Daycare Names: A List of 50 Ideas to Get You Started

If you’re starting your own daycare, choosing the right name is important. A good name can help you stand out amongst your competitors and even help with your online visibility.

Whether you are starting a brand new daycare or rebranding your existing program, this guide will explain what goes into choosing a name for your daycare along with some inspiration and examples.

Tips for coming up with a name for your daycare

If the perfect name hasn’t jumped out at you right away, don’t worry! Naming your business is a huge decision and it’s okay to take your time. 

• Keep a journal. so you can get all your ideas down on paper. Any time something pops into your head, or you hear a word or phrase you really like— write it down. You’ll want to have a nice long list to choose from, so keep the ideas flowing. 
• Think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to get creative and use a thesaurus to find new versions of more common words. You might even choose to use words from another language, or combine languages. 
• Think like a parent. With any name you are considering, try to imagine if you were a parent searching for daycare— what kind of impression would you get from the name?
• What makes you unique? Is there something your daycare offers that others don’t? Is there something really special about you or your program that should inspire the name? 
• Scope out the competition. You can use Winnie to search for daycares in your area to make sure your name hasn’t been taken or to get some inspiration. You can also do a trademark search to make sure a name you’re considering hasn't been trademarked.
• Make it memorable. You’ll want to make sure your name is easy to remember and easy to spell.
• Check the URL and social media options. You’ll want the website for your daycare to be easy for parents to remember, so it shouldn’t stray too far from the name itself. You’ll also want to see if the name is available on all the social media channels.

I have a shortlist of names. How do I choose the best one?

• Call in some backup. If you’re having trouble choosing between a few names, you may want to ask friends and family to weigh in on the decision. You can create a poll or survey and have people choose their favorite name. 
• Get real parents involved. You may even want to join a few local groups on social media and post a link to your poll, introducing yourself as a new provider in the area and asking parents to help choose a name for your program. This is great for getting your name out there and getting people excited about your daycare. 
• Look at them in logo form. If you already have an idea for your logo or sign, you can try each of your names and see which one looks the best. 

What are the best names for in-home daycares?

An in-home daycare can be cozier and more home-like than a larger daycare center and you’ll want your name to reflect that.

Here are some examples of names for in-home childcare programs.

• Little Yellow House Daycare
• The Tots Playhouse
• Home Sweet Home Daycare
• First Friends Daycare 
• Maple Street School
• Red Door Playgroup

Another option is to use your own name. Many in-home daycare providers choose to use their first name in the name of their daycare. 

• Amy’s Academy
• Bonnie’s Home Daycare
• Angela’s Angels
• Miss Marcy’s Playgroup
• Natalie’s Sunflower Childcare
• Gina’s Playhouse

What are the best names for a daycare center?

If you are opening a larger daycare center, you’ll want the name to reflect the type of program you are running. For example, are you more academic-focused or play-based? Do you follow a certain curriculum or philosophy? 

Academic-focused daycare names

• Little Scholars Daycare
• Rosewood Early Learning Academy
• Little Sprouts Prep
• Little Learners Daycare
• Motivating Minds Childcare
• Smart Start Daycare
• Wiz Kids Academy
• Kiddie Prep Learning Center
• Little Stars Daycare
• Smart Start Early Learning Academy
• Bright Start Prep

Play-based daycare names

• Little Dreamers Daycare
• Wildflower Playcare
• The Play Garden
• Bright Beginnings
• Willow Nest School
• Little Blossoms
• Play & Grow Childcare
• Play & Learn Daycare

Cute daycare names 

• Sunshine Daycare
• Jumper Bean Daycare
• Beansprouts
• Tiny Sprouts
• Little Snowflakes
• TIny Tots Daycare
• Little Nest Learning Center
• Roots and Wings
• Little Penguins Daycare
• Small Beginnings 
• Honeybirds Casa
• Little Hands Daycare
• Little Wonders Childcare

Unique & Creative daycare names

 A name that is unique will stick out in someone’s mind and may attract more parents to your program. 

• Papaya’s Place
• Ready Set Grow
• The Imaginarium
• Growing Together Daycare
• Future Stars Daycare
• The Hive

Once you have your daycare name, be sure to sign up for a Winnie page to get your program in front of local parents searching for care!