Name generator

Find a name for your hair salon

The name generator helps you find a salon name that suits you. Enter your own name and get more than 80 name suggestions for your hair salon, divided into eight styles, from classic names like Hair by Anne to short, modern names like A Collective. Next to each suggestion, the name is shown as an Instagram name, so you can quickly see whether it is available. The generator is free, you do not need to create an account, and your name is only used in your own browser to generate suggestions.

How the name generator works

1. Enter your name in the field, preferably both your first and last name. If you have a middle name, you can include it.
2. Click "Show names". The suggestions are displayed in groups, so you can compare the styles.
3. Click the Instagram name next to a suggestion. Instagram opens in a new tab, where you can see whether the name is available.

Guide: How to choose a good salon name

A salon name will be used every day, on the sign, in bookings and on Instagram. Here are six things to consider before you choose.

1. Choose a name that is easy to say and spell

Your customers need to be able to find you when they search and recommend you when they say your name aloud. A name that is difficult to spell leads to fewer search results and more booking errors. The letters æ, ø and å also become ae, o and a in an Instagram name, so a name with many of them can be difficult to recognize. Tell the name to a friend over the phone and see whether they can write it correctly without help.

2. Tell people what you are

Words like hairdresser, hair and salon immediately tell a customer passing by or searching for a hairdresser nearby what you offer. If you choose a more creative name without one of these words, make it clear elsewhere. Write hairdresser on the sign, in your Google profile and in your Instagram bio, so no one has to guess. A clever name is no help if the customer does not know whether you cut hair or sell furniture.

3. Think about the sign and the façade

The sign is often the first thing a new customer sees. A short name can be displayed in large letters that are easy to read from a distance, while a long name has to be written smaller to fit. Initials and short names like AH Studio take up little space and look simple. Draw the name on a piece of paper at the size the sign will be, and check whether it is still readable from the other side of the street.

4. Use your own name, or don't

Your own name inspires trust because customers know who they are coming to, and it is easy to make personal on Instagram. On the other hand, the name is tied to you. If you plan to hire more hairdressers or sell the salon one day, a neutral name can make things easier because the salon can continue without you. If you are working solo and building your business around your own style, your own name is often a good choice. The generator creates both types of suggestions, so you can compare them.

5. Check that the name is available

A name is only yours when no one else nearby is using it. Check the Instagram name, and search for the name on Google and Google Maps. Check whether the .dk domain is available so your website can have the same name. Also search for the name in the VAT register at datacvr.virk.dk and in the trademark register at the Danish Patent and Trademark Office. It only takes a few minutes to check, and it saves you from having to change the sign later.

6. Try the name out on others

Choose three favourites and ask customers, friends or colleagues what comes to mind when they hear them. Ask them to tell you what they think the salon does and what type of customer it is aimed at. Their answers will quickly show whether the name works as you imagine. Also say the name out loud as you would say it on the phone when taking a booking. If it still sounds natural after a week, you are probably on the right track.

The generator's eight name styles

The generator sorts the hairdresser names into eight styles. Here is what each style suits, with examples based on the name Anne Holm.

The classics

Names customers understand immediately, such as Hair by Anne, Hairdresser Anne and Anne's Hair Salon. They immediately tell people that you are a hairdresser, and they are easy to search for. On the other hand, they look like many other salons. If you want to stand out more, you can choose one of the other styles below.

By names

Here, you are the name, as in By Anne, Cut by Anne and Colour by Anne. Customers know who they are coming to, and the name is easy to adapt if you later specialise in, for example, colour. A by-name is also short enough to work well as an Instagram name.

Your initials

Short names like AH Studio, House of AH and AH & Co. are easy to remember and take up little space on a sign. They work best when your initials are easy to pronounce and do not already resemble a well-known brand. You will only get suggestions with initials if you enter both your first and last name, so the generator can determine what the two letters should be.

Modern and simple

Names like A Collective, A Hair Co. and Anne Hair Lab are short and have an international feel. They suit a modern, simple salon. However, they say little about what you specifically offer, so remember to write hairdresser or hair somewhere customers can see it, for example on the sign or in your Google profile.

Using your surname

Anne Holm Hair, Hair by Holm and Huset Holm sound established and offer many combinations. A surname often makes the name more unique, and makes it easier to find an Instagram name that has not already been taken. If you have several surnames or a middle name, the generator will create additional suggestions using them.

Exclusive

Maison Anne, Atelier Holm and House of Anne add a touch of luxury. The names suit a salon with an exclusive look and prices to match. In a local neighbourhood with more relaxed customers, however, they may seem distant, so think about who you would like to have in your chair.

A little more creative

A Muse, A Ritual and Anne Does Colour say something about the craft and leave room for a little humour. The names are easy to remember, but they work best when accompanied by clear text such as hairdresser on the sign or in your profile, so customers have no doubt about what you do.

Once the name is settled

Once you have found the name, the practical work begins. You can read about the cost of getting started in How much does a hair salon cost?, and How to choose furnishings for your salon explains how to choose chairs, mirrors and lighting. If you need to work out what to charge for your treatments, you can use the price calculator. If you would like more advice on the name itself, you can read How to choose a name for your salon.

Why you can trust the advice

The name generator was developed for hairdressers by Just Add People, a family-owned and family-run company that has helped hairdressers design and run their salons for more than 30 years. If you are unsure, you can get advice from Klaus Østergaard, Denmark's best-known expert in salon furnishings. If you are also designing your salon, you can see furniture and equipment in person at the showroom in Viborg, where more than 175 products are on display, or write to Just Add People.

Frequently asked questions about salon names

What should a hair salon be called?

There is no one right answer, but a good salon name is easy to say, easy to spell and tells people what you do. Many choose their own name, for example Hair by Anne, so customers know who they are coming to. Others choose a short, international name or a Danish name with personality. Start by entering your name in the generator and see which style feels like you. Then set aside three favourites and check whether they are available before making your decision.

Should the salon name contain the word hairdresser?

It doesn't have to, but it helps. Words like hairdresser, hair or salon immediately tell people what you offer, both on the sign and in search results. If you choose a name without one of these words, such as A Muse, you can make up for it by writing hairdresser in your Google profile, on the sign or in your Instagram bio. The generator creates both types of names, so you can compare them. The most important thing is that a new customer seeing the name for the first time can guess what you do.

How do I check whether a salon name is available?

Start with the Instagram name next to each suggestion in the generator, which opens Instagram in a new tab. Then search for the name on Google and Google Maps to see whether another salon is using it or an almost identical name. Check whether the domain ending in .dk is available, and search for the name in the VAT register at datacvr.virk.dkIf you're unsure about trademarks, you can search the trademark register at the Danish Patent and Trademark Office. Do this before ordering a sign, logo and business cards.

What should I do if I don't want to use my own name?

The generator builds names from your own name, so it doesn't suggest completely new words. If you want a name that isn't about you, you can start with a word related to hair, your style or your location, such as your neighbourhood, and combine it with hair, studio or atelier. The endings in the generator, such as Studio, Atelier and Collective, can give you ideas for what such a name might look like. A neutral name can also make it easier to hire more people and sell the salon later.

Does it work with double-barrelled names, middle names and surnames like von Trier?

Yes. The generator understands that Anne-Marie has the initials AM, and that a name like von Trier belongs together as one surname. If you enter a middle name, it creates additional suggestions using the middle name and all your initials. If you enter only a first name, you get fewer suggestions because names with a surname and initials are skipped. So enter both your first and last name to get the widest selection, and feel free to add middle names if you have them.

Is the name generator free, and does it store my name?

Yes, the generator is completely free, and you don't need to create an account or log in. The name you enter is only used in your own browser to generate the suggestions, and the generator neither sends it anywhere nor stores it. When you click an Instagram name, Instagram opens in a new tab, and Instagram is the one that shows whether the name is taken. The suggestions are inspiration, so always check whether a name is available before putting it on a sign.