Changing the name of your Etsy shop is a big deal, and not something that should be done lightly.
Although the actual process of changing your Etsy shop name is quite simple (and we’ll cover it in a moment), there are a lot of other things you should consider before making such a big decision.
In this article, we’ll cover not only how to change the name of your Etsy shop. I’ll also share some tips on choosing a name, how to make the process as smooth as possible with your existing customer base, and other things you’ll want to know so you don’t make any mistakes.
How To Change Your Etsy Shop Name
Let’s start by going through the actual process of changing your store name on Etsy. Thankfully, this can be done in only a few steps.
This process is easier on desktop, so we recommend doing it on your computer. Note that if you are already signed in, you can skip steps 1 and 2Â by clicking here. Anyhow, here are the instructions:
1. On Etsy’s website, click on the Shop Manager icon towards the upper-right hand corner of your screen.
2. Next, click on the ‘Settings’ tab, then on ‘Info & Appearance’
3. After that, click on either the ‘Change’ button next to your current name, or the ‘Shop Name’ button next to Info & Apperance.
4. Finally, enter in your new shop name and press the save button.
As you can see, the entire process isn’t very hard, and only takes a few moments to complete.
However, you shouldn’t change your shop name willy-nilly. Lets go over a few things to keep in mind before you click that Save button!
Changing Your Etsy Shop Name – Important Tips
1. Familiarize Yourself With Etsy’s Rules Regarding Shop Names
Did you know that you can only change your shop name up to 5 times – and after that, you’ll never be able to change it again?
Likewise, did you know that once you change your name, you can never revert back to it? It’s true – once a shop name has been used, it can never be used again by yourself or anyone else, even after you change your name away from it.
Therefore, you should make sure you’re absolutely sure you no longer want your current name before making the switch.
Finally, Etsy does have a few rules regarding what types of names you’re allowed to change your shop to. Here are Etsy’s guidelines regarding shop names:
- Shop names must be 20 characters or less.
- Shop names cannot contain hyphens, underscores or spaces. Note that capitalizing each word can help break the name apart, if you want to use multiple words in your shop name.
- Etsy shop names cannot violate any registered trademarks.
- Etsy shop names must be alphanumeric, meaning they cannot contain symbols.
- And finally, you should avoid shop names that are offensive, inappropriate, or violate Etsy’s other rules in any way. A professional shop name also shows buyers that you are legitimate.
These rules apply both for name changes and for brand new shops, so you may have dealt with these before. Still, these rules are important to keep in mind – keeping the shop name under 20 characters for example can be quite frustrating if you’ve already set on a longer name!
2. Memorability Wins
While building a brand solely on Etsy is pretty difficult, one thing you can do to make the process easier is to choose a name that is memorable.
Admittedly, this is something I’ve struggled with and wish I could do over again.
Many people try to get clever or witty with their name, yet branding experts believe this is a mistake. While your name alone won’t make or break your shop, choosing a name that’s memorable increases your likelihood for repeat orders.
Some tips to improve shop name memorability include:
- Choosing something that’s easy to spell. The spelling should be obvious even when the name is said out loud.
- Avoid the use of homophones when possible – for example ‘bare’ or ‘bear’.
- Choose a name that’s short, with few syllables.
- Use familiar terms – for example, including the type of products you sell or your overall market.
- Avoid anything that may cause confusion – such as using numbers in place of words, or creative spellings. The less the brain has to process to remember your shop name, the more likely it is to be remembered.
Again, these are only guidelines. Because of the way most shoppers will land on your listings, shop names on Etsy aren’t as big of a deal as they may seem. But if you ever want to grow beyond Etsy, these brand name best practices are good to keep in mind.
3. Ensure It Has Room To Grow
Another common naming mistake I’ve seen many Etsy store owners make, is to use a name that’s too narrow.
What do I mean by this? Quite simply, it means that they quickly outgrow it.
When you’re just starting out on Etsy, it makes sense to focus on one core set of buyers. You may have only a single product line (or even just a single listing), and that’s all your focused on for the time being.
However, that doesn’t mean you should name your shop around it.
Let’s say for example that your shop sells wood carvings that look like birds.
The name ‘AvasWoodenBirds’ may be a good fit right now, but what if you want to expand to other types of wooden carvings later on? What if the market for your original product just isn’t big enough to support the ambitions you have for your store?
Instead, you may wish to make your name broader, to focus on wood carvings as a whole – giving your shop much greater opportunities to delve into other product lines later, while still remaining relevant now.
You could even go broader if you’d like, refusing to restrict yourself to any market at all. You may thank yourself for this if you need to pivot later on.
4. Ensure The Name Is Not In Use
There is no worse feeling in the world than deciding on the perfect name, getting ready to switch things over, only to discover the name is already in use by someone.
It’s happened to me before, and it’s absolutely crushed me.
The problem is, you can’t just type the name into Etsy and see if something comes up. You’ve got to check far beyond just Etsy’s own website to ensure you’re eligible to use the name.
Trademark Searching
Words or phrases you want to use in your shop name may be trademarked. Unfortunately, violating someone’s trademark may not only result in your name being forced to be changed again later, it can also result in lawsuits.
Therefore, you want to make sure that your shop name is free of any trademark issues before using it.
One place to start would be to search your name in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. They have a free trademark search tool that you can access by clicking here.
Note that other countries have their own laws regarding trademarks, as well as their own registered trademarks. What is fine in one country may be in violation in another.
You may wish to consult an attorney who specializes in trademark law if you are worried.
Checking Online
Before you change your Etsy shop name, you may wish to check if the name is used elsewhere online.
There may be other stores outside of Etsy using the name, in which case you may be violating their trademark if you choose to use it on Etsy. Note that in the United States, a trademark does not need to be officially registered with the USPTO in order to be granted legal protection. For all intents and purposes, the name is trademarked as soon as it is used in commerce.
Besides, you want to scope out the name anyway in case you decide to expand your business later. This means:
- Checking of the domain name is free, in case you ever want to make your own website.
- Ensuring the social handles are available on all of the social networks you care about, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok.
- Looking for similar names that may confuse shoppers.
If your name is in the clear – it’s not being used, there aren’t any stores with a similar name, and it doesn’t violate any trademarks, you’re good to go!
5. Notify Your Following
Once you’ve decided upon your new name and changed it over, it’s time to notify your following!
This is a bigger deal if you have an active marketing presence outside of Etsy, but it’s still important to do even if you don’t.
Etsy will show people that your name has recently been changed for 45 days. However, I recommend taking this a step further and posting a shop announcement letting everyone know. Be sure to mention both your old name and your new name, and perhaps share a bit why you decided to make the change.
Additionally, if you have followers on any social networks, I recommended posting there not once – but several times as well. Social media algorithms rarely show a post to all of your followers, so posting about it several times will give more people a chance to hear the news. This may also prevent unfollows if you also change your name on social media, as followers may not recognize the new brand name or remember why they followed you in the first place.
Conclusion
Changing your shop name on Etsy is an easy process, and only takes a few moments to complete.
However, just because it’s quick and easy, does not mean that it should be done lightly.
You will only ever be able to change your shop name 5 times, and once a name is used it can no longer be reclaimed. Therefore, you should put a lot of thought in the name you choose to use.
I hope that this article has been helpful. If you have any questions about changing your store name or choosing an Etsy name in general, please feel free to ask them using the comment form below.
To your success,
– James McAllister