Short, sharp, memorable

One-word band names

A one-word band name is the dream: Queen, Nirvana, Metallica, Coldplay, Muse. It fits on a drum head and sticks in the memory. It is also the hardest kind of name to own, because a single dictionary word shares search results with everything else it means.

Here are the best-known one-word band names, then original one-word ideas, many of them invented words or unusual compounds, which are far easier to find in search.

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Famous one-word band names

Notable acts from Wikidata, ranked by the number of Wikipedia language editions about them.

  1. Queen 1970 · art rock · UK
  2. ABBA 1970 · scandinavian pop · Sweden
  3. Lordi 1992 · pop metal · Finland
  4. Paramore 2003 · power pop · US
  5. Motörhead 1975 · speed metal · UK
  6. Metallica 1981 · thrash metal · US
  7. BTS 2013 · korean hip-hop · South Korea
  8. U2 1976 · dance-rock · Ireland
  9. Nirvana 1987 · grunge · US
  10. Blackpink 2016 · trap · South Korea
  11. AC/DC 1973 · classic rock · Australia
  12. Coldplay 1999 · alternative rock · UK
  13. Twice k-pop · South Korea
  14. Rammstein 1994 · shock rock · Germany
  15. Kiss 1973 · hard rock · US
  16. Aerosmith 1969 · traditional heavy metal · US
  17. Eagles 1971 · country rock · US
  18. Oasis 1991 · neo-psychedelia · UK
  19. Scorpions 1965 · hard rock · Germany
  20. Måneskin 2016 · pop rock · Italy
  21. Ramones 1974 · pop-punk · US
  22. Slipknot 1994 · nu metal · US
  23. Korn 1993 · nu metal · US
  24. Blink-182 1992 · pop-punk · US
  25. Slayer 1981 · thrash metal · US
  26. AKB48 2005 · bubblegum · Japan
  27. R.E.M. 1980 · folk rock · US
  28. EXO 2012 · synth-pop · People's Republic of China
  29. Genesis 1967 · progressive pop · UK
  30. Kara 2007 · k-pop · South Korea
  31. Nickelback 1995 · post-grunge · Canada
  32. t.A.T.u. 1999 · lgbtq+ art · Russia
  33. Soundgarden 1984 · stoner metal · US
  34. BigBang 2006 · synth-pop · South Korea
  35. Clannad 1970 · new age · Ireland
  36. Kraftwerk 1961 · electronica · Germany
  37. OneRepublic 2009 · cello rock · US
  38. Pantera 1981 · groove metal · US
  39. Roxette 1986 · europop · Sweden
  40. Blondie 1974 · power pop · US
  41. Blur 1988 · lo-fi · UK
  42. Kino 1981 · post-punk · Soviet Union
  43. Deftones 1988 · nu metal · US
  44. Mayhem 1984 · black metal · Norway
  45. Sepultura 1984 · groove metal · Brazil
  46. Burzum 1991 · dark ambient · Norway
  47. Europe 1978 · speed metal · Sweden
  48. Gorillaz 1998 · art pop · UK
  49. HIM 1995 · gothic rock · Finland
  50. Tool 1990 · psychedelic rock · US
  51. Placebo 1994 · britpop · UK
  52. Erasure 1985 · synth-pop · UK
  53. Garbage 1993 · alternative rock · US
  54. Keane 1995 · piano rock · UK
  55. N.W.A. 1986 · political hip-hop · US
  56. Sabaton 1999 · power metal · Sweden
  57. Manowar 1980 · true metal · US
  58. Disturbed 1994 · nu metal · US
  59. Helloween 1984 · power metal · Germany
  60. 2NE1 2009 · synth-pop · South Korea
  61. a-ha 1982 · pop rock · Norway
  62. Anthrax 1981 · thrash metal · US
  63. Candies 1973 · pop · Japan
  64. Itzy 2019 · electronic dance · South Korea
  65. SHINee 2008 · synth-pop · South Korea
  66. Toto 1977 · yacht rock · US
  67. Weezer 1992 · nerd · US
  68. Cream 1966 · jam band · UK
  69. Rush 1968 · hard rock · Canada
  70. Ha*Ash 2002 · country pop · US
  71. Pixies 1986 · indie rock · US
  72. Serebro 2006 · synth-pop · Russia
  73. Venom 1979 · thrash metal · UK
  74. Bathory 1983 · thrash metal · Sweden
  75. Opeth 1990 · technical death metal · Sweden
  76. Eurythmics 1980 · blue-eyed soul · UK
  77. Got7 2014 · k-pop · South Korea
  78. INXS 1977 · pub rock · Australia
  79. Korpiklaani 1993 · humppa · Finland
  80. Whitesnake 1978 · blues rock · UK
  81. Boyzone 1993 · popular · Ireland
  82. Death 1983 · death metal · US
  83. Enigma 1990 · new age · Germany
  84. Audioslave 2001 · alternative metal · US
  85. Cascada 2004 · eurotrance · Germany
  86. Chicago 1967 · adult contemporary · US
  87. Foreigner 1976 · hard rock · US
  88. Hoobastank 1994 · alternative rock · US
  89. Jamiroquai 1992 · nu-funk · UK
  90. Kreator 1982 · thrash metal · Germany
  91. Portishead 1991 · electronica · UK
  92. Seventeen 2015 · c-pop · South Korea
  93. Stratovarius 1984 · power metal · Finland
  94. Wham! 1981 · new wave · UK
  95. Behemoth 1991 · blackened death metal · Poland
  96. DragonForce 1999 · speed metal · UK
  97. NCT 2016 · k-pop · South Korea
  98. Accept 1968 · heavy metal · Germany
  99. Blue 2000 · popular · UK
  100. Darkthrone 1986 · black metal · Norway
  101. Enhypen 2020 · k-pop · South Korea
  102. Gojira 1996 · technical death metal · France
  103. Laibach 1980 · dark wave · Slovenia
  104. LMFAO 2006 · synth-pop · US
  105. O-Zone 1999 · electronic dance · Moldova
  106. Sugababes 1998 · dance · UK
  107. Air 1995 · electronica · France
  108. Immortal 1990 · thrash metal · Norway
  109. Jedward 2009 · pop · Ireland
  110. Journey 1973 · arena rock · US
  111. Santana 1967 · music of latin america · US
  112. TVXQ 2003 · dance · South Korea
  113. Bananarama 1979 · dance-pop · UK
  114. Boston 1976 · hard rock · US
  115. Creed 1994 · post-grunge · US
  116. Godsmack 1995 · post-grunge · US
  117. Interpol 1997 · post-punk revival · US
  118. Meshuggah 1987 · djent · Sweden
  119. NewJeans 2022 · new jack swing · South Korea
  120. NOFX 1983 · pop-punk · US
  121. NSYNC 1995 · contemporary r&b · US
  122. OutKast 1992 · psychedelic rap · US
  123. Supertramp 1969 · progressive rock · UK
  124. Travis 1990 · post-britpop · UK
  125. Aqua 1989 · bubblegum · Denmark
  126. Bauhaus 1978 · gothic rock · UK
  127. HammerFall 1993 · power metal · Sweden
  128. I-dle 2018 · k-pop · South Korea
  129. Incubus 1991 · funk metal · US
  130. Kasabian 1997 · indie rock · UK
  131. Röyksopp 1998 · synth-pop · Norway
  132. UB40 1978 · dub · UK
  133. Alphaville 1982 · synth-pop · Germany
  134. Anathema 1990 · death-doom · UK
  135. Dio 1982 · heavy metal · US
  136. Eluveitie 2002 · celtic metal · Switzerland
  137. Ensiferum 1995 · folk metal · Finland
  138. Go_A 2012 · folktronica · Ukraine
  139. MGMT 2002 · psychedelic pop · US
  140. RBD 2004 · pop · Mexico
  141. Run-DMC 1981 · hardcore hip-hop · US
  142. Scooter 1993 · rave · Germany
  143. Slade 1966 · glam rock · UK
  144. TLC 1991 · contemporary r&b · US
  145. Carcass 1985 · goregrind · UK
  146. Justice 2003 · french electro · France
  147. Kalush 2019 · hip-hop · Ukraine
  148. Mamamoo 2014 · contemporary r&b · South Korea
  149. Mastodon 2000 · progressive metal · US
  150. Testament 1983 · thrash metal · US

One-word band name ideas

Invented words, compounds and unusual nouns, screened against 120,000+ notable artists. Original ideas, screened against 120,000+ notable artists when this page was built. Check your favourite before you use it. Generate more →

  1. Seabloom
  2. Mothdust
  3. Steelgang
  4. Reveries
  5. Rhymeflow
  6. Crownhouse
  7. Mainframes
  8. Weathervanes
  9. Goldline
  10. Heatwaves
  11. Lulirin
  12. Rewindz
  13. Wolfhammer
  14. Butterfly
  15. Saltsong
  16. Moonbird
  17. Westbound
  18. SUNLIGHT
  19. Wonarin
  20. Cassette
  21. Crescendo
  22. Hyperdrives
  23. Hulow
  24. Thornbound
  25. FORTUNE
  26. Shadowz
  27. Nightmode
  28. Skyfall
  29. Snowfallz
  30. Rainheart
  31. MOMENTUM
  32. ZENITH
  33. Brickcraft
  34. Seahollow
  35. Larkbloom
  36. Jukebox
  37. Wolfbound
  38. Skywave
  39. Crowgrave
  40. Surolin
  41. Kurfewz
  42. FREQUENCY
  43. Bonegrave
  44. Duskbloom
  45. Bilira
  46. Flares
  47. Hera
  48. Morela
  49. Firoven
  50. Cadences

Questions

Are one-word band names a good idea?

They are memorable, but a common word like "Storm" is almost certainly used by other artists and hard to find. Invented words (Metallica, Coldplay) or unusual nouns work better.

How do I make a one-word band name?

Blend two words into a compound (Frosthammer), alter a real word, or pick an unusual noun from your imagery. Set the generator length to "1 word" to get only one-word names.

Can I use one of these real band names?

No. The names in the notable-bands lists belong to real, well-known acts, so using one would confuse fans and could infringe their rights. Use them for inspiration, then generate an original name and run it through the band name checker.

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