Is my brand name too similar to an existing trademark?
You've got the name. It's on the mockups, maybe the domain's in your cart, and now there's a quiet worry: is it too close to something that's already out there? That worry is worth an answer before you print, file, or announce, because renaming after launch is one of the most expensive mistakes a young brand can make.
Type your name below and this tells you, in seconds, how close it sits to live U.S. trademarks (matched by sound, spelling, and meaning, not just exact letters) with a 0–100 conflict-risk score and the actual marks it found. It's a faster, more honest answer than asking a chatbot, which can't see the live register and will confidently make marks up. This is a preliminary screening signal, not legal advice. But it turns a vague worry into something you can actually look at and decide on.
What "too similar" actually hinges on
"Too similar" hinges on whether people could confuse the two, not on spelling overlap. That turns on three things: does it sound like an existing mark, does it look like one, does it mean the same thing. And crucially, is the other mark in a related industry. A name that's nearly identical to a mark in a totally unrelated field is often fine; a loose match to a mark in your own category can be the bigger problem. The tool separates those out so you're not guessing.
How to read your result
A high score means close matches surfaced that are worth reviewing. Open the records, check whether they're in your line of business. A low score means fewer close matches turned up in this dataset: reassuring, but not a green light, since it doesn't cover common-law, state, foreign, or design marks. Either way, for a name you're committing real money to, a professional clearance search is the sensible next step.
Frequently asked questions
If the score is low, does that settle it?
It means little that's close surfaced here: a good sign, not a guarantee. It's a signal, not a verdict.
It found a similar name in a different industry. Do I need to worry?
Often less so; relatedness of the goods matters. Review the record and, for a serious name, get a clearance opinion.
Screen your name now
Check it against millions of live U.S. trademarks by sound, spelling, and meaning. Free, no account.