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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.
