Can I Register my Actual name as a Trademark?

Introduction

Trademarks are used to protect a business name or product name, often referred to as “branding.” A trademark registration gives you the right to use your name, symbol, or slogan in commerce. Many celebrities and companies have registered their names as trademarks. For example, singer Taylor Swift owns the trademark “Swift,” while actress Jennifer Garner also owns the trademark “Jenner.” You can register your actual name as a trademark if it meets certain legal requirements. This article will provide an overview of these requirements so that you can decide whether or not registering your own name is right for you!

Trademarks Represent a Business or Product

Trademarks can be word marks (e.g., “Budweiser,” “Google” or “FedEx”), logos, symbols, and/or designs (e.g., the trademarked Apple logo). Most trademarks are well-known and recognized by the public in general. For example, consumers might recognize a company’s distinctive packaging or a product or service name as being associated with that company’s brand. Trademarks protect businesses from competitors who try to profit from their goodwill by imitating their trade dress or confusingly similar names or products/services after they have been established in the marketplace through the use of such distinctive features.

The Product must be Associated with you/your Business

A trademark can be any word, slogan, symbol, or device that is used to identify and distinguish the source of a product or service. A trademark must be associated with you/your business. You must be able to show that your name has been used in commerce and is associated with a product or service.

This means that if you want to register your actual name as a trademark, it will have to be shown in association with some other item (such as a book title) in order for the application to go through – even though it’s technically not necessary because people will know who they’re buying from when they see “John Smith” on something like stationery supplies!

Only Certain Types of Names can be Registered as Trademarks

Trademark registration is limited to words, phrases, symbols, and designs that are distinctive enough to be considered unique. This means that trademarks cannot include common words or phrases, because they would be too easily confused with other types of businesses in the same industry. It also means that you cannot register a trademark for an offensive or disparaging name—this is against federal law. Finally, you should avoid registering trademarks for names that are too descriptive; these will not be eligible for registration either because no one can claim exclusive rights over such descriptions (such as “computer”).

You Must use the Name in Commerce to Register it as a Trademark

In order to register your actual name as a trademark, you must use the name in commerce before you file an application for registration. It’s true that your real name can be registered as a trademark, but in order to do so it must be used in connection with goods or services and not just for personal use.

The reason behind this requirement is fairly simple: if someone else wanted to use your first name as part of their business identity (for example, “Bob’s Barbecue & Grill”) then they would have difficulty registering it as a mark because yours was already taken by you.

In short: don’t try to register “John Smith” unless there are tons of other businesses called “John Smith.”

Takeaway

Registering your name as a trademark can help protect your identity and reputation. You should be aware that online searches will return results for both your name and the names of others who have registered trademarks using their own names. If you are concerned about this, it may be best to register under a business name instead of your actual name.

It is also important to note that registering a trademark does not prevent other people from using similar logos or designs; however, if someone else is using an identical logo or design in connection with similar products and services (or if they are using it in such close proximity as to cause confusion), then there may be grounds for infringement action against them.

Conclusion

It’s possible to register your actual name as a trademark, but it’s not easy. You must prove that people associate the name with your product or business through use in commerce. If you want to protect your identity and reputation, you should consider registering a trademark on another name or phrase instead.