A great title does three jobs at once: it tells people what the song is about, it's easy to remember when they want to find it again, and it sounds good said out loud. Most finished songs already contain their title; you just have to spot it.
Here are nine ways songwriters do it.
1. Use the hook
The most reliable rule in songwriting: the title is the line people sing back. If your chorus repeats a phrase, that phrase is probably your title. "Shake It Off", "Rolling in the Deep", "Someone Like You": every one of them is the hook.
Ask yourself: if someone heard the song once, what would they type into a search bar to find it? Name it that.
2. Pick one concrete image
When the hook is too long or too generic, look for one specific object, place or picture in the lyrics. "Paper Rings", "Mr. Brightside", "Wagon Wheel" and "Yellow" stick because you can see them. A concrete image beats an abstract feeling: "Broken Heart" describes a thousand songs; "Drivers License" describes one.
3. Use a name or a place
Names make songs feel personal and real: "Jolene", "Valerie", "Galway Girl", "Chicago". If the song is about someone or somewhere, try their name as the title.
4. Ask a question
Questions pull listeners in because they want the answer: "Who Says", "What's Going On", "Do I Wanna Know?". They work especially well for songs about doubt, longing or a relationship that's unclear.
5. Twist a common phrase
Take a saying everyone knows and bend it: "Love the Way You Lie", "Since U Been Gone", "Bad Blood". The familiar part makes it memorable; the twist makes it yours.
6. Go with one word
One-word titles are bold and easy to remember: "Hello", "Royals", "Halo", "Creep". The catch is that they're also hard to search for, so make sure the word is distinctive or central to the song.
7. Use contrast
Two opposite ideas side by side create tension: "Fire and Rain", "Heaven and Hell", "Sweet Disposition". It's a quick way to hint at a song's emotional conflict.
8. Borrow from the story's turning point
Some songs are named after the moment everything changes: "The Night We Met", "Last Friday Night", "The Day I Tried to Live". If the song tells a story, the turning point is a strong candidate.
9. Add a parenthesis
When a title needs both a short name and a longer hook, songwriters split it: "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", "Fix You (Acoustic)". Use this sparingly; it works best when the short part could stand alone.
Mistakes to avoid
- A title that isn't in the song. Unless it's intentional (and there's a reason), listeners will struggle to connect the two.
- Reusing a famous title. Song titles can't be copyrighted, but naming your song "Bohemian Rhapsody" makes it impossible to find.
- Too long. If it doesn't fit comfortably in a streaming app's song list, shorten it.
- Clichés. "Heart of Gold", "Fire and Ice", "Broken Wings": they've all been done many times.
Still stuck? Generate ideas
Our AI song title generator writes a dozen titles for the song you describe, in the genre, mood and title style you pick (one word, chorus hook, question, image, name or place), with the technique behind each one and a chorus line that could carry it. It's free with an account. Use it the way songwriters use a co-writer: not to replace your judgement, but to get you moving.
Once you have a title, turn it into a song: write the lyrics with the lyrics generator, or describe the song on the homepage and hear it sung.
FAQ
Should I write the title first or last? Either works. Many songwriters start from a title because it gives the whole song a target; others find it in the finished chorus.
Can two songs have the same title? Yes, titles aren't protected by copyright. Just avoid titles of very famous songs so yours can be found.
How long should a song title be? Most hit titles are one to four words. Shorter is easier to remember and search for.