checkname

name	checkname
description	Check domain and social namespace availability for candidate names and handles. Use when someone needs fast triage on whether a brand, product, or handle appears to be available across domains and common social platforms. Prefer the bundled checkname script and report uncertain cases honestly.

checkname

Codex Plugin Notes

Codex plugins do not register Claude-style slash commands. In Codex, the canonical explicit invocation is:

@checkname northstar
@checkname "North Star Labs" --trademark-uspto

If @checkname is present, treat it as an explicit request to use this skill. Do not fall back to generic repo exploration unless the bundled checker itself fails or the plugin is not installed/enabled in the current Codex session.

Purpose

This skill helps an agent answer:

• Is brandname.com likely available?
• Is @brandname taken on GitHub, X, Instagram, or YouTube?
• Which spelling variant is the cleanest cross-platform option?

The goal is fast namespace triage, not legal clearance.

Use the checker script

Run the bundled checker with structured output first:

python3 ../../scripts/checkname.py "Candidate Name" --json

You can narrow the scope:

python3 ../../scripts/checkname.py "Candidate Name" \
  --variants candidate,candidate-name,getcandidate \
  --tlds com,io,ai,org \
  --platforms github,x,instagram,youtube,tiktok,bluesky,reddit,linkedin \
  --json

If the user wants a human-readable report:

python3 ../../scripts/checkname.py "Candidate Name" --markdown

If the user wants federal trademark triage too:

python3 ../../scripts/checkname.py "Candidate Name" --trademark-uspto --json

That mode should be described as:

• official USPTO search-query generation
• manual review support
• not trademark clearance

Interpretation rules

1. Prefer taken and available only when the signal is clear.
2. Treat uncertain as unresolved. Do not quietly convert it into available.
3. Favor variants that are consistent across:
   • primary domain
   • GitHub
   • X
   • Instagram
   • YouTube
4. If one platform blocks automated checks, tell the user exactly that.
5. Always state:
   • this is namespace triage
   • final confirmation should happen in the registrar or signup flow
   • this is not trademark clearance

Recommended output

Return:

• a 1-2 sentence recommendation
• the best 2-3 candidate variants
• a compact domain table
• a compact platform table
• a short unresolved list

Supported platforms

See references/platforms.md.