How to check if a company name is available
Checking whether your proposed company name is available is a straightforward process, but there are a few steps you should take to be thorough. An available name today is not guaranteed to still be available in a week — names are registered on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Search the Companies House register
Go to find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk and search for your proposed company name. This is free and searches the live register. Check not just for exact matches but also for very similar names — Companies House will reject applications for names that are too similar to existing ones.
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Search for similar variations
Try different versions of your name — with and without "The", with "&" instead of "And", with and without hyphens. Also try common misspellings. Companies House applies a "same as" test that strips out spaces, punctuation, and certain common words, so names that look different to you may be considered identical by the system.
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Check the Insolvency Register
Names of recently dissolved companies can sometimes be blocked if the liquidator or administrator has requested name protection. The Insolvency Service maintains a register of protected names. If your proposed name was used by a company that went into administration, it may be temporarily unavailable.
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Check during the formation application
The availability check also happens automatically when you submit your formation application via Companies House WebFiling. If the name is already taken or rejected for another reason, your application is returned without being processed and without charging you the fee. So you will find out definitively at the point of submission.
UK company naming rules
Companies House applies a strict set of rules to company names. Understanding these before you choose a name will save you a wasted application. Here are the key requirements:
Rules your name MUST follow:
End in "Limited" or "Ltd"
All standard private limited companies must include this at the end of their name. Welsh-registered companies can use "Cyfyngedig" or "Cyf" instead.
Be unique
No existing registered company (including recently dissolved companies in some cases) can have the same name. The "same as" test applies — see below.
Not exceed 160 characters
Company names are limited to 160 characters including the "Limited" or "Ltd" suffix.
Use permitted characters only
Company names can contain letters, numbers, and certain punctuation. Some special characters require specific justification.
Rules your name must NOT break:
No offensive language
Names containing obscene, offensive, or threatening words will be rejected outright.
No suggestion of government connection
Names implying a connection to the UK government, Crown, or Parliament without explicit permission are prohibited.
No use of sensitive words without approval
Certain words require prior approval — see the sensitive words section below.
No misleading names
Names that are likely to mislead the public about the nature of your business or imply a connection to an institution it has no connection to may be rejected.
Similar names — what's allowed?
Companies House does not just check for identical names — it also applies a "same as" test that catches names which would appear identical once common words and characters are stripped out. This is more restrictive than many people expect.
When comparing names, Companies House removes or standardises the following before checking for a match:
This means "Smith & Jones Limited", "Smith And Jones Ltd", "The Smith Jones Limited", and "SmithJones Ltd" would all be considered the same name. Your proposed name would be rejected if any of these were already registered.
Beyond the same-as test, Companies House also has discretion to reject names that are "too similar" to an existing name even if they would pass the same-as test. This is more subjective and is assessed on a case-by-case basis — generally applying where a name is clearly designed to confuse customers of an existing business.
Trademarks: a separate consideration
Having a unique Companies House name does not protect your brand from a legal perspective. Companies House checks only whether your name is unique within the register — it does not check whether your name infringes an existing trademark. These are two completely separate systems.
In theory, you could register a company at Companies House with a name that is also a registered trademark belonging to someone else. Companies House will accept the registration. But the trademark owner could then take legal action against you for trademark infringement — which could require you to change your company name and pay damages.
Before finalising your company name, we recommend checking:
UK trademark register
Search at ipo.gov.uk/tmcase to check for existing UK trademark registrations covering your proposed name in your business sector.
Domain name availability
Check whether the .co.uk and .com domains are available. A company name you cannot get a matching domain for creates long-term branding difficulties.
Social media handles
Check Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook for your proposed name. Consistent handles across platforms are important for brand recognition.
If you want to protect your brand name formally, you can file for a UK trademark with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). UK trademark registration costs from £170 for a single class of goods or services. A trademark gives you exclusive rights to use that name commercially in the UK in your registered classes and is significantly stronger legal protection than a Companies House registration alone.
Tips for choosing a strong company name
Beyond just checking availability, there are commercial and practical considerations that make some names significantly better choices than others:
Keep it short and memorable
Shorter names are easier to say, spell, and remember. Aim for two or three words maximum.
Avoid overly generic names
Generic names are hard to trademark and difficult to rank for online. They also make it harder for customers to find you.
Check the domain name first
Secure your .co.uk and .com domains before registering the company. Do both on the same day.
Test it as an email address
Say your proposed name out loud as an email address — "hello@[yourname].co.uk". Is it clear? Easy to spell over the phone?
Test it with potential customers
Ask a few people who don't know your business what they think the company does based on the name alone. Their answers may surprise you.
Avoid hyphens and unusual spelling
Deliberate misspellings and hyphens create confusion and make your name harder to find online and say over the phone.
Changing your company name after registration
Choosing the wrong name is not the end of the world — company names can be changed after incorporation. However, it is a process worth understanding before you register, as it is not entirely frictionless.
Pass a special resolution
A name change requires a special resolution of shareholders — at least 75% of shareholders must vote in favour. This is typically straightforward for sole-director companies where the director also owns all shares.
File form NM01
Complete Companies House form NM01 (available from the Companies House website) and submit it with the £20 fee. This can be filed online or by post.
Wait for approval
Companies House typically processes name changes within 1–2 working days. The new name takes effect as soon as it appears on the register.
Update your materials
Once the name is changed, you must update all business stationery, invoices, your website, HMRC records, bank account, and any contracts that reference the company name. This can be time-consuming.
Your old company name remains on record permanently as a "previous name" on the Companies House register. This is publicly visible. Your Company Registration Number stays the same — it is the number that uniquely identifies your company, not the name.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a company name is available?
The simplest way is to use the free Companies House name search at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Search for your proposed name to see if it is already registered. You should also search for similar names — not just exact matches — because Companies House checks for names that would be considered the "same as" an existing name even if the wording is slightly different. The availability check also happens automatically when you submit a formation application — if the name is taken, your application is returned without processing.
What are the rules for UK company names?
A UK limited company name must end in "Limited" or "Ltd" (or Welsh equivalents "Cyfyngedig"/"Cyf" for Welsh-registered companies). It must be unique — no existing registered company can have the same or a very similar name. It must not be offensive or contain obscene language. It must not suggest a connection to the UK government or Crown unless permission has been granted. It must not include "sensitive" words (such as Bank, Royal, British, National, Insurance, University, or Charity) without prior approval from Companies House or the relevant body. A full list of sensitive words is published on the Companies House website.
Can two UK companies have similar names?
No — not if the names would be considered "the same as" each other under Companies House rules. Companies House applies a "same as" test that removes spaces, punctuation, and certain common words (including "The", "And", "&", "Ltd", "Limited") before comparing names. So "Smith & Jones Limited" and "Smith And Jones Ltd" would be treated as the same name. Companies House also has discretion to reject names that are too similar to existing names, even if they would not be technically identical under the same-as test. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
What is a sensitive word in a company name?
A sensitive word is a word or expression that implies a particular status, connection to government, professional body, or regulated activity. Examples include: Bank, Building Society, Insurance, Royal, British, National, English, Scottish, Welsh, European, International, Group, Holdings, Trust, Foundation, Institute, University, and Charity. Using these words in a company name requires prior approval from Companies House or, in some cases, from another regulatory body. Some words also require you to meet specific criteria — for example, using "Bank" in a company name requires FCA authorisation.
Can I change my company name after registration?
Yes. You can change your company name at any time after incorporation. The process requires passing a special resolution (a vote by shareholders with at least 75% agreement) and filing form NM01 with Companies House along with a £20 fee. The name change takes effect immediately once Companies House approves it, and the updated name typically appears on the register within 1–2 working days. Your old name remains on record as a "previous name" permanently visible on the Companies House register.