UK Company Name Rules: What You Can and Cannot Call Your Business

The Uniqueness Requirement

Your proposed company name must not be the same as, or "too similar to", a name already on the Companies House register. Companies House uses software to identify names that are the same when punctuation, special characters, and common words (such as "the", "and", "company", "limited") are ignored.

A name is considered the same if it is identical once these elements are removed. It is considered "too similar" if it is so alike to an existing name that members of the public could reasonably be confused between the two. Searching the Companies House register before you apply is essential.

• Punctuation, spaces, and special characters are ignored when comparing names
• Common words such as "and", "the", "company" are also disregarded
• Numbers written as words (e.g. "Three") are treated the same as the numeral ("3")
• Plurals and possessives are treated as the same as the singular form

Sensitive and Restricted Words

Certain words and expressions require prior approval or are prohibited entirely. These fall into two categories: words that require the consent of a relevant body before you can use them, and words that are outright prohibited in company names.

Words requiring approval include "Bank" (requires FCA permission), "British", "National", "Royal" (requires written consent from the relevant government department), "NHS", "Dental", "Nursing" (requires approval from the Department of Health), and "University", "Institute" (may require Privy Council approval). The Companies House guidance provides a full list.

Offensive words or expressions are prohibited outright, as are names that imply a connection with government or local authorities without consent.

Ending Requirements and Abbreviations

Every private limited company registered in England, Wales, or Scotland must end its name with "Limited" or "Ltd". Companies registered in Wales can also use the Welsh equivalents "Cyfyngedig" or "Cyf".

Companies can apply for an exemption from the "Limited" requirement if they are non-profit organisations meeting certain conditions. For most commercial companies, however, "Ltd" at the end is a legal requirement.

Trade Marks and Passing Off

Companies House only checks names against other registered company names — it does not check against registered trade marks or business names used by unincorporated businesses. Having a name approved by Companies House does not give you the right to use it commercially if it infringes a registered trade mark.

Before finalising your name, search the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) trade mark register at gov.uk/search-for-trademark. If someone holds a registered trade mark for the same or a confusingly similar name in the same class of goods or services, using that name risks an infringement claim.

You should also consider registering your own trade mark once you have settled on a name. A UK trade mark registration provides national protection and legal recourse if competitors use a confusingly similar name or logo.