The Vauxhall Nova failed in Spain - "no va" means "doesn't go." Before you expand, check if your name means something embarrassing in your target market's language.
Check European Languages First
French, German, Spanish, Italian, Polish. These are your closest export markets.
Beyond Direct Translation
Slang, idioms, double meanings. Native speakers catch what Google Translate misses.
Pronunciation in Target Language
Some sounds don't exist in other languages. Japanese has no "L" sound. "Loyal" becomes "Royal."
Visual Similarity
Your name might look like a rude word when written in Cyrillic, Arabic, or Chinese characters.
Warning: Rebranding in foreign markets costs £100,000+. Test with native speakers for £200 before launch.
UK Multilingual Testing
14% of UK population speaks a language other than English at home. Test with them first - they're your future European customers.
Generic Names Can't Be Trademarked
If you want legal protection and a name competitors can't copy, make it distinctive from day one. Translation issues affect distinctiveness globally.