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12 Ways to Write Creative Newsletter Names
34 Examples of Successful Newsletter Titles
Jacob Bear
October 27th, 2024
There's more to a name than you think. The name can make your newsletter memorable, cool, funny, or even viral.
Understanding the Role of Newsletter Names
The name can show a potential reader what your newsletter is about. Or it could be a secret code that only people who are “in the know” can understand.
However you choose for your newsletter title, it's going to impact the way readers think about your newsletter and your brand.
We’re going to show you 12 broad concepts for creating a memorable newsletter name, along with real-life examples of successful newsletters that have used each one.
But before we begin, let’s talk about the most important factor: your readers.
Identifying Your Audience for Newsletter Names
The most important part of choosing a newsletter name is to think about your readers.
What's going to resonate with them? What's going to Intrigue them enough to subscribe and sign up?
Readers will prefer a name that reflects the tone and style of your personality and your brand. Is your newsletter title going to be serious? funny? Practical?
Consider the difference between names such as Garbage Day, Morning Brew, or AI Tool Report. Some titles will make a reader say, “This is for me.” Others make a reader intrigued enough to want to find out more.
We could just give you a long list of innovative newsletter name examples to spark your creativity. Instead, we're going to go the extra mile for you.
There are 12 concepts that will help you come up with a creative name for your newsletter, and we've found at least one example of a newsletter for each concept.
A quick note before we get started. If you want to know more about any of these newsletter examples, you can find interviews with the creators of each one at CreatorSpotlight.com
Use Your Own Name
Are you a freelancer or a professional? Are you the face of your business and brand? Are you already well-known on social media in your niche, or do you want to be?
If your answer to any of these questions is a “yes,” then it makes sense to use your name in the title of your newsletter.
A few examples include Roland's Riff, Houck’s Newsletter, Arnold’s Pump Club, and Sam Ryan Studio
Words that Rhyme
The Scandinavian Journal of Psychology published a study on the way people react to rhymes. Phrases that rhyme were considered more original, easier to remember, more persuasive and more trustworthy.
What about a newsletter name that rhymes? The newsletter Not a Bot has nearly 40,000 active subscribers, and Thrive25 enjoys a 50% open rate, according to beehiiv data.
If you’re interested in a rhyming title for your newsletter, websites such as Rhymezone will help you get some ideas.
Adjective + Noun
A noun in the title can tell a reader exactly what your newsletter is about. A qualifying adjective can narrow the niche or inspire a touch of curiosity.
This simple formula, Adjective + Noun, can help you encapsulate your newsletter’s value proposition in two words.
Young Money is an example of the clarity the right two words can provide. The Gentle Nudge is less obvious, but the reader knows this newsletter will push them to accomplish something.
Inspire Curiosity With Contrasting Concepts
If you want to put the Adjective + Noun formula on steroids, use two words that don’t seem to fit together.
Smart Nonsense provides just the right amount of cognitive dissonance. Self-contrasting titles such as Milk Road and Pique Action also suggest you’re going to get some unusual content.
Be Plain and Obvious
Sometimes you get more readers by sparing them the cognitive effort of figuring out what your newsletter title means.
Titles such as AI for Work, Entrepreneurship Handbook, Digital Asset Investor, Self Made Millennials, AI Tool Report, and Psychology of Marketing don’t leave questions in the reader’s mind.
Alliteration
Alliteration is the use of words that start with the same letter or sound. While we won’t worry about why it works, writers and poets have been using alliteration for centuries.
Here’s a handful of beehiiv newsletters that use alliteration in their titles:
Capital Creators
The Ramp Report
The Deep Dive
Healthcare Huddle
Roland's Riff
Napkin Notes
Fundraising Fieldnotes
The Ripped Report
Put Your Perspective in the Title
Ideally, your newsletter provides a unique point of view (POV). If you can describe your POV in a few words, you may have a compelling title on your hands.
When you see the title Female Founder World or Female Startup Club you’ll know you’re about to get a woman’s perspective on entrepreneurship. And even a Boomer can figure out that The Gen Z POV is written from the perspective of Gen Z.
Show that You’re Local
If your newsletter is about a specific place, include that place in the title. Examples include Cheapskate London, LA Happenings, and Ottawa Lookout.
Phrases With a Twist
When you use puns, you run the risk of turning your newsletter title into a dad joke. But sometimes a clever twist just works.
For example, Unicorner reports on new startups so investors can find the next unicorn.
Insider Jargon
According to creator Ryan Duffy, The Payload is written "for a highly concentrated audience of decision-makers in the commercial, civil, and military space sectors."
Therefore, it makes sense to use a space industry term as the title.
Conventional wisdom says to avoid technical terms. Many readers are turned off by words they don’t know. But if you’re writing for a narrow niche, using their jargon is a way to show you’re one of them.
LazyFPL and All Things CX & Retention also target readers who understand the term or the reference.
Add Time to the Title
Pop quiz: If you subscribe to Superpower Daily, how often will you receive it?
Many readers want to know how often you send your newsletter. If you add words such as “weekly” or “daily” to the title, they won’t have to wonder.
Include a Big Idea
Superhuman AI was one of the first newsletters to explicitly state what many people were beginning to understand: Artificial intelligence will extend the capacity, capability, and productivity of anyone who learns to use it.
Proficient AI users will become… well, superhuman.
Does your newsletter have a grand, overarching concept? Can you express it in a few words? Those words might be the perfect name.
It’s hard to find research that’s specifically about the length of newsletter titles.
But assuming your newsletter name is going to be in the From line, it helps to compare it to the length of an email address. This is a complex issue, but as a rule of thumb, 318 characters is the limit.
However, you should aim for a newsletter name that is much shorter than this. A study by AWeber took a look at the length of subject lines. They found that in general, less is more when it comes to open rates and other engagement. 30-50 characters is ideal.
We can’t promise that the same holds true for title length, but it’s telling that all the newsletter names we cited above have three words or less.
Brainstorming is the process of generating ideas without any kind of judgment, editing, or questioning.
Once you’ve brainstormed a few dozen potential title ideas, you can take a more critical look and decide what's going to work for you.
Techniques for Generating Newsletter Name Ideas
If you’re short on time, you can probably get a workable title using AI. However, organic brainstorming can lead to a newsletter name that resonates with you and your readers.
We’re going to show you how to do it both ways.
By now you probably have some experience with generative AI. The better you are at prompting, the better results you will get.
Here is a sample prompt. Use it in ChatGPT or your favorite AI writing app. The words in [brackets] are variables that you should change, based on your newsletter.
“Please help me brainstorm names for my newsletter. It’s a [real estate] newsletter for [real estate agents] interested in [getting 25 or more listings per year]. The newsletter is [funny] and [irreverent] but it also [provides actionable ideas]. Please suggest 25 names that contain 3 words or less.”
Once you get your results, be sure to follow up with additional prompts to fine-tune your titles. What you ask for will depend on the titles you generate, but here are a few example follow-up prompts:
Please suggest 25 new names similar to [#3, 17, and 22]
Please rewrite these names without using the word [“______”]
Using the same prompt, please rewrite the above names but mention [animals] in each one
Write 10 more versions of [#11] as if the reader were [worried about the economy}
Please rewrite these names using words that imply [success] without saying it directly
Natural Brainstorming
If you want to use your own brain for brainstorming, start with a blank screen. Or better yet, get yourself some paper. The most effective brainstorming is physical.
If you're brainstorming in a group, consider putting giant Post-it notes on the wall, or using a whiteboard and giving everybody a marker. Start throwing ideas up on the wall.
In his book, Writing the Natural Way, Gabriele Rico shares a powerful brainstorming technique called “Clustering.”
Start by writing a word or phrase that represents what your newsletter is about, such as dogs, pilates, gardening, mortgage lending, etc.
Draw a circle around this word or phrase, and then think of other words, ideas, and images that you associate with it. Draw a line from the original circle to each new word or phrase. Circle the new words, and connect them to additional words or phrases that are associated.
Clustering may look simple, but if you spend 30 minutes doing it, you're going to have a wealth of new ideas.
When you're done clustering, highlight the phrases that resonate with you the most. Sometimes, combining one or two is all you need to do to come up with your title.
Why Trust Us?
All beehiiv writers are carefully vetted for their knowledge and experience. Jacob Bear has been publishing the newsletter Bold Words for his copywriting clients for nearly a decade and has twice been named a “Top Copywriting Voice'' by LinkedIn.
The Psychology Behind Catchy Newsletter Names
Word Choice and Emotional Impact
Word choice is the foundation of good copywriting. Catchy newsletter names will play to your readers’ identity, promise something they want, and inspire curiosity or interest.
The 12 concepts and brainstorming techniques we gave you above will help you craft a good newsletter title. Here are a few ideas on nailing down the perfect words.
Nouns
Is there a specific object, place, or person that’s strongly connected with your newsletter and which your readers will immediately recognize? Can you think of a metaphor for your newsletter or business that would fit?
Verbs
It’s hard to find a successful newsletter with a verb in its title. This might be an opportunity. Verbs drive emotion because they are action itself. Imagine a newsletter title such as, “Run for Your Life,” “Create Capital,” or “Get Ripped.”
Adjectives
When it comes to adjectives, specificity matters. Don’t use generic adjectives. If you’re considering words such as “Excellent,” or “Amazing” in your title, ask yourself, “What makes this newsletter excellent or amazing?” Your answer will probably include a better word.
Another trick to using adjectives is to turn up the heat. If your newsletter is “Funny Cat Memes,” why not replace "funny” with “hilarious,” or even “outrageous?”
Crafting a newsletter title that stands out is a matter of both understanding your audience and understanding your ultimate goals.
A title should tell the reader what your newsletter is about, or give them information about you. A great title will answer the question, “How is this newsletter different from all others?”
There are an estimated 7 times as many newsletters in circulation today as there were in 2022. No matter what you publish, someone else is probably publishing similar content.
If you’re in a popular industry, a title that stands out is critical.
For example, there are more than 3,000 AI newsletters just on the beehiiv platform, not to mention other email newsletter services.
Nobody will subscribe to all of them. Every AI enthusiast will choose the newsletters that best fit their interests. The name of each newsletter gives the reader an important clue to finding out which newsletter is right for them.
You present your content in a unique way that nobody can copy. Your title has to reflect this, so the readers you want will find you.
The Dos and Don'ts of Selecting a Newsletter Name
Do:
Consider the style and tastes of your audience
Brainstorm multiple newsletter name ideas
Explore words associated with your business, your subject, or even your name
Experiment with formulas such as Adjective + Noun
Keep your name short
Be specific
Incorporate a big idea into your title
Don’t:
Use puns that sound like dad jokes (unless your typical reader is over 40)
Use vague, generic-sounding words in your title
Write a newsletter name that’s more than 5 words
Use negative, depressing titles
Use profane language in your title (unless your audience loves this)
Include specialized jargon for a non-specialized audience
Accept any of these dos/don’ts as absolute gospel in every situation
As a general rule, anything you create yourself is automatically copyrighted. Others can’t legally use or publish your content without written permission, except under limited circumstances.
However, the name of your newsletter is a different story. There are plenty of examples of books and movies with the same title even though they are completely different content created by different parties.
This sets an important precedent for newsletter names. If you want to protect your newsletter name, get it trademarked.
Understanding Trademark Nuances for Newsletter Names
If a phrase or title is trademarked, you own it and nobody else can use it without facing potential legal consequences.
When someone uses a phrase that is similar to a trademarked phrase, the issue gets more nuanced.
In general, the legal litmus test is whether the usage of the phrase can be expected to create confusion with the product or brand of the trademark holder.
For this reason, using a trademarked phrase for purposes of comparison or information is often legally OK. Presenting a knock-off as if it’s the actual trademarked property is illegal.
For example, if your newsletter name was Apple Products Reviewed you would probably be in the clear, because you’re providing information about Apple products.
But if you called it Apple Products, which could be mistaken for a newsletter published by Apple, your newsletter name would be violating trademark law.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Newsletter Naming
Failing to do your trademark research is a common pitfall. Before you invest too much in your newsletter brand, do a trademark search to ensure you won’t be forced to change your name later on.
A few other common pitfalls to avoid include:
Adopting a newsletter name that’s too long for Twitter
Overthinking your name
Using a “creative” spelling that makes it hard for readers to find you
Choosing a name that’s hard to say or spell
Picking a name that’s too generic
Being inconsistent with your brand
A name that’s too specific or constrictive for future growth
The Role of Consistency in Newsletter Naming
If you’re thinking big, you should pick out a newsletter name that is not only consistent with your brand today but is consistent with where you want to go.
Whether or not this was their intention, Morning Brew was able to spin off newsletters such as Marketing Brew, CFO Brew, IT Brew, and Healthcare Brew. They are well-positioned to brew up any kind of newsletter they want.
Branding Benefits of Creative Newsletter Names
Successful branding should be the Holy Grail for all businesses. When you own a popular brand, you can expect to sell anything you create.
Your most devoted fans are likely to subscribe to your newsletter, so a creative newsletter name will automatically strengthen your brand.
Creative newsletter names can also help with SEO, especially if your newsletter also lives online in a blog. This is one of the reasons beehiiv newsletters are automatically posted on a search engine optimized website.
Generic keywords are highly competitive, but a creative newsletter name will have less competition, if any.
An original newsletter name gives you a blue ocean where the lion’s share of content and SEO are associated with your brand.
Inspiration from Top-Performing Newsletters
If you read about the creators of some of the newsletters we’ve mentioned above, you will notice a trend. (Yes, they all use beehiiv, but that’s not what we’re talking about.)
They are all passionate about their subject matter. When you are excited about something, you will go the extra mile, have more fun, and create a better product.
At that point, considerations such as what to name your newsletter become easy and more organic.
The Power of a Platform
Once you’ve got a name for your newsletter, there are two things you need to do.
If you’re new, it’s time to grow your audience. If you already have a substantial number of subscribers, then it’s time to test your newsletter name or run a survey to find out what your readers prefer.
It’s no coincidence that so many passionate, successful creators and newsletter operators have switched to beehiiv. We built the platform with newsletter operators like you in mind.
beehiiv comes with a vast suite of user-friendly tools to help you design, test, and automate every aspect of your newsletter. This frees up your time and cognitive bandwidth so you can focus on making world-class content and turning your newsletter into a monetization machine.
New creators are flocking to beehiiv because you can have up to 2,500 contacts in our Launch plan, which includes most of our proprietary tools.
Better yet, if you start a beehiiv newsletter today, you can access all of our premium tools for a free 30-day trial.
Every successful newsletter has a strong foundation. The name is part of that foundation, but so is the platform you use. Build a strong newsletter with beehiiv.
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