trade name; store name; business name
Refers to the name under which a business operates, especially a sole proprietorship or small shop. Distinct from a registered company name (会社名).
My grandfather's shop's trade name is 'Yamada Shoten'.
stage name; professional name
Used for performers, actors, and traditional artists. Similar to 芸名 but 屋号 can also refer to a family or troupe name in kabuki and other traditional arts.
A sole proprietor can open a bank account under their trade name.
Kabuki actors sometimes carry on the same stage name for generations.
His stage name was inherited from his master.
屋号 refers to the name of a shop or traditional trade business, whereas 社名 is used specifically for incorporated companies.
Standard kanji spelling; used in news and common writing.
Rare alternate kanji spelling; 屋号 is overwhelmingly preferred.
Compound of 屋 (ya, 'shop' or 'house') and 号 (gō, 'name' or 'title'). The kanji 家 (ie, 'house/family') in the rare variant 家号 reflects the traditional association with a family business or artistic lineage.