Personal names can be trademarked as long as they meet certain criteria. To be eligible for trademark protection, the name must be used in the course of trade or commerce and must be distinctive from other existing trademarks. Additionally, the name must be distinctive enough to distinguish the goods or services associated with it from those of other traders. It is also important to keep in mind that a name can be trademarked even if it is a person's name, such as John Smith. By trademarking a name, the person can protect their intellectual property and prevent others from using their name in a commercial context.