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UK company name rules, in plain English
Before you register a company name, it needs to clear a few checks. This is a short guide based on the Companies House guidance Incorporation and names, last updated by Companies House on 19 October 2026. It isn't legal advice.
It must end in Limited or Ltd
A private limited company's name must end with Limited or Ltd. A Welsh company can use Cyfyngedig or Cyf instead.
It can't be the same as an existing name
Companies House compares names after ignoring some differences, so a name can count as the same even if it looks different to you. It ignores:
- Company endings such as Ltd, PLC, CIC and LLP
- Terms such as Co, Company, UK and Wales in many cases
- "The" or "www" at the start
- A final "s", most punctuation and spaces
- Accents, so Café counts as Cafe
It also treats some words as equal, such as And and &, or Plus and +. Companies House gives the example that Plum Technology Ltd is the same as Plum Technology & Company Ltd.
A same-as name is only allowed in limited cases, such as when the existing company is in the same group or gives written consent.
It can still be challenged if it's too like another name
A name that differs from an existing one by only a few characters can be registered, then challenged afterwards. Companies House can order a change within 12 months. Separately, the Company Names Tribunal hears complaints about opportunistic registrations.
Some words need permission
Sensitive words can't be used without approval. Companies House gives British, Institute and Tribunal as examples. Names that suggest a link with government or a public authority also need approval.
Offensive or misleading names aren't allowed
Offensive names are prohibited. A name can also be challenged if it gives a misleading idea of what a company does and that poses a risk of harm to the public.
Check your name
Our name check looks for an exact match among 5,711,779 live companies, and shows the names next to yours alphabetically. It doesn't cover dissolved companies or the full same-as rules, so also run the official Companies House name checker before you register.