How to Check If a Name Is Trademarked (Free, Before You Claim It)

You found a great name and the handle is free everywhere. Before you print stickers, check that nobody already owns the name as a trademark for something similar. Losing a handle after a complaint is a lot more painful than picking a different name now.

A trademark is a word, name, logo or slogan that tells people who is behind certain goods or services. The owner can object when someone uses a confusingly similar name for related goods or services.

Why a free handle isn't enough

A free handle only means nobody holds that username on that platform. It says nothing about trademark rights. Platforms hand out usernames first come, first served. Trademarks work differently: they protect a name for certain goods or services, and platforms usually have policies that let a trademark owner claim or report an account using their mark. So "available on Instagram" and "safe to use as a brand" are separate questions.

Free official trademark databases

Each major region runs its own free trademark database. Start with the one where you plan to sell.

Region	Database	Run by
United States	Trademark Search (replaced the older TESS system)	USPTO
European Union and many national offices	TMview, which searches many offices at once. EUIPO's own eSearch covers EU trade marks.	EUIPO and partner offices
United Kingdom	Search for a trade mark	UK IPO
Canada	Canadian Trademarks Database	CIPO
International	Global Brand Database, which collects marks from many countries	WIPO

How to search properly

Search the exact name and its variations, then read each result's goods, services and status. The USPTO's trademark search guidance covers clearance searching and likelihood of confusion in more depth.

1. Search the exact name, then close spellings and versions with spaces or hyphens.
2. Look at the goods and services listed with each result. A mark for software matters more to a tech brand than one for garden tools.
3. Check whether the mark is live or dead. Dead or abandoned marks are usually less of a worry.
4. Do a plain web search too. In the US, someone using a name in business can have rights even without registering it.

Say you want to sell candles as Nightowl. You search "nightowl", "night owl" and "nite owl" in Trademark Search. A live mark for night lights and lamps would be a real worry, because candles and lamps are close. A dead mark for clothing matters much less. Then you search the web for candle shops already using the name. Only after that do you check the handle and the domain.

Then check handles and domains

Check handles and domains only after the trademark search looks clear. Then see where the name is free. The name checker scans 3,450+ sites and checks common domain endings in one go. Our guides on reserving a username before launch and protecting a brand name on social media cover the claiming part.

FAQ

Is a trademark search the same as clearance?

No. A database search is a first filter. For a real business, a trademark attorney can do a full clearance search and tell you how risky the name is.

Can someone take my handle with a trademark?

Platforms can act on trademark complaints under their own policies, especially when an account confuses people about who runs it. Registering your own mark makes your position stronger.

Does FreeUsername check trademarks?

No. We check usernames and domains. Use the official databases above for trademarks.

A note on legal advice

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Trademark law differs by country.