Can a person trademark their given name or surname?
Yes, however, the Trademark Office generally discourages trademarking a birth name or stage name to prevent exclusive rights over a common name. However, an individual’s name may be eligible for trademark registration if it has acquired a secondary meaning and is the legal name of the person seeking the trademark. Secondary meaning refers to a name becoming famous or associated with certain goods/services in the minds of consumers. For example, celebrities like Cher and Michael Jordan have registered trademarks in their names. However, individuals with common names like John Smith may face challenges trademarking their names.