Tools · Business Name
Business name checker
Check your proposed business name against Companies House naming rules, then confirm availability using the official register.
Companies House naming rules
What makes a valid company name?
A private limited company name must end in Limited or Ltd (or the Welsh equivalents Cyfyngedig or Cyf for Welsh companies). The name must not be identical or too similar to an existing registered company name, and must not contain prohibited or sensitive words without permission.
The name must not be offensive. It must not imply a connection with a government body or suggest the company is something it is not (e.g. a charity or a public body).
Sensitive words — such as Bank, Royal, University, NHS, and British — can be used but require written permission from the relevant authority before Companies House will register the name. This process can take weeks or months.