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Company Name Rules UK: What's Allowed (2026)

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Part ofCompanies House Forms UK

Written by Brad Askew Solicitor (non-practising)
Brad is on the roll of solicitors of England & Wales but does not hold a practising certificate and does not provide legal advice.
Updated June 2026 · England & Wales
Picking a name for your limited company sounds like the fun part of starting a business, and in many ways it is. But the name you settle on is not just a branding decision. It is a legal one, governed by the Companies Act 2006 and a web of rules enforced by Companies House. Get it wrong and your incorporation application can be rejected, or worse, you might find yourself on the receiving end of a complaint from another business that thinks your name is too close to theirs. This guide walks through what the law actually requires, the words and phrases you cannot use without permission, and ten practical things to think about before you file your IN01. If you are torn between two options or unsure whether a particular word is allowed, a quick conversation with an experienced legal adviser can save you a lot of time.

Overview

A company name is the registered identity of your limited company on the Companies House register. It is what appears on your certificate of incorporation, your invoices, your contracts, and the public record. In England and Wales, the rules for what you can and cannot call a company sit primarily in the Companies Act 2006 (Part 5), supported by the Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business (Names and Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2015 and various statutory instruments that list sensitive words and expressions.

Companies House runs an automated name check when you apply to incorporate, but passing that check does not mean you are entirely safe. A name can still be challenged after registration if another business has a prior claim, for example through a trade mark or passing-off action.

The rules cover three broad areas: names that are identical or too similar to existing ones, names containing restricted or sensitive words, and names suggesting a connection with government, royalty, or regulated activities you are not authorised to carry out.

Key steps

  1. Check the Companies House register first. Before you fall in love with a name, search the Companies House register to see whether it is already taken or whether something very close to it exists. The 'same as' rules ignore things like punctuation, 'the', and common suffixes, so 'Acme Trading Ltd' and 'Acme-Trading Limited' will be treated as the same.
  2. Screen for sensitive and restricted words. Words like 'royal', 'British', 'bank', 'chartered', 'trust', 'architect', and 'police' require prior approval or evidence that you are entitled to use them. The list is long and updated periodically. Check the current gov.uk guidance on sensitive words before assuming a term is free to use.
  3. Run a trade mark search. A name being available at Companies House does not mean it is free from trade mark risk. Search the UK Intellectual Property Office register for identical and similar marks in classes relevant to your business. A registered trade mark owner can force you to change your name even after incorporation.
  4. Think about the domain and social handles. The legal name and the trading name do not have to match, but most founders want them aligned with the website and social media presence. Check domain availability and common social platforms in parallel with your legal checks so you are not locked into a name that leaves you with an awkward web address.
  5. Add the correct suffix and check formatting. A private limited company must end with 'Limited' or 'Ltd' (or the Welsh equivalents if registered in Wales). Public companies use 'plc'. The name must not contain characters that Companies House does not accept, and certain combinations of letters, symbols, and punctuation are restricted by regulation.

Common questions

Q Can I use my own surname as a company name?
Yes, in most cases you can use your surname, and many sole founders do exactly that. The usual rules still apply, so the name must not be the same as an existing registered company and must not contain restricted words. If your surname happens to match a well-known brand, you could still face a trade mark or passing-off challenge, so it is worth running the same checks you would for any other name.
Q What happens if my company name is too similar to an existing one?
Companies House will usually catch identical or near-identical names at the application stage and reject the filing. If a name slips through and another company objects, they can complain to the Company Names Tribunal or bring a passing-off claim in court. An order can be made requiring you to change the name, and you may be liable for costs, so it is far cheaper to sort this out before incorporation.
Q Do I need permission to use words like 'group', 'international', or 'holdings'?
Some of these terms are treated as sensitive and require you to meet specific criteria or obtain approval. 'Group', for example, generally expects the company to have subsidiaries or a genuine group structure. 'International' implies cross-border activity. The rules shift over time, so check the current gov.uk sensitive words guidance before building a name around one of these terms.
Q Can I change my company name after incorporation?
Yes. A company can change its name by special resolution of the shareholders or by any other method permitted in the articles. The change is filed at Companies House using form NM01, and a fee applies, so check gov.uk for the current amount. The new name is not effective until Companies House issues a certificate of change of name, and all stationery, contracts, and signage should be updated promptly.
Q Is a company name the same as a trade mark?
No, and this catches people out. Registering a company at Companies House gives you the right to use that name as your registered corporate identity, but it does not give you exclusive rights to use it as a brand. Trade mark protection is a separate registration with the UK Intellectual Property Office. If branding matters to your business, you should consider both.
Q Can I use a trading name that is different from my registered company name?
Yes. Many limited companies trade under a different name, sometimes called a business name or 'trading as' name. You must still display your registered company name and number on your website, invoices, and business correspondence in line with the trading disclosures rules. The trading name itself is subject to its own restrictions on sensitive and misleading words.
Q What if my chosen name is rejected by Companies House?
Companies House will tell you why, and the reason is usually that the name is too similar to an existing one or contains a restricted word without the required approval. You can either tweak the name, apply for permission if the issue is a sensitive word, or choose something different. It is worth sorting this out before you print stationery or buy a domain.

Sources

This guide is based on primary UK law and official guidance.

Brad Askew, Solicitor (non-practising)

Written & reviewed by

Brad Askew Solicitor (non-practising)

Brad is on the roll of solicitors of England & Wales but does not hold a practising certificate and does not provide legal advice. LegalDocuments.co.uk is not a law firm and does not provide regulated legal advice.

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Legal disclaimer
This article is for general information only. It is a tool to help you find your way — not legal advice, and not a substitute for speaking to a qualified adviser about your situation.