Free Brand Name Tools: The Best Resources for Naming Your Business

Free Tools for Every Stage of Naming

Brand naming involves multiple stages: brainstorming, screening, validation, and registration. Different tools serve different stages. Here's a curated list of the best free options.

Name Generation Tools

Namelix

What it does: Uses AI to generate short, brandable business names based on keywords and style preferences.

Best for: Getting unstuck when brainstorming stalls. The AI generates hundreds of options with logo mockups.

Limitations: Many generated names will have taken domains. Quality varies — treat it as a starting point, not a final answer.

Wordoid

What it does: Creates invented words that look and sound like real words. You can specify language roots, length, and starting/ending letters.

Best for: Creating coined names that are pronounceable and ownable.

Limitations: Doesn't check availability. You'll need to validate results separately.

Lean Domain Search

What it does: Combines your keyword with other words and instantly checks .com availability.

Best for: Finding available .com domains quickly when your first choice is taken.

Limitations: Only checks .com. Combinations can feel forced.

ChatGPT / AI Assistants

What it does: Generate name ideas through conversational prompting. Describe your brand, audience, and values — get dozens of creative suggestions.

Best for: Exploring creative directions and getting unexpected combinations. You can iterate and refine in real time.

Limitations: AI doesn't check availability. Names may already be trademarked or in use.

Domain Availability Tools

Instant Domain Search

What it does: Shows domain availability in real time as you type. Covers .com and many alternative TLDs.

Best for: Rapid-fire domain checking during brainstorming sessions.

Domainr

What it does: Searches across all TLDs for creative domain hacks (like del.icio.us or bit.ly).

Best for: Finding alternative domain structures when the .com is taken.

WHOIS Lookup (whois.domaintools.com)

What it does: Shows who owns a domain, when it was registered, and when it expires.

Best for: Determining if a taken domain might be available for purchase (parked domains, expired registrations).

Trademark Screening Tools

USPTO TESS

What it does: Searches the US Patent and Trademark Office database for registered and pending trademarks.

Best for: Preliminary trademark screening before investing in a name.

How to use: Search for your brand name using the "Basic Word Mark Search." Review results for identical or confusingly similar marks in your product/service category.

WIPO Global Brand Database

What it does: Searches international trademark registrations across 70+ trademark offices.

Best for: International trademark screening if you plan to operate beyond the US.

Trademarkia

What it does: User-friendly trademark search interface with filing status tracking.

Best for: Easier navigation than the raw USPTO database. Includes trademark monitoring features.

Social Handle Checking Tools

Namechk

What it does: Checks username availability across dozens of social networks and domains simultaneously.

Best for: Verifying that your brand name is available as a consistent handle across all major platforms.

KnowEm

What it does: Similar to Namechk but covers 500+ social networks and websites.

Best for: Comprehensive cross-platform handle checking.

Linguistic and Research Tools

Google Translate

What it does: Translates your brand name into 100+ languages.

Best for: Quick screening for unintended foreign language meanings. Not a substitute for native speaker review, but catches obvious problems.

Urban Dictionary

What it does: Crowdsourced dictionary of slang and informal language.

Best for: Checking if your brand name has any slang meanings you're not aware of.

Google Trends

What it does: Shows search interest for terms over time and across regions.

Best for: Checking if your brand name is already associated with something else in search. Also useful for comparing name candidates.

AnswerThePublic

What it does: Shows what questions people ask about any topic.

Best for: Understanding the search landscape around your brand category for content planning.

All-in-One Tools

BrandScout

What it does: Checks brand name availability across domains, social media handles, and trademarks in a single search.

Best for: Eliminating the need to check multiple individual tools. Get a comprehensive availability report instantly.

Why it's different: Instead of checking domains on one site, social handles on another, and trademarks on a third, BrandScout consolidates everything into one search.

The Right Tool for the Right Stage

| Stage | Best Tools | |-------|-----------| | Brainstorming | Namelix, Wordoid, ChatGPT | | Domain checking | Instant Domain Search, Domainr | | Trademark screening | USPTO TESS, WIPO, Trademarkia | | Social handles | Namechk, KnowEm | | Language screening | Google Translate, Urban Dictionary | | All-in-one validation | BrandScout |

Start Validating

Tools make naming faster, but they don't replace strategy. Define your brand positioning and audience first, then use these tools to find and validate the right name.

For the fastest validation experience, try BrandScout — check domains, social handles, and trademarks all in one place.