Category naming FAQ
Answers to the most common questions about category names, naming conventions, and the Sortly generator.
Everything people ask about naming categories — from the phone test to plural-vs-singular to whether the generator is really private. (It is.)
What is a category name generator? +
A category name generator creates name ideas for the groups you organize things into — product collections, blog topics, pantry labels, budget buckets, folders, playlists and project boards. Sortly combines adjectives, category nouns and your own seed words into suggestions you can copy, download or remix.
What makes a good category name? +
Three tests: clarity (a stranger can guess what is inside), brevity (one to three words), and the phone test (someone can spell it after hearing it once). Marketing categories can be playful; organizational categories should lean descriptive.
Can I use generated names for my business? +
As brainstorming starting points, yes. Before public use, search the name online, check trademark databases in your country, and confirm a matching domain or handle is available if you need one. Generated names are not trademark-cleared.
Should category names be singular or plural? +
Use plural for containers that hold many things (Spices, Invoices, Socks) and singular for concepts (Sale, Emergency Fund, In Progress). Apply the rule consistently across the whole set — inconsistency makes a system feel sloppy.
How many categories should a blog have? +
Five to eight. Every category with only one or two posts looks abandoned, and too many categories paralyze readers. If a new topic does not fit an existing category, it may not deserve one yet — a tag can hold it until the topic earns its own home.
What is the phone test for names? +
Say the name out loud once, then ask someone to spell it. If they cannot — it fails the phone test. Category names get spoken in stores, dictated to voice assistants and typed from memory; hard-to-spell names quietly cost you visitors and customers.
Should I put keywords in my ecommerce category names? +
The primary category name should match the words shoppers search for — check Google's suggestions and the 'People also ask' box for free. But do not stuff: 'Trail Running Shoes' beats both 'Off-Road Striders' and 'Best Cheap Trail Running Shoes Deals Online'.
How do I name categories so they scale? +
Pick one naming pattern per set and write it down: descriptive vs creative, singular vs plural, casing, and whether you use numbered prefixes. Future categories then name themselves. Our naming conventions guide covers each decision.
Is Sortly really free and private? +
Yes. No sign-up, no accounts, no pricing tiers. The generator is plain JavaScript in your browser using crypto.getRandomValues(); nothing is sent over the network, no cookies are set, nothing is stored. See the privacy page.
Can I download the names I generate? +
Yes. Click any name to copy it individually, use 'Copy all' for the whole batch, or 'Download .txt' to save the set as a text file with a timestamp. The file is created locally in your browser — nothing is uploaded.