diff --git a/src/commands/new.ts b/src/commands/new.ts
index e0995fd..5b76f8f 100644
--- a/src/commands/new.ts
+++ b/src/commands/new.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,25 @@ import { requireApiKey } from "../env.ts"
 import { renderMarkdown } from "../markdown.ts"
 import { saveChanges } from "./helpers.ts"
 
+const ADJECTIVES = [
+  "calm", "bold", "warm", "cool", "keen", "soft", "fast", "wild", "fair", "rare",
+  "deep", "dark", "pale", "wide", "slim", "tall", "glad", "pure", "safe", "free",
+  "hazy", "lazy", "cozy", "tiny", "vast", "busy", "easy", "gray", "gold", "blue",
+  "rosy", "wavy", "mild", "loud", "firm", "flat", "crisp", "dry", "raw", "odd",
+]
+const NOUNS = [
+  "fern", "dune", "cove", "pine", "reef", "hawk", "pond", "mesa", "vale", "glen",
+  "haze", "moss", "peak", "tide", "dawn", "lynx", "wren", "sage", "crag", "flint",
+  "leaf", "reed", "cave", "star", "gust", "surf", "opal", "lark", "vale", "plum",
+  "birch", "clay", "jade", "ivy", "fox", "elk", "bay", "ash", "dew", "oak",
+]
+
+function randomBranchName(): string {
+  const adj = ADJECTIVES[Math.floor(Math.random() * ADJECTIVES.length)]
+  const noun = NOUNS[Math.floor(Math.random() * NOUNS.length)]
+  return `${adj}-${noun}`
+}
+
 function fallbackBranchName(text: string): string {
   return text
     .toLowerCase()
@@ -63,7 +82,7 @@ export async function action(
   if (!branch && opts.print) {
     branch = await branchFromPrompt(opts.print)
   } else if (!branch) {
-    die("Branch name or prompt is required.")
+    branch = randomBranchName()
   } else if (branch.includes(" ")) {
     // If the "branch" contains spaces, it's actually a prompt — derive the branch name
     prompt = branch