If you have decided to form a limited company or limited liability partnership (LLP), you must register your name and other details with Companies House.

You need to check that your proposed name does not breach the rules on name endings, 'same as' rules or include a prescribed or sensitive word without permission.

Company and LLP names - the rules

To make sure the name you choose is acceptable, ensure that your name:

• ends with 'limited' (or Ltd), 'public limited company' (or plc)
• ends with 'limited liability partnership' a or LLP (if you have a limited liability partnership)
• isn't offensive
• isn't the same as one already on the index of company names
• doesn't include any sensitive words or expressions (unless you have obtained permission to use them)

Trade marks

You should ensure your proposed name is not the same or very similar to a registered trade mark.

Complaints about company or LLP names

You can make a complaint about a company or LLP name to Companies House if:

• the name is too similar to an existing company or LLP name
• within five years of registration, it is found that misleading information was given at the time of registration
• within five years of registration any conditions attached to the registration have not been fulfilled - eg the provision of support documentation for a sensitive name
• the name is misleading and as a result may cause harm to the public

You can also make a complaint about a company or LLP name to the Company Names Tribunal at the Intellectual Property Office if you believe the name has been chosen for opportunistic reasons.