Business-name shortlist worksheet
Compare three candidates using the same business brief. Keep trademark evidence, domain findings, and the next decision in one printable worksheet.
Published by GleanMark · Updated
A shortlist is useful when it records why a name is still in the running. A column of favorites is harder to discuss with a cofounder or designer, especially when one person has checked domains and another has only seen a logo.
Use this worksheet for three candidates. Describe the business once, then keep the evidence for each name separate. You can download the blank sheet now, fill it in here, or print a copy. No account is required.
Download a blank copy: printable PDF or spreadsheet CSV.
What belongs in the worksheet
Trademark evidence: note the records worth reviewing, their owners, and the goods or services they cover. “No matches returned” and “search failed” are different observations. Include the date and keep the actual result or source links alongside your notes.
Domain findings: record the exact address, such as candidate.com, and the status you saw. A registered address might be parked or in active use. An unverified lookup stays an open question.
Next step: give the candidate a concrete action: test the spelling with customers, investigate a particular record, consider another domain, or take the finalist into fuller clearance. An available domain does not answer the trademark question.
Your three-name worksheet
Entries stay in this browser tab. Download or print a copy to keep or share them; this worksheet does not run searches automatically.
Business description: ___________________________________________
A personal decision record from Glean.name, a naming tool by GleanMark. These notes do not establish a right to use or register a name.
A completed example
Fictional planning example, not search results. A team is naming appointment software for salons. No trademark or domain searches were performed for the names below.
| Candidate | What the team knows | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Fernfolio | The team likes the sound; spelling has not been tested. Trademark and domain checks are not yet run. | Ask someone to spell it after hearing it, then screen it against the salon-software brief. |
| Salon Circuit | The intended audience is easy to recognize. The team has not researched distinctiveness or similar names. | Record why this wording fits, then investigate the trademark questions with the same brief. |
| Morrow Desk | The name could suit a broader product, but the connection to salon scheduling is less obvious. | Test whether the name works in the product description before spending on identity design. |
The open questions are the useful part. A preference such as “easy to say” should not be combined with trademark evidence into a single availability score.
Move the finalist into fuller research
Keep the preliminary results for the candidates you checked. In a completed result, choose Run a full clearance analysis to carry the finalist and business description into GleanMark. Review the intake and available access there before starting that separate analysis.
The USPTO’s comprehensive-search guidance describes why a broader search includes sources beyond federal records. A trademark attorney can help assess the evidence for your intended use.
If your list came from a naming assistant, start with checking an AI-generated business name. If a similar name appears, read how the products and services affect the question.
General U.S. naming information. Glean.name is not a law firm. For a decision about using or registering a mark, consult a trademark attorney.