The short answer
This free tool builds law firm names from your last names, practice area and city. Each idea comes with a matching domain you can check in one tap. Before you settle on a name, run three checks: your state bar's rules on firm names, your state's business entity records, and a trademark search. Then use the same name everywhere, as our law firm branding guide explains.
Build your name ideas
Add the last name of up to three founding attorneys. Everything else is optional. The ideas are made in your browser, so nothing you type leaves this page unless you email yourself the shortlist.
This tool needs JavaScript to build the ideas. Turn it on and reload the page, or read the advice below on choosing a name. It works the same for any firm.
Your shortlist
Tap Shortlist on a name above to keep it here. Your shortlist stays in this browser, even if you close the page.
Checks to do before you choose
- Read your state bar's rules on firm names and trade names.
- Search your state's business entity records for the name.
- Search for similar trademarks in the USPTO trademark search (opens in a new tab).
- Say the name on the phone and ask someone to spell it back.
- Check the domain with a registrar before you print anything.
Email me this
We send your result to your inbox. This is optional, and you do not need it to use the tool.
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How to use the name generator
You get a first list in under a minute. Three steps:
- Type the last name of each founding attorney, pick a practice area, and add the city if you want it in the name.
- Press Show name ideas, then tap Shortlist on the ones you like. Press More ideas for a fresh set.
- Tap Check domain on your favorites, then copy, print or email your shortlist.
The ideas come from your inputs, short word lists and name patterns. The same inputs always give the same first set. The lists leave out words that claim quality or results, such as "best" or "top". They also leave out words that sound like a public body, such as "federal" or "county".
What do law firm names usually look like?
Most law firm names follow one of three patterns: founder names, practice and place, or a short brand name. The three styles in the tool match them.
- Founder names, such as Patel & Reyes or Patel Law Group. Clients who hear of you by word of mouth can find you by surname, but the name says nothing about your practice.
- Practice and place, such as Pasadena Injury Law. It says what you do and where, but a city can box you in if you open a second office.
- A short brand name, such as Harbor Law. It is easy to say and remember, and it can outlast a change of partners. Add the practice area on your site and profiles so people know what you handle.
Try one of each in the tool, shortlist the ones you like, then read the checks below before you commit.
How to choose a name that works online
Choose a name that people can say, spell and type after hearing it once. Your firm name gets read on a phone screen, in a search result and heard on a voicemail.
- Short and easy to spell. Say it aloud on a call. If you have to spell it out, some callers will mistype your web address.
- A domain that matches. If patellaw.com is taken, add your practice area or city (patelinjurylaw.com) before you reach for hyphens or numbers.
- Room to grow. A city in the name helps local searches, but it can box you in if you open a second office. A founder's surname can become awkward if a partner leaves.
- The same name everywhere. Use the identical spelling and punctuation on your website, your Google Business Profile, your directory listings and your email signature.
The domains in the tool are kept short on purpose, so a practice area shows as a short word such as "injury" or "defense". Use the full name on your website and listings.
Using the same name everywhere is part of local SEO. When every listing carries the same name, it is easier for Google and for clients to see that they belong to one firm. Once the name is chosen, our guide to what a law firm website costs shows what to ask for in a quote.
What the rules say about firm names
Every state sets its own rules for firm names, so read yours. We read California's here as one example, from the State Bar of California's rules of professional conduct.[1]
- Rule 7.5(a) bars any "trade name or other professional designation that violates rule 7.1".[1] Rule 7.1(a) is the general ban: "A lawyer shall not make a false or misleading communication about the lawyer or the lawyer’s services."[1]
- Rule 7.5(b) bars a name that "states or implies a relationship with a government agency or with a public or charitable legal services organization".[1] That is why the generator avoids words like "federal" and "legal aid" and adds a care note to place names.
- Rule 7.5(c) bars stating or implying that a lawyer practices in a firm "unless that is the fact".[1] So list only lawyers who really practice in the firm.
- The rule's comment lists "URLs, and signature blocks" as examples of an "other professional designation".[1]
The checks to run before you print anything are in After you pick a name: a checklist. Once you have a name, the next line to write is a tagline, and our guide shows what the rules allow in a slogan.
Your state's wording may differ from California's, so read its rule on firm names and check your final choice with your ethics counsel.
After you pick a name: a checklist
- Search your state's business entity records for the name.
- Read your state bar's rule on firm names and trade names.
- Search the USPTO trademark search for similar names.
- Register the domain, and set up an email address on it.
- Create your Google Business Profile with the exact same name.
- Build the website on that domain, with the same name in the page titles and footer.
We can help with the last two. We set up the Google Business Profile and build the website in the firm's name, and the firm owns both. See local SEO and AI search and website design.
Questions firm owners ask
Can I use a city in my law firm name?
California's rule does not ban city names. Rule 7.5 bars a name that states or implies a relationship with a government agency or with a public or charitable legal services organization.[1] A city is not named in it. Your own state may word this differently, so read its rule.
Does a law firm name have to include my surname?
The text of California's Rule 7.5 does not require a surname. It asks that a name not violate Rule 7.1, which bans false or misleading communications.[1] Your state may differ, so check its rule.
What if the .com for my firm name is taken?
Add your practice area or city before you reach for hyphens or numbers, for example patelinjurylaw.com instead of patellaw.com. If the name is very close to a business that already uses it, think about a different name.
Does the generator use AI, and does it save my names?
It does not use AI or any network call. It combines your inputs with word lists and name patterns in your browser. Your shortlist is saved in your own browser only, and we receive it only if you email it to yourself.
Try this today
Pick three names and test them on a real person before you commit.
- Shortlist your three favorites above.
- Say each one on a call to a friend and ask them to type the web address they would guess.
- Run the entity and trademark searches on the one that survives.
More free law firm tools: intake forms, a marketing plan and an AI visibility checker.
Sources
- State Bar of California, "Rules of Professional Conduct, Chapter 7. Information About Legal Services (Rules 7.1 to 7.6)", calbar.ca.gov/sites/default/files/portals/0/documents/rules/Rules-of-Professional-Conduct-7.pdf. Checked October 18, 2026. Primary source: the rule text, Rule 7.1(a) and Rule 7.5 with its comment.