A good shortlet business name is short, easy to say on the phone, and hints at comfort or place, like “Palm Grove Suites” or “Ilé Àlàáfíà Homes”. Below you will find name ideas in six styles, names to avoid, how to check a name is free to use, and how to put it to work on your listings.
Every example here is invented to spark ideas. Before you fall in love with one, check that nobody else is already using it.
What makes a good shortlet name
Run each idea through these five tests:
- Easy to say and spell. Read it to a friend over the phone. If they have to ask how it is spelt, keep looking.
- Short. Two or three words fit on a sign, a social media handle and a listing title.
- Says something. Comfort (“Haven”, “Rest”), place (“Lekki”, “Wuse”) or style (“Loft”, “Garden”) helps guests guess what you offer.
- Room to grow. If you hope to run five homes one day, avoid a name tied to one flat.
- Yours alone. Not already used by another shortlet, hotel or brand, especially in your city.
Name ideas by style
Mix and match. Many strong names join a word from one row with a word from another.
| Style | Examples | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Place-led | [Area] Loft, [Area] Garden Suites, The [Street] Place | One area; guests who search by location |
| Comfort words | Quiet Palm Stays, The Nest, Blue Door Apartments, Harmattan House | A warm, homely feel that travels to any area |
| Nigerian languages | Ilé Àlàáfíà Homes, Udo Suites, Gida Stays, Ìsinmi Apartments, Nnọọ House | A local, proud identity that stands out |
| Nature and view | Lagoon Breeze Stays, Palm Grove Suites, Sunset Terrace | Homes with a real view, garden or water nearby |
| Family name | The [Surname] House, [Surname] Residences | Owners who want a personal, trusted feel |
| Business stays | [Area] Executive Suites, [City] Work Stays | Homes set up for business travellers and long stays |
Words from Nigerian languages
A word from home can make a name feel warm. A few that suit a place to stay:
- Yoruba: ilé (house, home), àlàáfíà (peace, well-being), ìsinmi (rest).
- Igbo: ụlọ (house), udo (peace), nnọọ (welcome).
- Hausa: gida (home), lafiya (health, well-being).
Check the meaning, spelling and tone marks with a native speaker before you print anything. Think about guests who do not speak the language too: can they say it, and can they type it into a search box? One option is to keep the tone marks on signs and drop them online, so the name is easy to search.
More ideas from Nigerian life and craft
Everyday objects, cloth and nature make warm, easy names. Pair any of these with Suites, Stays, Homes, House or Place:
- Cloth and craft: Adire, Aso Oke, Indigo Door, Raffia, Calabash, Cowry.
- Trees and flowers: Hibiscus, Mango Tree, Palm Grove, Baobab, Flame Tree.
- Sky and water: Sunbird, Lagoon Light, Harmattan, First Rain, Evening Breeze.
- Colour and texture: Terracotta, Laterite, Ivory Gate, Green Shutter.
So “Adire House”, “Hibiscus Suites” or “Sunbird Stays”. Pick words that match your home: “Lagoon Light” only works if guests can see the lagoon.
A quick way to build a list
- Write down five words about your home: its best feature, its area, its feel.
- Add five words for staying: Suites, Stays, Homes, House, Loft, Place, Rest.
- Pair them up and read each pair aloud. Circle the ones that make you smile.
- Show your top five to three people who might book. Ask which one they would remember tomorrow.
Names to avoid
- Close to a well-known brand. A name that sounds like a famous hotel or company confuses guests and can cause legal trouble.
- Promises you cannot keep. “Luxury”, “Five Star” or “24/7 Power” set expectations. Guests will judge you against them.
- “Hotel” or “Resort” when you are not one. It misleads guests about services such as a front desk or restaurant.
- Hard spellings, numbers and hyphens. “Shortlet-4-U” is hard to say and harder to find.
- Too narrow. “Lekki One-Bed Stay” stops working when you add a two-bedroom in Ajah.
- A bad meaning elsewhere. Say it in the main languages of your city and check it does not mean something awkward.
- Copies of local names. If another shortlet nearby uses a similar name, guests will mix you up.
- Party names for a no-party home. A name like “Owambe House” invites the very bookings your house rules forbid.
Test your shortlist
Before you decide, put your last three names through a quick real-world test:
- The phone test. Say it to someone on a call and ask them to type it. Did they spell it right?
- The driver test. Would a driver or a guard understand it at the gate?
- The sign test. Write it large on paper and look from across the room. Is it clear and short?
- The search test. Search it online with your city. Is anyone else using it?
- The guest test. Ask three people who might book which name they would remember tomorrow.
Checking a name is free to use
This section is not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so check with the official bodies or a lawyer before you commit.
- Business name registration. If you trade under a business name, that name is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The CAC’s own website explains how to check whether a name is available and how to register it.
- Trademarks. Registering a business name is not the same as owning a trademark. If you plan to grow into a well-known brand, ask a lawyer about trademark protection.
- Search online. Search the name with your city, and on property and social media sites. Look for shortlets, hotels and brands using the same or a similar name.
- Handles and web address. Check the name is free as a social media handle and a web address, even if you will not build a website yet.
For the bigger picture of setting up, see how to start a shortlet business in Nigeria and registering a shortlet business in Nigeria.
Using the name on your listings
A name only helps if guests see it everywhere. But remember that guests search by area and type of home first, not by a brand they have never heard of.
- Listing titles: name first if you like, then the home. “[Name]: 2-bedroom shortlet in Lekki Phase 1 with pool” works far better than the name alone.
- The same name everywhere: listings, the sign at the door, the welcome book, receipts and social media.
- The Wi-Fi network: naming your Wi-Fi after your business is a small, friendly touch guests see every day.
- A simple logo: useful on a door sign or a welcome card. Keep it off your listing photos, which should show the home clearly.
- Consistent quality: a name becomes a brand when every guest gets the same clean, calm stay.
Good titles, photos and descriptions matter more than any name. Our guide to a shortlet listing that gets booked covers them.
On Cabans, hosts run their homes from a business profile, and each listing can take bookings online. Your “Wi-Fi network name” shows to guests from the moment their booking is confirmed, so it is a nice place for your business name.
Guests pay online through Paystack, and Paystack’s processing fee is paid by the guest. Cabans charges you a 5% commission, and you are paid within 7 days after the stay, or sooner when the guest taps “Approve payment” after their trip. See how to make your short let bookable online and how to take shortlet bookings online.
Put your new name to work
Chosen your name? List your short let and use it in your listing title and description. For ideas on how other hosts present their homes, browse shortlets in Lagos, shortlets in Abuja or shortlets across Nigeria.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a name for my shortlet business?
Write down 20 ideas in different styles, then cut the list to five that are short, easy to spell and say something about comfort or place. Check each is free to use, say them out loud on a pretend phone call, and pick the one guests will remember.
Should my shortlet name include the area?
It helps guests place you, and it can help people searching for that area. The risk is growth: a name like “Lekki Loft” sounds odd on a flat in Ikeja. If you plan to expand, keep the area in each listing title instead.
Do I need to register my shortlet business name?
If you trade under a business name, that name is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Check the current steps and fees on the CAC’s own website, or ask a lawyer or accountant. This guide is not legal advice.
Can I use a Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa word in my shortlet name?
Yes, and it can make a name warm and memorable. Check the meaning and spelling with a native speaker, including tone marks, and make sure guests who do not speak the language can still say it.
Can I change my shortlet name later?
Yes, but it costs time and money: new signs, a new registration, and repeat guests who know the old name. Take a little longer to choose now, and you will not need to.
Should my listing title be just my business name?
No. Guests search by area and type of home, not by a name they have never heard. Put the name first if you like, then the home: “[Name]: 2-bedroom shortlet in Lekki Phase 1”.
Related guides
How to start a shortlet business · Shortlet business plan · Shortlet listing tips · How to advertise a shortlet · Registering a shortlet business
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