Beyond Shopify's name generator — names checked against the records
Shopify's free generator is a quick word-combiner: type a keyword, get hundreds of permutations, and it conveniently checks whether a matching .com store name is free on Shopify.
It stops at the storefront. It doesn't check your state's business registry, where your LLC or corporation name actually has to clear, and it doesn't look at federal trademarks — the two checks that determine whether you can legally operate under the name.
The missing half is the whole point here. Describe your business (or type a specific name) and every candidate is verified against your state's business registry, federal USPTO trademark filings, and domain availability — in one pass, free.
Generate & verify names →Side by side
| Shopify's Business Name Generator | Official Name Search | |
|---|---|---|
| Name ideas / generation | Yes | Yes (AI, from your business description) |
| State business registry check | No | Yes — all 50 states + DC, real time |
| Federal (USPTO) trademark check | No | Yes, same pass |
| Domain availability | Shopify store name | Yes (.com/.net + alternatives) |
| Inactive/dissolved lookalikes flagged | No | Yes (reinstatement-risk note) |
| Price | Free | Free |
When to use which
Honestly: use both if you like. Shopify's Business Name Generator is a fine place to gather raw ideas. Bring the shortlist here before you commit — because the expensive mistake isn't a bland name, it's filing paperwork (or printing packaging) for a name that was never available in the first place.