Bar Name Ideas

When you’re starting a bar, you’ve got a laundry list of tasks to complete: creating a perfect menu, acquiring your initial inventory, getting licenses, and much more. Coming up with bar names is high on that list. A good bar name is absolutely essential for your business. It helps you establish your brand, communicating your ambiance and vibe to potential customers and setting you apart from local competitors. 

But with everything you have going on, you might be feeling like the inspiration for cool bar name ideas is running thin. Don’t worry, though: help is here. In this guide, we suggest hundreds of potential names for your new wine bar, dive bar, craft beer bar, local sports bar, or whatever strikes your fancy. We’ll also walk you through the process of creating your own name on your own or using a business name generator. Before long, you’ll have the perfect bar business name.

One quick note before we proceed: just because a name is included in this list doesn’t necessarily guarantee it’s available in your state. Please do your homework to check that a name isn’t claimed in your state before using it.

• Funny Bar Names
• Sports Bar Name Ideas
• Cocktail Bar Names
• Ideas for Lounge Names
• Brewery Name Ideas
• Wine Bar Names Ideas
• Irish Pub Name Ideas
• Zero-Proof — Mocktail Bar Name Ideas
• Bar and Nightclub Naming Suggestions
• Beach and Pool Bars Name Ideas
• Bar and Grill Restaurant Names
• More Creative Bar Names

Funny Bar Names

Bars are great places to relax and unwind, and what’s more relaxing than a good laugh? A funny bar name might be just what you need to invite your soon-to-be customers in to relax. 

See if your business name is available
to register as a domain.

Go to GoDaddy

Sports Bar Name Ideas

Will your bar be the go-to spot on game days? You’ll need the perfect sports bar name to suit. Here are some of our favorites. 

Tabla

Cocktail Bar Names

If you’ll be serving up the best mixed drinks in the neighborhood, you’ll need a perfect cocktail bar name. Here are a few of our favorites.

Ideas for Lounge Names

If you’re building a relaxing hangout for your customers, then you need a lounge name that speaks to your comfortable vibe and menu. Here are some of our favorite lounge bar names. 

Brewery Name Ideas

Will you proudly serve your own expertly crafted brews? Will your flights be the talk of the town? You’ll need the perfect brewery name to attract customers. Here are some of our favorites.

Wine Bar Names Ideas

If fine wines and exotic wines will be your bar’s specialty, you’ll want a name that’s refined and elegant but still fun. Here are some of our favorites. 

Irish Pub Name Ideas

You want your bar to be the go-to spot on St. Patrick’s Day (and year round). To honor Irish heritage, you’ll need a perfect Irish pub name. Here are some of our top picks.

Zero-Proof — Mocktail Bar Name Ideas

If you’re hoping to create an inclusive space that doesn’t require your patrons to bring a designated driver, a mocktail bar name could be perfect for you. 

Bar and Nightclub Naming Suggestions

You’re creating the weekend hangout, and you need a celebratory name to suit. Here are some of our favorite bar and nightclub name ideas.

Beach and Pool Bars Name Ideas

Hanging out poolside or surfside is peak relaxation, and your bar will help your customers reach their full vacation mode. Here are some great name ideas for beachside and poolside bars. 

Bar and Grill Restaurant Names

You’re going to combine your love for great brews and cocktails with your love of great cuisine. You’ll need a great bar and grill name to suit. 

More Creative Bar Names

Don’t have a specific category for your bar? Not seeing a name you like yet? Here are even more catchy bar names to try:

How to Name Your Bar in 3 Easy Steps

If you’d rather come up with your own inspired name, be prepared for a process that’s part art, part science. There are important legal requirements to adhere to, and you’ll need some creativity to find the perfect one. But follow these steps and you’ll be well on your way to the perfect bar business name.

Step 1: Define your bar’s concept and audience

What will your bar be known for? How will you stand out from the other neighborhood hangouts? To come up with a good bar name, you’ll need to define your unique selling point. Maybe you’ll start a themed bar, a sports bar, or a high-end cocktail lounge. But what really matters is that you settle on your bar’s theme or concept before you start brainstorming names.

You should also try to visualize your target audience. What are their demographics? What are their interests? What are they looking for in a bar? 

Narrowing down your concept and target audience will help guide your naming ideas because it will make your brainstorming strategic.

Step 2: Brainstorm Name Ideas

Now it’s time to brainstorm. Technically, there’s no right or wrong way to do this. But a great way to start is to generate a list of keywords related to your bar. This could be words related to your menu, your atmosphere, or even your location. Alluding to local landmarks and history could appeal to your audience, too. 

Once you’ve got a solid list of keywords, you can start playing around with words. Maybe you’ll make word associations or try different keyword combinations out. Some business owners even decide to use a business name generator (more on this later). 

You can also enlist help from others. Pitch your name ideas to friends, family members, or even potential patrons. What do they think of your name ideas? Does the name work, or does it have any unintended negative connotations? Do they have any better bar name ideas? It’s not unheard of for a friend to suggest the perfect business name, so pay careful attention to the feedback you get.

Step 3: Check for availability and legality

After completing the above steps, there’s a good chance that you’ve got a decent list of bar name ideas. Now it’s time to check if those names are truly available. By law, your bar business name needs to be distinct from the names of registered businesses (LLCs, corporations, nonprofits, etc.) in your state and from any names that are protected by a federal or state trademark. 

The easiest way to get started is to run a business name search on your state’s business website (usually the Secretary of State). This will check your name against the state level. You should also run a state trademark search.

A trademark search on the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s website is also essential. This ensures you aren’t infringing on federally protected marks. 

If you run these searches and no exact matches pop up, there’s a good chance your name is available. If a match does come up, you’ll need to make changes until your name is unique. 

Getting an online presence set up 

Even though you’ll be running a tangible business with a brick-and-mortar location, an online presence is still crucial for your success. That means you’ll need a business website and social media handles. Ideally, your domain name should match (or closely mirror) your business name. That way, it’ll be easier for potential customers to find you online. 

Social media marketing is a great way to interact with customers, too. You can use visual-based platforms like Instagram and TikTok to showcase the unique atmosphere your bar offers as well as advertise new menu items, special events, and happy hours. It’s best you can get social media handles that match your business name. So if you’ve picked a name, be sure to claim your handles as soon as you can.

How to Use a Bar Business Name Generator for Ideas

If you’re feeling like inspiration is running thin, you might find that a business name generator is your new best friend. These tools are helpful, but they only work if you use them correctly. Follow these steps, and you’ll be well on your way to a great business name. 

Step 1: Come up with keywords for your bar

Just like with brainstorming, you’ll need to develop a list of keywords related to your bar: your atmosphere, your menu, your clientele, and so on. You could come up with these on your own, consult a thesaurus, or even check what keywords other bars are using on your search engine. These will be the words you input into the name generator, so choose relevant words you like. 

Step 2: Input keywords into the name generator

Now it’s time to start inputting keywords into the name generator. Play around with different word combinations as you go, since different prompts will come up with different names. As the generator makes recommendations, be sure to add the ones you like to your shortlist.

Step 3: Review and edit names

With names created by a generator, there’s a very good chance that you won’t want to use them as-is. At the very least, you’ll need to check that the names are unique by running a business name search and trademark search in your state as well as a trademark search with USPTO. That may rule out some of your options. 

It’s also a good idea to add some personalization to the names. For example, you might add your personal name, a nod to a regional landmark, or something else fun. Even just a few words of a personal touch can really elevate an otherwise “just okay” bar name. 

This is also a great time to solicit feedback from family, friends, and potential customers to see if there are any ways you can improve your name options. 

Step 4: Choose your final name

After checking your bar name availability and getting some feedback, you might have already narrowed down your list to one. Or you might have a shortlist of a few names you like. If so, the time’s come to pick. And it’s okay if you make the decision based on which name you like best. After all, it’s your business name, and you should like it. 

If you made any edits in previous steps, please be sure to double-check that your name is still available. 

Step 5: Protect your name

There are several steps you can take to protect your name now that you’ve put in all this work. The simplest way is to file for a name reservation in your state. This buys you time to file formation paperwork in your state. A name reservation is temporary and limited to your state; you can finalize it by registering as an LLC or corporation.

A much more robust way of protecting your name is to file it as a state or federal trademark, with federal trademarks being the highest level of protection. Please note that trademarks are notoriously complicated and time-consuming, so it’s highly recommended to consult with a trademark attorney for customized, thorough guidance. 

We can help

Starting a business doesn’t have to be a solo endeavor. Here at ZenBusiness, we specialize in making the process as easy as possible. Whether you need help registering your LLC or corporation, determining what licenses you need, or even just managing your business with a streamlined app, we have your back. Let us handle the red tape so you can focus on what you love: running the hippest bar in town.

Related Posts

• 255 Catchy Esthetician Business Names – Tons of Ideas!
• 625 Brilliant Dental Office Name Ideas
• 303 Food Truck Business Name Ideas: Get Customers Lining Up!
• 250 Creative Photography Business Name Ideas: Not Taken & Available
• 425 Profitable & Catchy Handyman Business Name Ideas
• 250 Catchy Construction Company Name Ideas: Brand Builders