A list of vaguely similar marks isn't an answer. You're left to eyeball twenty results and guess which one actually matters. This tool gives you a single 0–100 conflict-risk score for your brand name against the live USPTO register, and then shows you how it got there. That second part is the difference: enterprise tools quote an "explainable" score and never reveal the mechanism; this one breaks the number down by signal so you can see what's driving it.
The score compares your name to 4.6M live marks by sound, spelling, and meaning, weights those signals, and factors in whether the closest match sits in a related goods class. Higher means more potential conflict worth investigating; lower means fewer close matches surfaced. It's a preliminary screening signal, not legal advice. But it's a legible one, with the evidence for every point on display rather than hidden behind a paywall or a black box.
What goes into the score
The number reflects the single closest match, broken into signals you can inspect:
Sounds like: phonetic similarity (does it sound the same said aloud?)
Looks like: orthographic similarity (spelling and visual overlap)
Means like: semantic similarity (does it convey the same idea?)
Goods overlap: whether the closest mark is in a related Nice class, which raises or tempers the risk
Each match links back to its underlying USPTO record, so the score is never a figure you have to take on faith.
Why a transparent score beats a black box
An unexplained risk number tells you that there's a problem but not what or why, so you can't act on it. Seeing that the risk is driven almost entirely by a sound-alike (and not by meaning) tells you exactly what to check next. Transparency is what turns a score into a decision.
Frequently asked questions
Is the score additive? Do the signals sum to the total?
No. The signals are strengths of the closest match; the final score is normalized against how common your name pattern is and gated by goods overlap, so it's not a simple sum. The breakdown shows what's driving the number, not a stacked total.
What's a "good" score?
There's no pass/fail line. Higher = more worth investigating, lower = fewer close matches here. It's a signal to guide review, not a verdict.
Screen your name now
Check it against millions of live U.S. trademarks by sound, spelling, and meaning. Free, no account.