Many of our clients ask: What is the best length for YouTube channel name?

While YouTube will happily accept long channel names, the question is should you take the advantage of the extra space (for SEO reasons, for example) or should you try to keep your channel name short?

In this post we’ll explore some advantages and disadvantages of using long channel names and see what’s the optimal length by analyzing the data derived from thousands of trending YouTube channels.

Hi, I’m Mik from TunePocket. This post is based on the actual YouTube data collected YouTube over the course of several months. Based on the data we’ll try to see what’s the optimal length of YouTube channel name (how many characters and how many words).

Key takeaways

• We’ve analyzed thousands (and counting) of trending YouTube channels.
• There are multiple considerations for and against using long channel names.
• The most common length for YouTube channel name falls between 10 and 15 characters, followed by 5-10 characters. This shows a preference for concise yet descriptive names (read the post to see the exact distribution).
• Most channels tend to have 1 to 2 words in their names, reflecting a preference for simplicity and ease of recall.
• Don’t rely on the channel name length alone, use channel keywords, along with meaningful description to boost your channel’s discoverability (we’ve listed some helpful video SEO tools and resources near the bottom of the post).

Should I make my channel name short or long?

Proper YouTube channel name is crucial because it serves as the first impression of your brand, helping viewers quickly understand your content and making your channel memorable.

A well-chosen name can help viewers find your channel, build up your brand, while a poor name can hurt your chances of making it on YouTube.

So the question remains:

Should I create a long channel name or keep it short?

Here are some considerations for and against using long channel names:

Advantages of using long channel names

• Descriptive and Specific

  A longer name allows you to include more detail about your channel’s content or niche, which can make your channel’s purpose immediately clear to potential viewers.

• SEO Benefits

  More keywords can be included in the name, which could potentially help with search engine optimization (SEO) and make your channel easier to discover for specific queries.

• Brand Uniqueness

  A longer name might help you stand out if the shorter or simpler versions are already taken, allowing you to claim a unique identity.

• Creative Freedom

  If you have a quirky or creative concept that requires a more complex or elaborate name, a longer name gives you the flexibility to express that.

Disadvantages of using long channel names

• Hard to Remember

  Long names can be difficult for viewers to remember, especially if they have complex words or multiple elements.

• Reduced Branding Opportunities

  Long names can be harder to use for branding, logos, or promotional materials. Shorter names are often easier to fit on things like banners, merchandise, and icons.

• Typing Difficulty

  Viewers may find long channel names cumbersome to type, which can deter people from searching for your channel directly.

• Truncated in Search Results

  YouTube and other platforms might cut off part of the name if it’s too long, especially on mobile devices. This can reduce the impact of your channel name and make it less effective.

• Limited Social Media Compatibility

  Some social media platforms have character limits for usernames and handles. A longer name could prevent you from having a consistent brand name across all platforms.

While the above list should give you some general tips and consideration, it’s best to see the real data.

Let’s check if trending YouTubers prefer short or long channel names.

What’s the optimal number of characters for a YouTube channel name?

As I mentioned earlier, we’ve analyzed thousands of trending YouTube channels to determine the most common length of a channel name.

Here’s what we found:

The longest channel name was 50 characters.

The shortest channel name was just 2 characters. ​

So what does it tell us?

This tells us that at least some of the trending creators opted for extremely concise names, likely due to brand recognition or simplicity.

On the other hand, the longest names with 50 characters, demonstrated that some channels preferred descriptive or collaborative names that provide more context.

But what is the most common length of YouTube channel name?

The most common channel name length is 10-15 characters. This shows a strong preference for concise yet descriptive names.

Here’s the exact distribution:

0-5 characters: 3.40%

5-10 characters: 24.24%

10-15 characters: 43.31%

15-20 characters: 20.67%

20-30 characters: 6.95%

30-40 characters: 1.24%

40-50 characters: 0.21%

What is the optimal word count for a YouTube channel name?

Now let’s see how many words you should use when creating your channel’s name.

Based on our research here’s what the trending YouTubers did:

1 word: 35.41%

2 words: 42.45%

3 words: 16.10%

4 words: 3.85%

5 words: 1.37%

6 words: 0.54%

7 words: 0.13%

8 words: 0.09%

9 words: 0.04%

10 words: 0.02%

The ideal number of words for a YouTube channel name falls between 1 to 3 words.

You have some options here.

Use 1-2 words for memorability, branding, and simplicity.

Use 3 words if you want a slightly more descriptive name without compromising recall or branding.

get instant ideas for YouTube channel name

Related: YouTube channel name ideas (based on data research)

don’t rely on the channel name length alone if you want to succeed you YouTube!

Setting the proper channel name is definitely an important step in your YouTube strategy.

However, don’t forget to optimize your channel and each video’s metadata!

Here are some free tools and resources that can help:

Optimazing your channel name is metadata is great but remember the most important thing: just make good videos that people want to watch!

Related: How to pick the best name for your YouTube channel based on data research

Questions?

We hope you find our research helpful.

Have another burning question about YouTube? Post it in the comments and we’ll do the data crunching.