khadinakbarlabs/expo-mobile-app-builder/app-naming-android

App Naming (Android)

Two names. One is irreversible.

Two names

1. App name (Play listing, 30 chars) — changeable anytime
2. Package name (com.yourcompany.appname) — IRREVERSIBLE

Once published with com.foo.bar, you cannot change it. Forever.

Package name rules

• Reverse domain pattern (com.yourcompany.appname)
• Lowercase, no spaces
• Don't use "android", "google" (trademark)
• Don't use "test", "tmp" (the user's first habit-app got published as com.example.app — STUCK)
• Avoid generic names that competitors can clone

Good: com.example.rupeetrack Bad: com.example.budget (generic, sets bad precedent)

App name (changeable)

• 30 chars Play title + 30 chars subtitle
• Trademark check via USPTO TESS + WIPO Global Brand Database before committing
• Avoid Google trademarks: "Android", "Play", "Pixel", "Wear", "Google"
• Avoid Apple trademarks: "iOS", "iPhone", "iPad"

Trademark search workflow

1. USPTO TESS (US trademark)
2. WIPO Global Brand Database
3. Domain availability (yourapp.com) — check Namecheap
4. Twitter/X handle availability
5. GitHub org name
6. Play Store search (existing app with same name)
7. App Store search (iOS conflict)

Block before committing to brand.

Name patterns that work

• Compound: "RupeeTrack" (rupee + track)
• Made-up: "Notion", "Calm" (made-up words rank well in ASO long-term)
• Descriptive: "Budget for India" (good ASO short-term, weak brand)
• Foreign: "Habito" (memorable, distinctive)

Avoid

• Generic words: "Budget", "Tasks", "Notes" (trademark + search both bad)
• Hyphens (worse search)
• Numbers (forgettable)
• Punctuation other than letters (some don't index)

Pair with

• position-pitch-android for tagline alignment
• aso-keywords-play for SEO
• Trademark search BEFORE finalizing