The single biggest naming mistake new podcasters make is falling in love with a name before checking whether it's taken. About 40% of first-choice podcast names are already in use on at least one major directory. Discovering this after you've designed cover art, recorded an intro, and told your friends is a painful setback.
Here's the exact process for verifying a podcast name across every channel that matters, in the right order.
Step 1: Search Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts is the largest podcast directory, indexing over 2.5 million shows. Open the Podcasts app on any Apple device or visit podcasts.apple.com and search your exact name.
What to look for:
- An active show with the same name (published an episode in the last 6 months). This is a dealbreaker.
- An inactive show with the same name (no episodes in 1+ years). Still risky. Listeners searching your name will find the old show first.
- A show with a very similar name. "The Cold Case" and "Cold Cases" will compete for the same search queries.
If a show exists with your exact name and has published recently, stop here and choose a different name.
Step 2: Search Spotify
Spotify is the second-largest podcast platform. Open Spotify and search your name. The results page shows podcasts, episodes, and music -- focus on the podcast results.
Spotify's search algorithm weighs recency and popularity, so an old inactive show may not appear at the top. Scroll through the first 20 results to be thorough.
A name can be available on Apple Podcasts but taken on Spotify, or vice versa. You need clearance on both.
Step 3: Search Google Podcasts and other directories
Google Podcasts was integrated into YouTube Music in 2024, but Google search still indexes podcast titles. Search your name in quotes on Google: "Your Podcast Name" podcast.
Also check:
- Amazon Music / Audible
- iHeartRadio
- Pocket Casts
- Podchaser (a podcast database with over 4 million titles)
Podchaser is especially useful because it indexes shows that may not appear on every platform.
Step 4: Check domain availability
Go to a domain registrar like Namecheap, Porkbun, or Google Domains and search for yourpodcastname.com. Also check .fm (popular with podcasters) and .co.
A matching domain isn't required, but it helps with credibility and SEO. If the .com is taken but available for purchase, expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $10,000+ depending on the name.
Alternative: Use a format like listentoYOURNAME.com or YOURNAMEpod.com if the exact match isn't available.
Step 5: Check social media handles
Search your proposed name on these platforms:
- TikTok
- X (Twitter)
- YouTube
Consistency matters. If your name is available everywhere except Instagram, and Instagram is where your audience lives, that's a problem. Tools like Namecheckr or KnowEm let you search multiple platforms at once.
Step 6: Search the USPTO trademark database
Visit the USPTO's Trademark Electronic Search System at tess2.uspto.gov. Search your podcast name. Look for:
- Live trademarks in International Classes 38 (telecommunications) or 41 (entertainment and education). These are the categories most relevant to podcasting.
- Dead trademarks are generally safe, but consult an attorney if you're unsure.
A registered, live trademark in a relevant class means you cannot use that name without risking legal action. This step is non-negotiable.
Step 7: Search state business registries
If you plan to form an LLC or business entity around your podcast, search your state's secretary of state business name database. A registered business name isn't the same as a trademark, but it can signal that someone else is operating under that name in your area.
How Jellypod helps
Jellypod's podcast name generator handles steps 1 through 4 automatically. When you generate names, each suggestion shows real-time availability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and major domain extensions. Instead of opening 8 tabs and running manual searches, you see which names are clear in one view.
This doesn't replace a trademark search, but it eliminates the most common availability conflicts before you invest time in legal research.
Final thoughts
Availability checking feels like busywork until it saves you from a cease-and-desist letter or a naming conflict 50 episodes in. The podcasters who build durable brands do this work upfront. Budget 30 minutes for a thorough check, or use a tool like Jellypod to compress most of it into seconds, and you'll launch with confidence that the name is yours to keep.
