Interesting article, although I don't fully agree - naming a startup is like naming a baby - it has to "feel" right. Which is usually not the case with various generators out there.
Whenever I was involved in naming libraries/websites/products it was usually the "A-HA!" moment one of the involved people had at any random point in process of coming up with a name.
I totally agree. I've named quite a few small projects over the last couple of years and every name I've been happy with has come to my in an "A-HA" moment. Everything just clicked about the name, and it was available.
Any time I've settled for a name that I didn't really like (usually out of lazyness), I end up feeling like something is missing from the project. A little bit of the love I had for it is lost.
That's why I'm building http://domiy.com , a tool which helps teams of people brainstorm name ideas. I believe that the best names arise when a number of people are trying to come up with a name over an extended period of time. You have to give the "A-HA" moments time to occur.
Whenever I was involved in naming libraries/websites/products it was usually the "A-HA!" moment one of the involved people had at any random point in process of coming up with a name.