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Naming Your Startup After a Spice/Fruit/Vegetable Name

1 points by syedahmed ↗ HN
I'm a first time entrepreneur. I'm building a restaurant deals app. I came up with a little over a dozen of names for my startup/app and .com is available for most of them. Then I realized that it doesn't really matter what domain extension I use, it's a mobile app which people will download from Play Store or the App Store. So, I decided that I should name my startup/app after some spice, vegetable or fruit. I've checked the trademark database (TESS) and it shows the word 'Basil' as trademarked. I thought common names couldn't be trademarked. Would love to hear your thoughts on naming the startup/product after common names (specifically after spices, vegetables or fruits in my case). Thanks, HN Community.

4 comments

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kw71
Trademarks have limited scope, and trademark bullies have been shot down because the similar trademarks are in different industries with enough separation that confusion in the marketplace is unlikely.
syedahmed
Thanks, kw71. It definitely helps. I went ahead and named my app after an herb.
smt88
I can't even begin to tell you how hard what you're doing is. There is an endless graveyard of "deals apps". Restaurants are almost impossible to pitch to begin with, but as soon as you say "deals", they'll kick you out the door.

I'm begging you, from experience, not to do this business. The fact that you're so hung up on the name is also not a good sign.

syedahmed
Hey there! Thanks for your advice. I understand why you advice not to build another restaurant deal mobile app, but I am targeting a specific market with my app. Also, what I failed to mention is this isn't just another deal-only app. I'm actually building a solution that is sort of unique for the restaurant industry. I can't really disclose it here yet as I'm still building the app. Oh yeah! I also picked a name for it. Again, thanks for your advice, but I know I'm actually solving a problem for the restaurants by building this app as I myself worked in a restaurant for like 7 years.