™ Legal Tool · Trademark + Domains + Socials

Startup Name Checker

Enter your startup name — get instant trademark conflict checks, domain availability across 6 TLDs, and social handle availability on all major platforms.

Try: Notion Linear Stripe Acme
Checking USPTO & EUIPO trademark database
Checking domain availability (.com .io .co .ai .de .eu)
Checking social handle availability
Analysing name quality & brand signals
Name analysis result
Name Score / 100
US Trademark (USPTO)
EU Trademark (EUIPO)
Name length
Brandability
Domain availability
Social handle availability

Handle availability is estimated via DNS/redirect signals. Always verify manually before registering — platforms don't provide a public API.

Name quality analysis

Why Startup Naming Matters

Your startup name is the foundation of every marketing dollar you'll ever spend. A strong name is short, memorable, and pronounceable — it reduces the cost of customer acquisition because people remember you without effort. Research from Harvard Business School found that phonetic symbols (like X, Z, and soft vowels) associated with honesty are 23% more likely to make it to the IPO stage. Names like Stripe, Slack, and Linear succeeded not despite being short, but because they were. Conversely, a name that's hard to spell, already trademarked, or lacks a .com domain will cost you in confused email forwards, missed searches, and potential legal disputes. Before you print business cards or register a company, run the name through this checker to assess trademark risk, domain availability, and handle consistency in one pass.

Trademark Basics for Founders

Trademarks protect brand names, logos, and slogans from unauthorized use by competitors. In the EU, you file with EUIPO (850 EUR for one class) for pan-European coverage, or with your national office (e.g., DPMA in Germany at 30 EUR online) for country-specific protection. In the US, the USPTO charges 250–350 USD per class. Trademarks are organized into 45 Nice classes — most startups need Class 9 (software), Class 35 (marketing/e-commerce), and Class 42 (SaaS/IT services). Before filing, always conduct a clearance search: both exact matches and phonetically similar marks in your class. A common founder mistake is checking only the exact name — 'Strype' would conflict with 'Stripe' in Class 42 due to likelihood of confusion. This tool provides a preliminary check, but a formal trademark application should be reviewed by an IP attorney.

Domain Strategy: Which TLD?

The .com TLD remains the gold standard — it's the first most users will try to type. If yourname.com is taken, the next best options are .io (tech startup standard, 30–50 EUR/year) and .co (acceptable .com alternative). The .ai TLD is popular for AI companies but comes with drawbacks: higher registration fees (80–120 EUR/year), geopolitical risk (Cayman Islands jurisdiction), and potential regulatory uncertainty. For EU-focused startups, .de and .eu are strong secondary choices — .de even converts better than .com in the DACH region. Strategy: secure .com first, .io as a defensive registration, and your country TLD (.de/.uk/.fr) if you're market-specific. Redirect all secondary TLDs to your primary domain to consolidate SEO authority.

FAQ: Startup Name Checking

  • Can I use a name that's similar to an existing trademark? No — trademark law prohibits names that are 'likely to cause confusion.' Even subtle variations ('Gooogle' for 'Google') will face opposition. Always search the USPTO and EUIPO databases before committing.
  • Do I need a trademark immediately? Not day one, but before you spend on marketing or build brand recognition. Many founders wait until seed funding, then file as part of their legal setup. The downside: someone else might register it first.
  • How do I check social handle availability? Visit each platform and try typing @yourhandle. LinkedIn, X/Twitter, and Instagram are the priority three. This tool estimates availability, but always verify directly on each platform.
  • What makes a good startup name? Short (2-3 syllables), easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and available as a .com domain. Avoid descriptive names ('BestCloudHosting.com') — abstract or coined names (Stripe, Notion, Figma) build stronger brands and are easier to trademark.
  • Can I trademark a generic word? No — generic terms in your industry cannot be trademarked ('Apple' for a fruit seller, but 'Apple' for computers is fine because it's arbitrary in that class). Descriptive terms need secondary meaning (long-term use). Coined or arbitrary words have the strongest protection.