diff --git a/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/__tests__/route-param-names.rule.test.ts b/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/__tests__/route-param-names.rule.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e66847e363b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/__tests__/route-param-names.rule.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,271 @@
+import { RuleTester } from '@typescript-eslint/rule-tester'
+
+import { name, rule } from '../rules/route-param-names/route-param-names.rule'
+
+const ruleTester = new RuleTester()
+
+ruleTester.run(name, rule, {
+  valid: [
+    // Valid param names - simple $param format
+    {
+      name: 'valid simple param: $userId',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/users/$userId')({})
+      `,
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'valid simple param: $id',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/posts/$id')({})
+      `,
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'valid simple param: $_id (underscore prefix)',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/items/$_id')({})
+      `,
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'valid simple param: $$var (dollar prefix)',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/data/$$var')({})
+      `,
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'valid param with numbers: $user123',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/users/$user123')({})
+      `,
+    },
+
+    // Valid param names - braces format {$param}
+    {
+      name: 'valid braces param: {$userName}',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/users/{$userName}')({})
+      `,
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'valid braces param with prefix/suffix: prefix{$id}suffix',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/items/item-{$id}-details')({})
+      `,
+    },
+
+    // Valid optional params - {-$param}
+    {
+      name: 'valid optional param: {-$optional}',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/search/{-$query}')({})
+      `,
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'valid optional param with prefix/suffix: prefix{-$opt}suffix',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/filter/by-{-$category}-items')({})
+      `,
+    },
+
+    // Wildcards - should be skipped (no validation)
+    {
+      name: 'wildcard: $ alone',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/files/$')({})
+      `,
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'wildcard: {$}',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/catch/{$}')({})
+      `,
+    },
+
+    // Multiple valid params
+    {
+      name: 'multiple valid params in path',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/users/$userId/posts/$postId')({})
+      `,
+    },
+
+    // createRoute with path property
+    {
+      name: 'createRoute with valid param in path property',
+      code: `
+        import { createRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createRoute({ path: '/users/$userId' })
+      `,
+    },
+
+    // createLazyFileRoute
+    {
+      name: 'createLazyFileRoute with valid param',
+      code: `
+        import { createLazyFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createLazyFileRoute('/users/$userId')({})
+      `,
+    },
+
+    // createLazyRoute
+    {
+      name: 'createLazyRoute with valid param',
+      code: `
+        import { createLazyRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createLazyRoute('/users/$userId')({})
+      `,
+    },
+
+    // No params - should pass
+    {
+      name: 'no params in path',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/users/list')({})
+      `,
+    },
+
+    // Not from tanstack router - should be ignored
+    {
+      name: 'non-tanstack import should be ignored',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from 'other-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/users/$123invalid')({})
+      `,
+    },
+  ],
+
+  invalid: [
+    // Invalid param names - starts with number
+    {
+      name: 'invalid param starting with number: $123',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/users/$123')({})
+      `,
+      errors: [{ messageId: 'invalidParamName', data: { paramName: '123' } }],
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'invalid param starting with number: $1user',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/users/$1user')({})
+      `,
+      errors: [{ messageId: 'invalidParamName', data: { paramName: '1user' } }],
+    },
+
+    // Invalid param names - contains hyphen
+    {
+      name: 'invalid param with hyphen: $user-name',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/users/$user-name')({})
+      `,
+      errors: [
+        { messageId: 'invalidParamName', data: { paramName: 'user-name' } },
+      ],
+    },
+
+    // Invalid param names - contains dot
+    {
+      name: 'invalid param with dot: {$my.param}',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/users/{$my.param}')({})
+      `,
+      errors: [
+        { messageId: 'invalidParamName', data: { paramName: 'my.param' } },
+      ],
+    },
+
+    // Invalid param names - contains space
+    {
+      name: 'invalid param with space: {$param name}',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/users/{$param name}')({})
+      `,
+      errors: [
+        { messageId: 'invalidParamName', data: { paramName: 'param name' } },
+      ],
+    },
+
+    // Invalid optional param
+    {
+      name: 'invalid optional param: {-$123invalid}',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/search/{-$123invalid}')({})
+      `,
+      errors: [
+        { messageId: 'invalidParamName', data: { paramName: '123invalid' } },
+      ],
+    },
+
+    // Multiple invalid params
+    {
+      name: 'multiple invalid params in path',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/users/$1id/posts/$post-id')({})
+      `,
+      errors: [
+        { messageId: 'invalidParamName', data: { paramName: '1id' } },
+        { messageId: 'invalidParamName', data: { paramName: 'post-id' } },
+      ],
+    },
+
+    // createRoute with invalid path property
+    {
+      name: 'createRoute with invalid param in path property',
+      code: `
+        import { createRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createRoute({ path: '/users/$123' })
+      `,
+      errors: [{ messageId: 'invalidParamName', data: { paramName: '123' } }],
+    },
+
+    // createLazyFileRoute with invalid param
+    {
+      name: 'createLazyFileRoute with invalid param',
+      code: `
+        import { createLazyFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createLazyFileRoute('/users/$user-id')({})
+      `,
+      errors: [
+        { messageId: 'invalidParamName', data: { paramName: 'user-id' } },
+      ],
+    },
+
+    // createLazyRoute with invalid param
+    {
+      name: 'createLazyRoute with invalid param',
+      code: `
+        import { createLazyRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createLazyRoute('/users/$1abc')({})
+      `,
+      errors: [{ messageId: 'invalidParamName', data: { paramName: '1abc' } }],
+    },
+
+    // Invalid braces param with prefix/suffix
+    {
+      name: 'invalid braces param with prefix/suffix',
+      code: `
+        import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
+        const Route = createFileRoute('/items/item-{$123}-details')({})
+      `,
+      errors: [{ messageId: 'invalidParamName', data: { paramName: '123' } }],
+    },
+  ],
+})
diff --git a/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/__tests__/route-param-names.utils.test.ts b/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/__tests__/route-param-names.utils.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..67d0488b99b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/__tests__/route-param-names.utils.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import {
+  extractParamsFromPath,
+  extractParamsFromSegment,
+  getInvalidParams,
+  isValidParamName,
+} from '../rules/route-param-names/route-param-names.utils'
+
+describe('isValidParamName', () => {
+  it('should return true for valid param names', () => {
+    expect(isValidParamName('userId')).toBe(true)
+    expect(isValidParamName('id')).toBe(true)
+    expect(isValidParamName('_id')).toBe(true)
+    expect(isValidParamName('$var')).toBe(true)
+    expect(isValidParamName('user123')).toBe(true)
+    expect(isValidParamName('_')).toBe(true)
+    expect(isValidParamName('$')).toBe(true)
+    expect(isValidParamName('ABC')).toBe(true)
+    expect(isValidParamName('camelCase')).toBe(true)
+    expect(isValidParamName('PascalCase')).toBe(true)
+    expect(isValidParamName('snake_case')).toBe(true)
+    expect(isValidParamName('$$double')).toBe(true)
+    expect(isValidParamName('__double')).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('should return false for invalid param names', () => {
+    expect(isValidParamName('123')).toBe(false)
+    expect(isValidParamName('1user')).toBe(false)
+    expect(isValidParamName('user-name')).toBe(false)
+    expect(isValidParamName('user.name')).toBe(false)
+    expect(isValidParamName('user name')).toBe(false)
+    expect(isValidParamName('')).toBe(false)
+    expect(isValidParamName('user@name')).toBe(false)
+    expect(isValidParamName('user#name')).toBe(false)
+    expect(isValidParamName('-user')).toBe(false)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('extractParamsFromSegment', () => {
+  it('should return empty array for segments without $', () => {
+    expect(extractParamsFromSegment('')).toEqual([])
+    expect(extractParamsFromSegment('users')).toEqual([])
+    expect(extractParamsFromSegment('static-segment')).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  it('should skip wildcard segments', () => {
+    expect(extractParamsFromSegment('$')).toEqual([])
+    expect(extractParamsFromSegment('{$}')).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  it('should extract simple $param format', () => {
+    const result = extractParamsFromSegment('$userId')
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(result[0]).toEqual({
+      fullParam: '$userId',
+      paramName: 'userId',
+      isOptional: false,
+      isValid: true,
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('should extract braces {$param} format', () => {
+    const result = extractParamsFromSegment('{$userId}')
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(result[0]).toEqual({
+      fullParam: '$userId',
+      paramName: 'userId',
+      isOptional: false,
+      isValid: true,
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('should extract braces with prefix/suffix', () => {
+    const result = extractParamsFromSegment('prefix{$id}suffix')
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(result[0]).toEqual({
+      fullParam: '$id',
+      paramName: 'id',
+      isOptional: false,
+      isValid: true,
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('should extract optional {-$param} format', () => {
+    const result = extractParamsFromSegment('{-$optional}')
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(result[0]).toEqual({
+      fullParam: '-$optional',
+      paramName: 'optional',
+      isOptional: true,
+      isValid: true,
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('should extract optional with prefix/suffix', () => {
+    const result = extractParamsFromSegment('pre{-$opt}post')
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(result[0]).toEqual({
+      fullParam: '-$opt',
+      paramName: 'opt',
+      isOptional: true,
+      isValid: true,
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('should mark invalid param names', () => {
+    const result = extractParamsFromSegment('$123invalid')
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(result[0]?.isValid).toBe(false)
+    expect(result[0]?.paramName).toBe('123invalid')
+  })
+
+  it('should mark hyphenated param names as invalid', () => {
+    const result = extractParamsFromSegment('$user-name')
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(result[0]?.isValid).toBe(false)
+    expect(result[0]?.paramName).toBe('user-name')
+  })
+})
+
+describe('extractParamsFromPath', () => {
+  it('should return empty array for paths without params', () => {
+    expect(extractParamsFromPath('')).toEqual([])
+    expect(extractParamsFromPath('/')).toEqual([])
+    expect(extractParamsFromPath('/users/list')).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  it('should extract single param from path', () => {
+    const result = extractParamsFromPath('/users/$userId')
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(result[0]?.paramName).toBe('userId')
+  })
+
+  it('should extract multiple params from path', () => {
+    const result = extractParamsFromPath('/users/$userId/posts/$postId')
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(2)
+    expect(result[0]?.paramName).toBe('userId')
+    expect(result[1]?.paramName).toBe('postId')
+  })
+
+  it('should extract params with various formats', () => {
+    const result = extractParamsFromPath(
+      '/a/$simple/b/{$braces}/c/{-$optional}',
+    )
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(3)
+    expect(result[0]?.paramName).toBe('simple')
+    expect(result[0]?.isOptional).toBe(false)
+    expect(result[1]?.paramName).toBe('braces')
+    expect(result[1]?.isOptional).toBe(false)
+    expect(result[2]?.paramName).toBe('optional')
+    expect(result[2]?.isOptional).toBe(true)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('getInvalidParams', () => {
+  it('should return empty array for valid params', () => {
+    expect(getInvalidParams('/users/$userId')).toEqual([])
+    expect(getInvalidParams('/users/$_id')).toEqual([])
+    expect(getInvalidParams('/users/$$var')).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  it('should return invalid params only', () => {
+    const result = getInvalidParams('/users/$123/posts/$validId')
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(result[0]?.paramName).toBe('123')
+  })
+
+  it('should return all invalid params', () => {
+    const result = getInvalidParams('/users/$1id/posts/$post-id')
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(2)
+    expect(result[0]?.paramName).toBe('1id')
+    expect(result[1]?.paramName).toBe('post-id')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/index.ts b/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/index.ts
index f02ea5a000b..7b8855cdf28 100644
--- a/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/index.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ Object.assign(plugin.configs, {
     plugins: ['@tanstack/eslint-plugin-router'],
     rules: {
       '@tanstack/router/create-route-property-order': 'warn',
+      '@tanstack/router/route-param-names': 'error',
     },
   },
   'flat/recommended': [
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ Object.assign(plugin.configs, {
       },
       rules: {
         '@tanstack/router/create-route-property-order': 'warn',
+        '@tanstack/router/route-param-names': 'error',
       },
     },
   ],
diff --git a/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/rules.ts b/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/rules.ts
index 73219d401ee..1042929a455 100644
--- a/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/rules.ts
+++ b/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/rules.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import * as createRoutePropertyOrder from './rules/create-route-property-order/create-route-property-order.rule'
+import * as routeParamNames from './rules/route-param-names/route-param-names.rule'
 import type { ESLintUtils } from '@typescript-eslint/utils'
 import type { ExtraRuleDocs } from './types'
 
@@ -12,4 +13,5 @@ export const rules: Record<
   >
 > = {
   [createRoutePropertyOrder.name]: createRoutePropertyOrder.rule,
+  [routeParamNames.name]: routeParamNames.rule,
 }
diff --git a/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/rules/route-param-names/constants.ts b/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/rules/route-param-names/constants.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..541374da06e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/rules/route-param-names/constants.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+/**
+ * Functions where the path is passed as the first argument (string literal)
+ * e.g., createFileRoute('/path/$param')(...)
+ */
+export const pathAsFirstArgFunctions = [
+  'createFileRoute',
+  'createLazyFileRoute',
+  'createLazyRoute',
+] as const
+
+export type PathAsFirstArgFunction = (typeof pathAsFirstArgFunctions)[number]
+
+/**
+ * Functions where the path is a property in the options object
+ * e.g., createRoute({ path: '/path/$param' })
+ */
+export const pathAsPropertyFunctions = ['createRoute'] as const
+
+export type PathAsPropertyFunction = (typeof pathAsPropertyFunctions)[number]
+
+/**
+ * All route functions that need param name validation
+ */
+export const allRouteFunctions = [
+  ...pathAsFirstArgFunctions,
+  ...pathAsPropertyFunctions,
+] as const
+
+export type RouteFunction = (typeof allRouteFunctions)[number]
+
+/**
+ * Regex for valid JavaScript identifier (param name)
+ * Must start with letter, underscore, or dollar sign
+ * Can contain letters, numbers, underscores, or dollar signs
+ */
+export const VALID_PARAM_NAME_REGEX = /^[a-zA-Z_$][a-zA-Z0-9_$]*$/
diff --git a/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/rules/route-param-names/route-param-names.rule.ts b/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/rules/route-param-names/route-param-names.rule.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ae63ab98c4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/rules/route-param-names/route-param-names.rule.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+import { AST_NODE_TYPES, ESLintUtils } from '@typescript-eslint/utils'
+
+import { getDocsUrl } from '../../utils/get-docs-url'
+import { detectTanstackRouterImports } from '../../utils/detect-router-imports'
+import { getInvalidParams } from './route-param-names.utils'
+import { pathAsFirstArgFunctions, pathAsPropertyFunctions } from './constants'
+import type { TSESTree } from '@typescript-eslint/utils'
+import type { ExtraRuleDocs } from '../../types'
+
+const createRule = ESLintUtils.RuleCreator<ExtraRuleDocs>(getDocsUrl)
+
+const pathAsFirstArgSet = new Set<string>(pathAsFirstArgFunctions)
+const pathAsPropertySet = new Set<string>(pathAsPropertyFunctions)
+
+export const name = 'route-param-names'
+
+export const rule = createRule({
+  name,
+  meta: {
+    type: 'problem',
+    docs: {
+      description: 'Ensure route param names are valid JavaScript identifiers',
+      recommended: 'error',
+    },
+    messages: {
+      invalidParamName:
+        'Invalid param name "{{paramName}}" in route path. Param names must be valid JavaScript identifiers (match /[a-zA-Z_$][a-zA-Z0-9_$]*/).',
+    },
+    schema: [],
+  },
+  defaultOptions: [],
+
+  create: detectTanstackRouterImports((context, _, helpers) => {
+    function reportInvalidParams(node: TSESTree.Node, path: string) {
+      const invalidParams = getInvalidParams(path)
+
+      for (const param of invalidParams) {
+        context.report({
+          node,
+          messageId: 'invalidParamName',
+          data: { paramName: param.paramName },
+        })
+      }
+    }
+
+    function getStringLiteralValue(node: TSESTree.Node): string | null {
+      if (
+        node.type === AST_NODE_TYPES.Literal &&
+        typeof node.value === 'string'
+      ) {
+        return node.value
+      }
+      if (
+        node.type === AST_NODE_TYPES.TemplateLiteral &&
+        node.quasis.length === 1
+      ) {
+        const cooked = node.quasis[0]?.value.cooked
+        if (cooked != null) {
+          return cooked
+        }
+      }
+      return null
+    }
+
+    return {
+      CallExpression(node) {
+        // Handle direct function call: createRoute({ path: '...' })
+        if (node.callee.type === AST_NODE_TYPES.Identifier) {
+          const funcName = node.callee.name
+
+          // Skip if not imported from TanStack Router
+          if (!helpers.isTanstackRouterImport(node.callee)) {
+            return
+          }
+
+          // Case: createRoute({ path: '/path/$param' }) or createRoute({ 'path': '/path/$param' })
+          if (pathAsPropertySet.has(funcName)) {
+            const arg = node.arguments[0]
+            if (arg?.type === AST_NODE_TYPES.ObjectExpression) {
+              for (const prop of arg.properties) {
+                if (prop.type === AST_NODE_TYPES.Property) {
+                  const isPathKey =
+                    (prop.key.type === AST_NODE_TYPES.Identifier &&
+                      prop.key.name === 'path') ||
+                    (prop.key.type === AST_NODE_TYPES.Literal &&
+                      prop.key.value === 'path')
+                  if (isPathKey) {
+                    const pathValue = getStringLiteralValue(prop.value)
+                    if (pathValue) {
+                      reportInvalidParams(prop.value, pathValue)
+                    }
+                  }
+                }
+              }
+            }
+            return
+          }
+        }
+
+        // Handle curried function call: createFileRoute('/path')({ ... })
+        if (node.callee.type === AST_NODE_TYPES.CallExpression) {
+          const innerCall = node.callee
+
+          if (innerCall.callee.type === AST_NODE_TYPES.Identifier) {
+            const funcName = innerCall.callee.name
+
+            // Skip if not imported from TanStack Router
+            if (!helpers.isTanstackRouterImport(innerCall.callee)) {
+              return
+            }
+
+            // Case: createFileRoute('/path/$param')(...) or similar
+            if (pathAsFirstArgSet.has(funcName)) {
+              const pathArg = innerCall.arguments[0]
+              if (pathArg) {
+                const pathValue = getStringLiteralValue(pathArg)
+                if (pathValue) {
+                  reportInvalidParams(pathArg, pathValue)
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      },
+    }
+  }),
+})
diff --git a/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/rules/route-param-names/route-param-names.utils.ts b/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/rules/route-param-names/route-param-names.utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..825c9eed963
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/eslint-plugin-router/src/rules/route-param-names/route-param-names.utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+import { VALID_PARAM_NAME_REGEX } from './constants'
+
+export interface ExtractedParam {
+  /** The full param string including $ prefix (e.g., "$userId", "-$optional") */
+  fullParam: string
+  /** The param name without $ prefix (e.g., "userId", "optional") */
+  paramName: string
+  /** Whether this is an optional param (prefixed with -$) */
+  isOptional: boolean
+  /** Whether this param name is valid */
+  isValid: boolean
+}
+
+/**
+ * Extracts param names from a route path segment.
+ *
+ * Handles these patterns:
+ * - $paramName                     -> extract "paramName"
+ * - {$paramName}                   -> extract "paramName"
+ * - prefix{$paramName}suffix       -> extract "paramName"
+ * - {-$paramName}                  -> extract "paramName" (optional)
+ * - prefix{-$paramName}suffix      -> extract "paramName" (optional)
+ * - $ or {$}                       -> wildcard, skip validation
+ */
+export function extractParamsFromSegment(
+  segment: string,
+): Array<ExtractedParam> {
+  const params: Array<ExtractedParam> = []
+
+  // Skip empty segments
+  if (!segment || !segment.includes('$')) {
+    return params
+  }
+
+  // Check for wildcard ($ alone or {$})
+  if (segment === '$' || segment === '{$}') {
+    return params // Wildcard, no param name to validate
+  }
+
+  // Pattern 1: Simple $paramName (entire segment starts with $)
+  if (segment.startsWith('$') && !segment.includes('{')) {
+    const paramName = segment.slice(1)
+    if (paramName) {
+      params.push({
+        fullParam: segment,
+        paramName,
+        isOptional: false,
+        isValid: VALID_PARAM_NAME_REGEX.test(paramName),
+      })
+    }
+    return params
+  }
+
+  // Pattern 2: Braces pattern {$paramName} or {-$paramName} with optional prefix/suffix
+  // Match patterns like: prefix{$param}suffix, {$param}, {-$param}
+  const bracePattern = /\{(-?\$)([^}]*)\}/g
+  let match
+
+  while ((match = bracePattern.exec(segment)) !== null) {
+    const prefix = match[1] // "$" or "-$"
+    const paramName = match[2] // The param name after $ or -$
+
+    if (!paramName) {
+      // This is a wildcard {$} or {-$}, skip
+      continue
+    }
+
+    const isOptional = prefix === '-$'
+
+    params.push({
+      fullParam: `${prefix}${paramName}`,
+      paramName,
+      isOptional,
+      isValid: VALID_PARAM_NAME_REGEX.test(paramName),
+    })
+  }
+
+  return params
+}
+
+/**
+ * Extracts all params from a route path.
+ *
+ * @param path - The route path (e.g., "/users/$userId/posts/$postId")
+ * @returns Array of extracted params with validation info
+ */
+export function extractParamsFromPath(path: string): Array<ExtractedParam> {
+  if (!path || !path.includes('$')) {
+    return []
+  }
+
+  const segments = path.split('/')
+  const allParams: Array<ExtractedParam> = []
+
+  for (const segment of segments) {
+    const params = extractParamsFromSegment(segment)
+    allParams.push(...params)
+  }
+
+  return allParams
+}
+
+/**
+ * Validates a single param name.
+ *
+ * @param paramName - The param name to validate (without $ prefix)
+ * @returns Whether the param name is valid
+ */
+export function isValidParamName(paramName: string): boolean {
+  return VALID_PARAM_NAME_REGEX.test(paramName)
+}
+
+/**
+ * Gets all invalid params from a route path.
+ *
+ * @param path - The route path
+ * @returns Array of invalid param info
+ */
+export function getInvalidParams(path: string): Array<ExtractedParam> {
+  const params = extractParamsFromPath(path)
+  return params.filter((p) => !p.isValid)
+}