Patent Attorney and Founder
Can you trademark a business name that’s just your first name plus a word that describes what you sell?
Your shop is online only. You sell on eBay and your own site.
Think of a name like John’s Bicycle Shop. It fits a niche, but it’s still a one-person, home-based business.
So… is that type of name likely to get approved?
Not really. It’s tough.
Let me give you a quick example.
There’s a local store here called Eric’s Bike Shop. You already know what they sell. The name is clear and very descriptive.
But here’s the twist: they still got a trademark. It’s on the main USPTO register.
Why?
Because the owner had to disclaim the words “Bike Shop.”
He could protect Eric’s, not the shop part.
And that worked because the business has been around since the late ’70s. By now, people know the name well. It built what we call secondary meaning. In short, the name stuck in people’s minds.
But for most new sellers, that’s not how it goes.
A name that’s “First Name + What You Sell” is hard to enforce.
It’s hard to register.
And unless the brand is well known, the USPTO almost always pushes back.
So your odds aren’t 50/50.
They’re closer to “very slim.”
Maybe half a percent.
If you were my client, I’d urge you to pick a stronger name now rather than fight this uphill battle later.