Drink Name Generator
Free drink name generator, with the help of AI, for instant ideas.
Whether you’re a bartender looking to add a seasonal drink to your menu or an entrepreneur looking to launch a drink-based business, a name generator can make your selection process a lot easier. Instead of brainstorming drink name ideas, which can take up a lot of time, you can let the generator do the work for you. Alternatively, if it’s convenient, we’ve also pre-generated over 150 creative drink names to get you going:
Drink business name ideas
If you’re going to be starting a drink business then coming up with a good name for it is crucial. It should reflect the essence and spirit of your offerings. Whether it’s a cozy coffee shop or a chic cocktail bar, a captivating name will set the tone for customer expectations and experiences.
Cocktail drink names
The art of naming cocktails lies in evoking the senses and imagination. Names should hint at the story, ingredients, or sensation of the drink, offering patrons not just a beverage but an experience.
Soft drink name ideas
Names for soft drinks should bubble with personality and refreshment, capturing the essence of the flavors and fizz within. They should be catchy, making the drink a memorable part of any occasion.
Playful drink names
Injecting humor or wit into drink names can create a memorable and enjoyable experience for customers. Playful names can set a lighthearted tone, inviting guests to relax and enjoy.
Ingredient-based drink names
Names that highlight key ingredients can entice customers by setting clear taste expectations. This approach can appeal to those interested in the craft and quality of their beverages.
Drink names based on history or culture
Incorporating local history or landmarks into drink names can add depth and connection to the community. It’s a way to honor the past while enjoying the present.
Rhyming drink names
Rhyming names are catchy and fun, making them easy to remember. They add a playful element to the menu, encouraging customers to try something new.
Personification drink names
Giving drinks a personal touch by naming them after characters or personifying them can create a unique and engaging experience. It’s like each drink tells its own story. However, these must also be approached carefully. The last thing you want is to get a cease and desist letter from some celebrity because you used their name without permission. Always double check with an attorney if you’re unsure about using a particular name.
Tips and strategies for naming your drink
Naming your drinks is an intricate art and it helps to have a little guidance to point you in the right direction.
When gathering this information together, we studied the Taste Atlas top 100 cocktails in America list and picked out a few clues on how to name your drink. In fact, we incorporated some of them into the drink name ideas we shared earlier. The list includes:
- Animals. (Polar Bear, Brass Monkey, Grasshopper)
- Places. (La Louisiane, New York Sour, Brooklyn)
- Ingredients. (Milk Punch, Agent Orange, Blueberry Tea)
- Eccentric behavior. (Skip and Go Naked)
- Inventions. (Sidecar)
- Popular people. (Royce)
- Blockbuster shows. (Rob Roy)
- Creator(s). (Three Wise Men, Ramos Gin Fizz, Lime Rickey )
- Historical events and places. (B-51, Ward 8)
- Nationalities. (Mexican Martini, Red Russian, French Martini)
- Taste. (Gin Sour, Salty Dog)
- Weather. (Hurricane, Mudslide, Tequila Sunset)
Please note that the drink examples above ☝️ are real cocktail names. They are already taken. We used them as illustrations to prompt your imagination.
How to come up with catchy drink names
Crafting creative drink names requires a multi-pronged approach. There are many aspects you should consider if you want to get it right.
👇 Here are six tips to help you make a notable drink name.
1. Study what works for real drink names
First, to come up with great drink names, model what’s already working out there.
Don’t waste precious time trying to reinvent the wheel. Instead, find out what’s working and copy it. Of course, don’t copy it verbatim. Tweak it to suit your context.
Let’s evaluate three popular drink names and what makes them work so well.
Pina Colada
Whether it’s the sweet-sounding rhyme as it rolls off the tongue or its “strained pineapple” Spanish origin, Pina Colada is a fantastic drink name. Besides the delightful rhyme and its sweet pineapple and coconut taste, Pina Colada is a short two-word drink name.
Virgin Margarita
Another famous drink is the much-loved Virgin Margarita.
Notice how short it is? It’s only two words long, so it’s easy to say. Also, the name uses straightforward language. “Virgin” tells merrymakers that it’s a non-alcoholic drink or a mocktail – perfect for those who don’t drink alcohol.
And “margarita” rolls nicely off the tongue.
Old Fashioned
Third, let’s examine another renowned drink name, the classic Old Fashioned.
It draws you in with its simplicity. The name uses plain no-frills language. Using the phrase “old fashioned”, infers sticking to one’s roots and heritage. You visualize a pure, rich drink that’s untainted by modern ingredients.
And, once again, it’s very short.
2. Tap into your local history
Another possible approach for potent drink names that pack a punch is to draw upon your local history.
Your location is endowed with a rich heritage. Whether it’s unforgettable characters or gripping events that are forever etched in the minds of locals, work them into your drink names. Brownie points for you if you can match the drink name with the behavior of the historical figures or the nature of the event.
Click here to go back to our list of historical / cultural names.
3. Use the name of a famous person
A third strategy is to wrap your drink name around famous people in your region.
Here’s why this is a powerful strategy.
Prominent people, dead or alive, are instantly recognizable. So, including them in your drink name will make your name memorable and gain recognition faster. You could also go for globally famous superstars to inspire your drink name, but this strategy is more risky. In general, when using any famous person’s name, it’s best to check with an attorney or at least do some research to ensure that you won’t be violating any trademarks or copyrights.
Click here to go back to our list of personification drink names.
4. Base your name on the drink’s ingredients
Fourthly, consider basing your drink name on its ingredients.
It’s a foolproof way to come up with fascinating drink names that capture the heart of the drink. There are two ways to go about it. You can build a name based on the drink’s chief ingredient. Or anchor the name on the secondary ingredients.
Click here to return to the ingredient-inspired drink name list.
5. Find word pairings that gel well together
Up next, finding the best name for your favorite drink hinges on superb word pairings.
Getting remarkable individual words is easy. But combining them so they click requires more effort and a lot of trial and error. Once you settle on what you think is a good pairing, don’t stop there. Verify the name with friends and other people in your circle.
To find rhyming words:
- Make separate lists of synonyms of the words you want to include in your drink name
- Group the words in your lists in alphabetic order
- Scan the lists for words that have similar sounds
- Combine words with similar sounds to see if the phrase makes sense
Click here to go back to our list of rhyme based drink names.
Otherwise, if you want another easy way to find words that rhyme, you can try the drink name generator at the top of this page, which brings us to…
6. Use a drink name generator
Before you get started, it’s important to understand why you’re going to be using the name generator. If it’s just to get creative drink name ideas, then you can simply use it as-is. Just write your seed key phrase in the search bar and hit the big red button.
However, if you’re planning on launching a drink brand or some other kind of business that will require an online presence (i.e., a website), then you will want to make one slight adjustment before hitting the red button. Directly underneath it, you’ll notice a toggle option that says Check Domains.
It’s off by default, but if you turn it on, you’ll not only get drink name ideas, but you’ll be able to check available domain names for those ideas.
It’s all very straightforward. Once the drink name ideas propagate, if you see one you like, tap on View Domains to see what your options are. Otherwise, if there isn’t anything that catches your eye, then click on Load More at the bottom. As the name promises, this will load additional results for you to peruse.
If you run the generator without turning on the toggle then you’ll get a nice clean list of names without the View Domains buttons. Again, this is perfect for those of you who aren’t interested in building a website and only want drink name ideas.
Drink name generator: how to pick the best names
To wrap this up, remember that producing drink name ideas is relatively simple, and can even be fun.
However, it does require some work and time investment – especially if you are doing things completely manually.
Undoubtedly, an AI-powered drink name generator makes the task easier and faster. You can even combine the two methods by using the generator first, and then manually editing the results.
And on that note, we say cheers!
If you want to write ✍️ about cool drinks like these, you also might be interested in our guide on 👉 how to start a food blog or our article on 21+ food blog ideas.