. There have been quite a few comments on how cozy, warm, and satisfying this blog is and that matches the name too.

Advice on Naming a Blog

When I was trying to name my blog, I read lots of advice. Here are the best pieces I can share with you.

Use a “,com” domain ending if at all possible. This is important because most people still enter .com when searching for websites. Originally, the .com ending stood for commercial and .org stood for organization. So if you want to sell things, .com is better for you. If you are starting a non-profit or charity .org is better. Both .com and .org are popular and more common (75% of all U.S. domain names end with .com) which translates to better trusted. Less common domain endings are sometimes treated as suspicious.
Consider the tone and character of your blog. My blog is about warm, happy, cozy, and kind things. My Cup of Cocoa fits that well. If you were going to blog about fashion, you’d need something else. My Cramped Closet comes to mind I checked, it’s not taken!).
Do you have an unusual name? If you feel comfortable doing so, include it in you blog’s name. If your name is Jennifer Smith (I actually know two of them), it might not work. But if you’re Annabelle LaTouche think of the possibilities! (Annabelle LaTouche is a completely fictional name as far as I know).
Make it memorable. A good domain name should stand out from the crowd. Don’t just make a variation on the spelling of something that is already taken. Like the phrase goes: Why fit in when you were born to stand out.
Consider your target audience. If your audience is food fanatics, use that as your starting point. If your focusing on travel, focus of words that relate to that. You want to reach out and grab your audience’s attention right at the get go.
Use a domain name generator. I tried this and it helped. But eventually the name came to me on its own. What the generator did for me was showed me what was already taken and suggested other ideas. I like Nameboy and Cool Name Ideas.
Consider your brand. If you are planning on selling something through your blog, you’ll want a name that relates to your brand. Do you have a logo? How about a color scheme? Does the name, logo, and color scheme all work together?

I haven’t developed a brand yet, but I think my color scheme, logo and blog name all work together. I love my blog’s name. It makes me happy. Which means it’s just right for me.

I hope these ideas will help you find one that’s just right for you. If you have other ideas or tips on this subject, please comment below. If you have a blog, share how you named it.

Thanks for reading and please share.

What’s in a Name?

Advice on Naming a Blog

Consider the tone and character of your blog. My blog is about warm, happy, cozy, and kind things. My Cup of Cocoa fits that well. If you were going to blog about fashion, you’d need something else. My Cramped Closet comes to mind I checked, it’s not taken!).

Make it memorable. A good domain name should stand out from the crowd. Don’t just make a variation on the spelling of something that is already taken. Like the phrase goes: Why fit in when you were born to stand out.

Consider your target audience. If your audience is food fanatics, use that as your starting point. If your focusing on travel, focus of words that relate to that. You want to reach out and grab your audience’s attention right at the get go.

Use a domain name generator. I tried this and it helped. But eventually the name came to me on its own. What the generator did for me was showed me what was already taken and suggested other ideas. I like Nameboy and Cool Name Ideas.

Consider your brand. If you are planning on selling something through your blog, you’ll want a name that relates to your brand. Do you have a logo? How about a color scheme? Does the name, logo, and color scheme all work together?