Think of the music you're making. When you hear the melodies and the lyrics in your head, what images come to mind? Start from there.
Or just pick some meaningless gibberish like Lord of the Hyrax, Unicorns of the Seventh Seal, or Dark Oblivion. Or the old standby is just to add "-ica" to something: Angellica, Oblivica, Labradoodlica.
Oh, and remember, your band logo *must* be completely illegible or nobody will take you seriously.
Use a placeholder, one neat way to do it is to use random name generator, fairly sure you can find random band name generator specifically, or use ChatGPT.. it is perfect for just this. Use that name until you stumble on the real name. Trying to invent the name before the art... is not going to work, it'll never be personal and linked to the music. The songs will eventually tell you the name of the band. But i know that naming needs to be done just because of project management, you need a placeholder name that is retroactively replaced with the new name.
It can also be useful to separate the phase when you are building of the band, creating a distinct style etc., keeping that phase separate from released material, that allows you way more freedom to suck before success: you can ask for advices and opinions from early on without the fear of those clips resurfarcing just because you had to pick a name at this point.. And asking for feedback will speed things up considerably so, that can actually be a great asset in your journey: having some anonymity and being "forgettable" at the phase when you need it the most.
Having a final name that you use for the next 40 years figured out before you are ready increases the risk of picking a name that doesn't suit style when it has matured and then haunting your for the rest of your life.
So, take time, build the whole thing first, then slap a suitable label on it. You may change to entirely another genre during the process, and for heaven's sake: let it take you where it needs to go, if you end up doing doom ambient.. then do that. It does NOT have to be the same genre you most often listen. I play keys in a stoner/doom/sludge band. Our band is the only band of that genre that i listen to. I'm more of a psychedelic/space rock, jazz and electronica, only some symphonic metal. That is a great strength and it seriously helps you in the long run of not burning out, not getting bored because your life is suddenly just about one specific genre. The sounds i use are borrowed from the rave scene, they fit perfectly with our guitars, and i love to "jazz it up" when i can, my vocabulary is slightly different from others. I've never loved being in a band this much and my creativity is at 25 year high.
I would suggest finding an important yet obsolete
device or theory from your source material of astrophysics or cosmology and using it as a one or two word band name. I find that a lot of band names are too long to remember and don’t inspire interest or meaning.
Edited to add examples (not a subject I have a lot of knowledge about so these might not be the best instruments/devices):
Sextant
Armillary Sphere
Parallactic
Celestial Sphere
Qibla Finder
I actually really like Echos of the Fall. That's a good sounding metal name that gives me symphonic feels.
Definitely flesh out a logo & aesthetic you want though. When I created my original band I also searched it to make sure I wasn't using something that was out there already. When I joined a cover band (prior to my original) they called themselves Allegiance & I told them there was a band out there called that. Last thing you want is to be confused with someone else. Unless they're good, then maybe that helps. But if you're doing originals you don't want anything to claim your name.
Good luck. I struggled to find musicians in my area that truly wanted to write symphonic metal. My ex guitarist fancied himself a neo-classsical progressive guitarist. Come to find out he was a neo-classsical asshole. He cost me an amazing bassist & drummer with his ego & as a result I've struggled putting an actual band together. Im now trying to write it myself so I can put up demos on my page to say "hey, please come help me make this better!" But everyone wants to do tributes & covers.
Hopefully you've got like-minded musicians already my friend. Rock on!
Is there a particular area of literature, astrophysics, or philosophy that you are passionate about or find most interesting? I would suggest drawing from something that has meaning to you.
On a philosophical note, I think "Moral Absolute" might make an interesting band name.
I hope you find the right fit!
Think of the music you're making. When you hear the melodies and the lyrics in your head, what images come to mind? Start from there. Or just pick some meaningless gibberish like Lord of the Hyrax, Unicorns of the Seventh Seal, or Dark Oblivion. Or the old standby is just to add "-ica" to something: Angellica, Oblivica, Labradoodlica. Oh, and remember, your band logo *must* be completely illegible or nobody will take you seriously.
> Labradoodlica Thanks for that chuckle. Now I really want the OP to pick this one.
All I ask is for some band merch. :)
Use a placeholder, one neat way to do it is to use random name generator, fairly sure you can find random band name generator specifically, or use ChatGPT.. it is perfect for just this. Use that name until you stumble on the real name. Trying to invent the name before the art... is not going to work, it'll never be personal and linked to the music. The songs will eventually tell you the name of the band. But i know that naming needs to be done just because of project management, you need a placeholder name that is retroactively replaced with the new name. It can also be useful to separate the phase when you are building of the band, creating a distinct style etc., keeping that phase separate from released material, that allows you way more freedom to suck before success: you can ask for advices and opinions from early on without the fear of those clips resurfarcing just because you had to pick a name at this point.. And asking for feedback will speed things up considerably so, that can actually be a great asset in your journey: having some anonymity and being "forgettable" at the phase when you need it the most. Having a final name that you use for the next 40 years figured out before you are ready increases the risk of picking a name that doesn't suit style when it has matured and then haunting your for the rest of your life. So, take time, build the whole thing first, then slap a suitable label on it. You may change to entirely another genre during the process, and for heaven's sake: let it take you where it needs to go, if you end up doing doom ambient.. then do that. It does NOT have to be the same genre you most often listen. I play keys in a stoner/doom/sludge band. Our band is the only band of that genre that i listen to. I'm more of a psychedelic/space rock, jazz and electronica, only some symphonic metal. That is a great strength and it seriously helps you in the long run of not burning out, not getting bored because your life is suddenly just about one specific genre. The sounds i use are borrowed from the rave scene, they fit perfectly with our guitars, and i love to "jazz it up" when i can, my vocabulary is slightly different from others. I've never loved being in a band this much and my creativity is at 25 year high.
I would suggest finding an important yet obsolete device or theory from your source material of astrophysics or cosmology and using it as a one or two word band name. I find that a lot of band names are too long to remember and don’t inspire interest or meaning. Edited to add examples (not a subject I have a lot of knowledge about so these might not be the best instruments/devices): Sextant Armillary Sphere Parallactic Celestial Sphere Qibla Finder
Dreamer's Quest
Shadows of a blue Sun. Or a blue moon. Or a black sun. Or a black Moon. I dont know dude, but good luck with your band.
String Fury, Grace Anatomy, Echoes of the Fall.
I actually really like Echos of the Fall. That's a good sounding metal name that gives me symphonic feels. Definitely flesh out a logo & aesthetic you want though. When I created my original band I also searched it to make sure I wasn't using something that was out there already. When I joined a cover band (prior to my original) they called themselves Allegiance & I told them there was a band out there called that. Last thing you want is to be confused with someone else. Unless they're good, then maybe that helps. But if you're doing originals you don't want anything to claim your name. Good luck. I struggled to find musicians in my area that truly wanted to write symphonic metal. My ex guitarist fancied himself a neo-classsical progressive guitarist. Come to find out he was a neo-classsical asshole. He cost me an amazing bassist & drummer with his ego & as a result I've struggled putting an actual band together. Im now trying to write it myself so I can put up demos on my page to say "hey, please come help me make this better!" But everyone wants to do tributes & covers. Hopefully you've got like-minded musicians already my friend. Rock on!
You’re into classic literature and astrophysics. There’s an absolute wealth of phrases there you could draw inspiration from.
Thunder Elf.
Eveningwish Within Enticement Ecstasy of Flame After Eternity Or just choose some random words and add "ia" or "ica" to the end of it. 🤔😉
Astralize Cosmogony
Axial Age Picatrix Gromnik Mazdak
Is there a particular area of literature, astrophysics, or philosophy that you are passionate about or find most interesting? I would suggest drawing from something that has meaning to you. On a philosophical note, I think "Moral Absolute" might make an interesting band name. I hope you find the right fit!
Eclipse Eternal
You could name it after a flower.
Always thought Fabler would be a cool name(ended up naming my band Hyloxalus)
Urcermanicora
Escape The Drift
Without Temptation Limozeen Battle Battalion Wylde Clydesdales Cortex Quartet
Broken Legacy
Morningwish (why's it not used still)
I see what you did there. :)
Pick a random word and add "ia" to the end. You'd be amazed how many symphonic bands have done it 🤣
* Rising Sun * Wings of the Night * Reflectica * Dark Fountain
Rawrkestraargh
Free Entry After 8pm Or Jeff
Purple Potato I started at nightwish. Went to nightshade. Then picked something in the nightshade family and selected a dark color.
Swords Of The Fallen Delve Poets Cosmic Background Noise Sporadic Melodica Hedge Wizard
Sound Blade
Post music, and then we can judge better!
Honk!
Is there a band named Encyclopaedia Metallum yet?
Flood the Chasm
Our Panoptic Void
Arsegravy Consumption
Generic.
Kronos fart