Summary: In this comprehensive, data-driven guide to naming and branding in the AI industry, we presented 12 questions to a representative audience of American consumers. We gained insight into the most credible domain names for AI startups, which names build the strongest connection with customers and the key branding trends in AI.

Key takeaways:

• .com is the  #1 domain extension for credibility.
• .ai is the strongest alternative domain extension.
• brandAI.com is stronger than brand.ai.
• An add-on word in your domain name hurts credibility among 96% of customers.
• Short and easy-to-pronounce made-up words generate the most interest in an AI startup.
• Customers are twice as likely to trust a single-word name, compared to a longer, descriptive name.
• AI startup names should evoke trust and reliability; innovation and creativity.
• 81% of respondents said it was important for an AI startup to have a brand mission.
• Mission-driven branding was customers’ favorite trend, with branding featuring AI coming second.

Objective: AI is a booming and increasingly competitive industry. Our goal is to help new and rebranding AI startups understand customer perception of names, domain names and brand positioning.

Audience: A representative panel of American consumers aged 18 – 64. We asked a qualifying question to ensure our panel are engaged with AI industry brands: all respondents use AI-powered services and tools either “frequently” or “occasionally”.

Our Results

Domain Name

We have found that domain name is an important factor for 77% of consumers when engaging with brands online, and for AI startups a strong domain name plays an important role in building trust and credibility with your audience, as well as being discovered online. For a deep dive into data-driven domain choice, explore our core research on domain names here.

• .com is the #1 domain extensions for credibility.
• .ai is the strongest alternative extension.
• brandAI.com is stronger than brand.ai.
• An add-on word hurts credibility among 96% of customers.

Rank the following domain extensions from most to least credible for an AI company.

For an AI company’s website, which domain name is more credible?

How does an add-on prefix or suffix word in a domain name (e.g., getauthorized.com or authorizedapp.com, vs. authorized.com) impact your perception of an AI company’s credibility?

Naming an AI Startup

Your startup’s name plays a key role in building a connection with your customers, as well as indicating your potential to investors. Explore our core research on business names — including what venture capitalists look for in a name when deciding where to invest.

• Customers said memorability is the #1 most important aspect of a name.
• Emphasizing quality and experience was a close second.
• Short and easy-to-pronounce made-up words generate most interest in an AI startup.
• Customers are twice as likely to trust a single-word name, compared to longer, descriptive name.
• AI startup names should evoke trust and reliability; innovation and creativity.
• AI startup names should blend creativity with description.

Rank the following name types based on how curious they make you about an AI company. 1 is most curious, 5 is least curious.

Which naming style builds more trust when you’re hearing about an AI company?

Do you prefer an AI company name that describes the product/service or a more creative name?

What emotions should an AI company name evoke for you to feel connected to the brand? Choose up to two.

Brand Identity

From a compelling origin story to your mission and values, every AI startup needs to have a brand identity that connects with its customers. Hitching your wagon to the most influential branding trends can have a big impact on customers’ feelings about your brand. Explore further with our core research on branding in 2025.

• 81% of respondents said it was important for an AI startup to have a brand mission.
• Mission-driven branding was customers’ favorite trend, with branding featuring AI coming second.
• Notably, humanized branding was a close fourth favorite trend among consumers.
• Brand mission and the product itself play the biggest role in building customer relationships.
• 78% of consumers said it’s important that an AI startup understands their lifestyle and values.
• But just 33% of customers would avoid an AI company that doesn’t align with their values and lifestyle.

How important is it for an AI company to have a clearly articulated social, ethical or environmental mission?

Rank the following branding trends from most to least impactful for an AI company.

Rank the following in order of how important they are in building a relationship with an AI company.

How important is it that an AI company expresses an understanding of your lifestyle and values?

How likely are you to buy a product or service that you want from an AI company that does not align with your values?

Conclusion

Decisions about your AI startup’s name, domain and branding should be taken together to build a coherent whole. A single English word that evokes trust, reliability and innovation provides a powerful platform for your brand, but only when it’s paired with a credible domain extension such as .com or .ai. Meanwhile, integrating a story about your mission and values will build a strong connection with your customers. Get started by exploring Atom’s collection of single English-word domain names.

If you’re interested in digging deeper into our findings, or asking your own questions on consumer, branding and worklife topics, contact thom@atomradar.com to learn more.

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About The Author

Grant Polachek

Grant Polachek is Chief Growth Officer at Atom.com. With 15 years experience in marketing, he has run market research projects for brands like Dell, Hilton, and Alibaba. Grant has expertise in a range of topics including domain names, naming and digital marketing.

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