Magazine Names
A great magazine name stops you in a newsstand, makes you click in a feed, and stays with you long after you have put the issue down. Find yours here.
Famous Magazine Names That Nailed It
Real-world names that became iconic. Here's what makes them work.
A single French word meaning 'fashion' or 'in fashion' that Condé Nast transformed into the most powerful name in fashion media, conveying authority and aspiration in five letters.
Launched in 1993, this single past-participle captured the entire spirit of the internet age — connected, electric, ahead of the curve — making it one of the most prescient magazine names ever chosen.
Tyler Brûlé's choice of an archaic optical instrument as a magazine title perfectly signals the brand's intelligent, global, design-focused perspective — slightly eccentric, deeply considered.
Tips for Choosing Magazine Names
A single powerful word almost always works better for a magazine than a phrase or compound — think Wired, Vogue, Granta, Frieze.
Your name should immediately signal your editorial territory and the kind of reader you want to attract.
Test the name as a masthead — how does it look large, in a refined typeface, at the top of a beautifully designed cover?
Avoid names that are too niche or specific if you want room to grow and evolve the editorial scope over time.
Check digital availability thoroughly — your magazine name will need a clean URL, searchable social handles, and a distinctive hashtag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily — some of the most successful magazines have abstract or oblique names that create curiosity rather than description. What matters is that the name has a strong editorial identity and attracts the right audience, whether through clarity or intrigue.
Yes. Names that require explanation, that rely on insider knowledge, or that are difficult to pronounce or spell create barriers. The ideal magazine name is immediately intriguing to the right reader without being opaque to everyone else.
One or two words is almost always optimal. Single words have the most impact as mastheads. Two-word names can create interesting tensions ('The Atlantic', 'Fast Company') but anything longer risks losing impact at cover scale.
'The' can add authority and specificity — 'The Economist' and 'The Atlantic' both benefit from it. It works best for magazines with a strong point-of-view that claims to be the definitive voice in their space. For more fluid, culture-led titles, it can feel too formal.
Yes — in Class 16 (printed publications) and Class 41 (publishing services) at minimum. If you plan a digital edition, Class 38 (telecommunications/broadcasting) may also apply. Register in all markets where you plan to distribute.
How to Choose a Magazine Name
Define Your Editorial Universe
Think Like a Masthead
Test the Name as a Community
Consider the Digital Ecosystem
Protect Your Masthead
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Curious about what names mean? Explore Name Meanings →