Brand, Web & Presence

How do I name my startup so it's not already taken, is available as a .com or .in, and doesn't get lost on Google?

A starting point

Pick a name you can actually own: check trademark availability, domain, and whether you rank on your own name before you fall in love with it. A slightly odd invented word you can dominate in search beats a clean generic word ten other companies also use. In India, secure both the .com and .in early, and do a quick MCA company-name and trademark search so you don't rebrand at Series A.

Go deeper

Hand-picked from around the web, each with a note on why it earns your time.

3 resources 2 link-checked Read Use

Read

📄 Article

✓ Link checked Free Beginner

Why we picked it Most naming advice stops at brainstorming, this one is a plain five step sequence for actually checking whether a name is free: trademark database, domain, a Google search for who already ranks, and social handles. It is honest that a name can be legally clear and still be a bad idea if search results are dominated by a bigger brand, which is the trap founders miss. Treat it as a starting checklist, not legal advice.

How to Choose a Business Name: A 5-Step Availability Check

From Carry by Jaiya (Carry) ~10 min read

Run the checks in order: trademark search, then domain, then Google the name, then social handles, before you commit.
A name being un-trademarked and domain-available still is not safe if a larger company already owns the search results for it.
Register a couple of backup domain redirects early, since rebranding later is expensive and confuses customers.

Open carry.com →

Use

🛠️ Tool

✓ Link checked India Free Intermediate

Why we picked it This is the official government register, so if you are building in India this is where you confirm a name is not already trademarked in your class before you spend on a logo or filing. It offers wordmark, phonetic, and Vienna code search, and phonetic matters because a name that merely sounds like an existing mark can still block you. A clear search here is a real starting point, not a guarantee, so pair it with an IP lawyer before you file.

IP India Trademark Public Search

From IP India by Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) varies

The official Indian register, so a hit here is the one that actually matters for legal availability in India.
Use phonetic search, not just exact spelling, since sound alike marks in your class can still cause objections.
Trademarks are class specific, so search within the class that fits your product, and confirm with a professional before filing.

Open tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in →

🛠️ Tool

Free Beginner

Why we picked it Before you get attached to a name, you want one screen that tells you if the handle is free everywhere at once. Namechk checks a name against 100+ social platforms and dozens of domain extensions in a single search, so you catch a clash on Instagram or TikTok in seconds instead of finding out after you have printed the cards. Treat it as a fast first sweep, not a legal clearance.

Namechk: Username and Domain Availability Checker

From namechk.com by Namechk

Green means available, dimmed means taken, so you can scan a name across social platforms and domains at a glance
One search covers 100+ platforms plus common domain extensions, replacing dozens of manual checks
It flags handle and domain conflicts only, so pair it with a trademark and company-name check before you commit

Open namechk.com →