A server name does three jobs: it gets said out loud ("join Embervale SMP"), it gets typed into a search bar, and it sets expectations about the gameplay. That is why the generator leans on short compounds and theme words instead of random syllables - Runegard RPG tells a player more than any tagline. Generate a batch, shortlist three, then say each one out loud and type it once; the winner is usually obvious.
Lock the branding in while it is fresh: a custom address (play.yourname.com), a matching 64x64 server icon and a colored MOTD that repeats the name. Those three lines in the server list are your storefront - and they are all free to set up.
Short, easy to say in a voice chat, easy to type, and specific enough to hint at what the server is - a survival SMP reads differently from a factions network. Two words beat four, and made-up compounds ("Embervale") age better than meme names.
Yes - search the name before committing. You are not legally reserving anything by using it, but sharing a name with an established server buries you in their search results and confuses players.
The list shows the name players typed when adding your server, plus your MOTD - so pair a strong name with a matching MOTD (our MOTD generator does the formatting) and, ideally, a custom address like play.yourname.com.
Buy a domain and point an SRV or A record at your server - most hosts document it. It looks better than a bare IP, survives IP changes, and matches your name and branding.