When most people think of premium domain names, they imagine sleek, brandable words like Zoom.com, Amazon.com, or Stripe.com—names that are clean, obvious, and easy to remember. But here’s the truth: some of the internet’s most successful startups began with downright weird domain names.
These oddballs—some funny, some risky, some just plain confusing—went on to become massively successful digital properties. Why? Because it’s not always about the name itself—it’s about the story you build around it.
Let’s dive into a few surprising examples of strange domain names that turned into serious businesses—and the key lessons you can learn if you’re looking to invest in domains or launch your own digital brand.
What started as a tongue-in-cheek gaming blog evolved into a full-blown esports content platform. “Winner winner chicken dinner” became a meme in the gaming world, and ChickenDinner.com leaned all the way into it. Their unapologetically silly name is now an instantly recognizable brand in the competitive gaming space.
💡 Takeaway: Inside jokes or cultural references can become powerful branding tools when your audience gets it.
Let’s face it: “Dr. Squatch” sounds more like a cartoon character than a grooming brand. But this soap company turned its absurd name into an asset. Their viral YouTube ads—featuring jokes about Sasquatch-level stink—made the domain and the product unforgettable.
💡 Takeaway: Humor + a quirky domain = brand gold. Especially when the name reinforces your tone and mission.
Naming agencies usually go for sophistication. Not this one. EatMyWords.com built its reputation by flipping the script, offering edgy, unexpected naming strategies—and their quirky domain set the tone. The domain doesn’t describe the business literally, but it communicates a bold personality, which is the business.
💡 Takeaway: Domains don’t always need to be descriptive. Sometimes they just need to be unforgettable.
Before it was acquired by Intuit for $12 billion, Mailchimp started as a free side project for a small web design firm. The name? A combination of "email" and… well, a chimpanzee mascot. It was weird. It was playful. And it stuck.
💡 Takeaway: If your product is useful and your brand is consistent, even the strangest names can become icons.
This isn’t a horror site. It’s a wildly popular stock photo service for creatives tired of generic imagery. Their name is rebellious, memorable, and impossible to ignore. It attracted a tribe of designers who craved something different.
💡 Takeaway: Your domain can start a movement if it challenges the status quo.
Absolutely—if it sparks curiosity, tells a story, or aligns with your brand’s voice. In a sea of predictable domain names, sometimes the strange ones stand out most.
Before dismissing that oddball domain idea, ask yourself:
You might just own the next “DrSquatch” or “EatMyWords” in the making.
In the domain world, the line between “ridiculous” and “genius” is razor-thin. The next time you stumble across a bizarre .com that makes you laugh, don’t click away too quickly—it might just be your next big brand.
Want help finding or acquiring a quirky domain that works? Get in touch with us here → domainlions.com/domains.