Choose a DJ Name: Ultimate Guide | DJCity

Once you’ve learned the ropes of DJing, you might want to start to take it a little bit more seriously. In fact, you might be ready to start getting involved in the industry and making a name for yourself. Which brings us to… your DJ name. 

One of the most important decisions you’ll have to make aside from the equipment you use, is your DJ name! 

So in this article, we’ll go through why it’s so important, whether you should use a DJ name generator, and what to consider so you can make the right name choice for you!

• Why do you need a DJ name?
• What to consider?
• Will your name fit the style of DJ you are?
• Is it search engine friendly?
• Do you use the word “DJ” or not?
• Is your name pronouncable?
• Choosing a name
• DJ Name Generator
• Using a Thesaurus
• Other DJs
• Settling on a name

Why do you need a DJ name?

Whether you’re hitting the clubs or DJing at weddings & formal events, your audience and fans are always going to ask what your DJ name is. But before you even rock up at the gig, you’re also going to need a name to go on your logo. Otherwise, you’ll quickly be known as DJ “your first name” and your non-existent logo will be left off the club flyers condemning you to a lower rung of recognisability.

Your DJ name is a crucial part of your DJ identity and helps establish your brand in the industry.

So if you’ve decided you’re ready to take things a bit more seriously, now’s the time to settle on a DJ name, as well as a logo! But what should you consider before settling on a name that you might have to stick with for a while to come? What do other people in the industry consider when choosing their DJ names?

How to start and what should you consider?

The first question: Will your name fit the style of DJ you are?

The biggest question that you need to consider before you get set on a DJ name and logo is whether it’s going to fit the style of DJ you’re wanting to become. 

If your goal is to be a main stage club or festival DJ, then your goal should be to appeal to the type of music scene you’re looking to become a part of. It means you can get a little bit edgier and out there with your name and logo because you’re going to be appealing to a highly different audience compared to a DJ for weddings and formal events. 

If you want to skip the nightclubs and focus mainly on the aspect of mobile DJing; you might want to go for something a little bit more sophisticated, yet still unique. Remember, you want to appeal to a wide range of people who might be booking you, whether it’s an engaged couple or someone booking a corporate function.

Looking at how other top DJs have chosen their names can provide valuable insights and inspiration for your own choice.

Another consideration is whether you decide to skip the individual DJ name altogether and opt for a company name to represent your DJing services. This can help make your DJ services look like a bigger entity than it might be, and help persuade more clients of your worth.

It also leaves the door open if you ever decide to team up with other professions to offer additional services for your events, such as photography or event planners.

Next question: Is your DJ name search engine friendly?

Yes, we are serious. In this day and age, you simply can’t undervalue the importance of showing up on the first page of Google! Like it or not, DJ names need to be digitally compatible.

With an infinite amount of DJs offering their services online, there’s going to be a slim chance that you’ll instantly show up on the first page. But you can definitely do a few things to make it easier for yourself if people do try to search for you online or on social media: Thing number one is to be unique.

This is why it’s important to pick a unique name. Even using your real name can come in handy unless your name is something relatively common like John Smith.

Not only do you need your name to stand out, but it’s worth making a few little tweaks to your online presence to help you get found. If you did decide to call yourself DJ John Smith, and you’re a mobile DJ with a focus on weddings who lives in Sydney – consider using this to your advantage. Changing your name on social handles and the titles on your website to include Sydney Wedding DJ John Smith can make a world of a difference. 

If people don’t yet know who you are, nobody’s going to be searching for you specifically. But they might be looking for the keyword “Sydney Wedding DJ”. This way you’re going to put yourself leaps and bounds ahead of the competition who will undoubtedly be leaving these crucial keywords out of their online presence. It is called search engine optimisation and it’s what digital marketers do to attract web traffic.

Should you use the word “DJ” or not?

Over the years, having the term “DJ” in front of your name has slowly started to become a thing of the past. Just take a look at the annual DJ Mag Top 100 DJs for 2024 list. You’ll see far fewer DJs on that list who actually use the DJ moniker before their name than in days gone by.

But in saying that, if you’re just starting out it can’t hurt to include it. You can also just as easily drop the “DJ” once you become a household name. It goes back to being easily found online, and having “DJ” in front of your name can quickly tell your audience exactly what services you’re offering.

Is your name readable and pronounceable?

There are definitely some benefits to using your actual name as your DJ name. But if it’s something that’s not readable, pronounceable, or memorable; then it might be worth thinking of something a bit more fictitious. 

You can even consider a blend of your actual name. Take famous producer Kygo for example – real name: Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll. Do you think he would have as much claim to fame if that’s the name he went by?

Finding Ideas and Inspiration for Your DJ Name

Finding inspiration for your DJ name can be a challenging but exciting task. A great DJ name can help establish your unique identity and set you apart from other artists. 

Here are some tips to help you find inspiration for your DJ name:

• Explore your real name for inspiration: Sometimes, the best DJ name ideas are right under your nose. Using your actual name can add a personal touch and make you more relatable. If your name is unique, it might already stand out. Alternatively, you can modify your given name to create a memorable stage name. For instance, Armin van Buuren uses his original name, which has become iconic in the DJ world.
• Think about your musical style and genre: Your DJ name should reflect the type of music you play. If you’re into electronic dance music, a futuristic or edgy name might suit you. On the other hand, if you’re a hip-hop DJ, something that resonates with the culture might be more appropriate. Your name should give potential listeners a hint about your musical journey.
• Consider your personality and brand values: Your DJ name is an extension of your brand. Think about what you stand for and how you want to be perceived. Are you fun and energetic, or more serious and sophisticated? Your name should align with your personality and the image you want to project.
• Look to your favorite DJs and artists for inspiration: While you shouldn’t copy another DJ’s name, you can certainly draw inspiration from them. Make a list of the DJ names you admire and identify what makes them appealing. This can help you brainstorm unique name suggestions that resonate with you.
• Brainstorm words and phrases that reflect your music and style: Take some time to jot down words and phrases that describe your music, style, and personality. Mix and match these words to create potential DJ names. This exercise can spark creativity and lead you to the perfect name.

Choosing your name

So we’ve touched over the things you need to take into consideration, now it’s time to get creative. By now, you might already have a few concepts of a name in mind. If not, and you’re still stuck for ideas, below are a few ways you might be able to spark your brain with some potential ideas.

Use a DJ Name Generator

An obvious suggestion, but using a DJ name generator such as cueup.io lets you quickly and randomly generate names you can use as a DJ. Yes, sometimes these automatic DJ name generator platforms can be pretty cheesy but you just might find something that gets your creative juices flowing. If you are interested, what do you have to lose by using a DJ name generator? 

Online Thesaurus or Dictionary

From modern day generator platforms to old school: Another great idea is to jump onto the online thesaurus or dictionary to help you think of different and alliterative names for your DJ persona. Think Laidback Luke or DJ Jazzy Jeff if you are not sure what we mean.

Explore Your Real Name for Inspiration

We’ve mentioned it before but it is worth considering how to use your real name as a DJ name, especially if you have a unique or memorable name. You can also consider altering your real name to create a stage name that is still personal but also distinctive. For example, you could use a nickname or a variation of your real name. This approach not only keeps your identity intact but also makes it easier for people to remember and relate to you. 

Ensuring Originality and Availability

Once you have a few DJ name ideas, it’s essential to ensure that they are original and available. Here are some steps to take:

Check for Word Trademark and Domain Availability

Before finalising your DJ name, make sure to check if it’s available as a trademark and domain name. You can use online tools such as the US Patent and Trademark Office database or domain name registrars like GoDaddy to check availability. Make sure to search on Google, Bing and any other search engines you might have access to. This will help you avoid any potential legal issues and ensure that you can secure your desired domain name. Having a unique and legally protected name is crucial for building a professional brand.

Verify Social Media Handle Availability

In addition to checking trademark and domain availability, it’s also important to verify that your desired social media handles are available. This includes handles on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X, Tik Tok, Instagram and Spotify. Having consistent social media handles can help you build a strong online presence and make it easier for fans to find you. Consistency across all platforms reinforces your brand and makes you more recognisable in the crowded DJ landscape.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your DJ name is original, available, and ready to help you establish your unique identity in the music industry.

Other DJs

You definitely don’t want to hijack someone else’s DJ name so it might be a good idea to write a list with all the names you do like or the names of artists in your intended genre and compare them with your shortlist of options. This will ensure no crossover or any credible accusation of copying.

Settling on a name

Taking the suggestions from this article into account, you should hopefully now have a list of potential names you’re tossing up between. But the best DJ name for you will depend on your personal preference.

Before you settle on one, make sure you take the time to explore each of these names on Google to make sure you don’t choose one that’s already being used, that doesn’t sound right, or contains a word or words with unintended meanings. (Especially if you use an automatic name generator!) You might be able to use different spellings or formats to get around this but obviously, you don’t want to choose a name that could find you mixed up with a world-famous DJ.

Share your options with trusted friends and colleagues, to get their feedback and to test the waters.

All in all, whatever name you end up picking, there will undoubtedly be times where you wish you chose something different. That is human nature and every artist has those moments.

Be confident with whatever name you choose and know you can always change things if you do decide to go a different path later on in your career.

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