Company name availability checker
Type the name you want. We run it against the Companies House naming rules, show you the stripped back version the registrar uses to decide whether two names are the same, and flag any sensitive word that needs supporting evidence.
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QuickBooks PartnerCertified ProAdvisor100+ yearsCombined team experienceFully insuredUp to £2m indemnityA private company name must end in Limited, Ltd, Cyfyngedig or Cyf, must be under 160 characters, must not be the same as an existing name once punctuation and words like Limited, Company, UK and Group are removed, and must not use a sensitive or restricted word without approval.
Rule check
Type a name to check it against the Companies House rules.
The same as rule is stricter than it looks
Companies House does not just compare the two strings. It removes punctuation, the company ending, and a list of words that add nothing distinctive: company, co, UK, Great Britain, holdings, group, international, services and the definite article. It treats and, &, plus and the number one as equivalents, and it ignores a trailing s.
That means Bright Digital Ltd, The Bright Digital Company Limited and Bright Digital UK Ltd all reduce to the same name, and the registrar will reject the second and third. The normalised form is shown in the result below so you can see exactly what the register will be compared against.
Too like names can be objected to later
Even if a name gets through, an existing company can object to the Company Names Tribunal within twelve months on the grounds that yours is too like theirs. A name that differs only by a word such as solutions or group is vulnerable.
Check the trade mark register as well. Company registration gives you no trade mark rights, and a registered mark can force you to change a name you have already built a website around.
Sensitive and restricted words
Words that imply national or regional standing, a regulated activity, or a link to government need supporting evidence, and often a letter of non-objection from the relevant body. Bank, insurance, chartered, institute, royal, British and university are all on the list.
The evidence has to be filed with the incorporation, so identify this before you buy the domain and print anything.
Before you incorporate
Once the name passes, check the matching domain, check the trade mark register, and think about your SIC code and registered office. If you use your home address it becomes public, so a registered office service is worth the small annual fee.
We set companies up for founders every week and the naming stage is where most of the rework happens. Ask us before you file, basic questions are free.
Common questions
How do I check if a company name is available?
Run the name through the rules here, then search the live register on the Companies House find and update service. Registration is only confirmed when the incorporation is accepted, so the name is not reserved until then.
Can two companies have similar names?
Yes, if they are not the same under the registrar's comparison rules. But an existing business can object that your name is too like theirs, and can also act on trade mark grounds, so similar is a commercial risk even when it is legally registrable.
Can I reserve a company name in the UK?
No. There is no reservation system. The only way to hold a name is to incorporate a company, which is why some founders register a dormant company to protect a name they plan to use later.
Do I have to use Limited in my trading name?
The registered name must end in Limited or Ltd, but you can trade under a different business name, provided you display the registered name and number on your website, letters, invoices and order forms.
How much does it cost to register a company?
Companies House charges £50 to incorporate online. The confirmation statement fee is £34 a year. Our formation support covers the name checks, the SIC code, share structure and the first HMRC registrations.