Business name generator, plus the checks to do before you choose

This business name generator gives you fresh ideas from a few words about your business. Type what you sell, a word you like or your town, and pick a style. Note the names you like, then use the checks further down this page before you print anything.

How to choose a good business name

A name is not just a label. It goes on your signboard, bills, bank account, packaging and website. Changing it later costs money and confuses customers. So spend a little time now.

• Easy to say and spell. If you say it on the phone, can the other person type it correctly? Try it with five people.
• Short. One to three words is best. Long names get cut short by customers anyway.
• Fits your customers. A Hindi or regional name may feel warm in a town market. An English name may suit an online store selling across India. Think about who will say it.
• Leaves room to grow. "Raju Mobile Covers" is stuck with covers. "Raju Mobile Point" can sell repairs and chargers too.
• Not too close to a big brand. A name that sounds like a famous brand can bring a legal notice, even if you are small.
• Has a meaning you are happy with. Check what the word means in other Indian languages your customers speak. Some innocent words sound odd in another language.

Need more inspiration by industry? See our list of business name ideas with over 150 original names.

Check 1: Trademark search on the official IP India site

A trademark protects a name or logo for certain goods or services. If someone has already registered or applied for a similar name in your line of business, using it can land you in trouble. This check is free.

1. Go to the official website of the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, ipindia.gov.in, and open the trade mark public search.
2. Search your name as a word mark. Try "starts with" and "contains" options, and try other spellings too.
3. Note the class. Trademarks are filed in classes of goods and services, 45 in all. For example, clothing is in one class, restaurants in another. A clash matters most in your own class and close ones.
4. Look at the status. Registered, objected and pending applications can all block you.

If your name is clear, you can apply for a trademark yourself on the IP India portal. The official e-filing fee for a new application is ₹4,500 per class for an individual, a recognised startup or a small enterprise, and ₹9,000 per class for others. A registered trademark lasts 10 years and can be renewed. Fees can change, so check the current fee schedule on the portal before you file. Use the ™ symbol after applying if you like, but use ® only once the mark is actually registered.

Check 2: Domain name and social handles

Even a small shop gets found online now. Before you finalise a name:

• Search for a domain. A .com or .in with your exact name is ideal. If it is taken, try adding your town or what you sell, like a word for "store" or "foods". Avoid hyphens and numbers that people forget.
• Check social media handles. Try to get the same handle on the main platforms you will use. Same name everywhere makes you easier to find.
• Search the name on a search engine and on map listings. If a business with the same name exists in your city, customers may mix you up.
• Check online marketplaces if you plan to sell there. A seller with the same brand name can cause problems later.

Check 3: MCA rules if you are forming a company or LLP

A sole proprietor can trade under any honest name that does not break trademark law. But if you register a private limited company, a One Person Company or an LLP, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) must approve the name.

• Search existing names on the MCA portal. Your name should not be the same as, or too similar to, an existing company or LLP name.
• Use the correct ending. A private company name ends with "Private Limited", a public company with "Limited", a One Person Company with "(OPC) Private Limited" and an LLP with "LLP".
• Avoid restricted words unless you have approval. Words that suggest a link with the government, such as National, Bharat, Union or Republic, need Central Government approval. Words like Bank, Insurance, Stock Exchange or Mutual Fund need approval from the relevant regulator.
• Avoid undesirable names. Under Rule 8 of the Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014, names that are offensive, misleading or too close to a registered trademark can be rejected.
• Reserve the name. You can reserve a name through the RUN (Reserve Unique Name) service on the MCA portal, or in Part A of the SPICe+ form when you incorporate. The RUN fee is ₹1,000, and you can give up to two names. An approved name for a new company is held for 20 days. You cannot edit a RUN form after submitting it, so check spelling carefully.

MCA approval does not give you trademark rights. Many founders do both: reserve the company name and file a trademark for the brand. Read more in our guide to business registration in India.

Is an AI business name generator any good?

A business name generator, including one that uses AI, is great for getting many ideas fast. It mixes words, sounds and styles you may not think of. But a generator cannot tell you if a name is trademarked, if the domain is free, or if it sounds odd in your local language. Treat the list as a starting point. Shortlist five names, run the checks above and then ask a few real customers which one they remember after a day.

A simple naming routine

1. Write 10 words about your business: what you sell, how it feels, where you are.
2. Use the generator with different words and styles until you have 20 to 30 names.
3. Cut down to five names that are easy to say and spell.
4. Run the trademark, domain, social and MCA checks.
5. Test the final two or three with customers, then decide.

Once you have your name, design a business logo and make your first card with the business card maker.