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Last updated 1 January 1970

Company Name Availability Checker

TL;DR
Check any UK company name against the live Companies House index. Catches exact matches plus close variants — with plain-English guidance on sensitive words, trademarks and "too-similar" rules.

Availability = no exact match on the live register. It does not check trademarks or sensitive words — see below.

The three things a name has to clear

  1. Companies House exact-match rule. No two live UK companies can share a name. Adding "The" or a full stop doesn't make it different.
  2. Sensitive words rule. Around 150 words require regulator approval — 'Bank', 'Insurance', 'Royal', 'Institute', 'Trust', 'National', 'Chartered', 'Group' (in some contexts), 'Federation', 'Charity', 'Assurance', etc.
  3. Trademark rule. Independent of Companies House. An existing trademark holder can force you to change your registered company name via the Company Names Adjudicator (IPO).

The "too similar" trap

Section 66 of the Companies Act empowers Companies House to refuse or later revoke a name that's "the same as" an existing one. In practice they treat the following as identical:

  • Different punctuation only ("Acme Co." vs "Acme Co Ltd").
  • Different endings ("Acme Limited" vs "Acme Ltd" vs "Acme LLP").
  • Common connective words added ("The Acme" vs "Acme").
  • Numerals and words interchanged ("2Simple" vs "TwoSimple").
  • Common abbreviations of the same word.

Even if Companies House accepts the incorporation, the existing rights-holder can force a change within 12 months by objecting.

Sensitive words — worked examples

  • "Institute" — needs evidence of a professional body affiliation or a recognisable field of activity. "Startup Institute Ltd" — no.
  • "Royal" — needs Lord Chamberlain's Office consent. Almost always refused.
  • "Bank" / "Building Society" — needs PRA / FCA authorisation.
  • "Charity" / "Charitable" — needs Charity Commission registration.

Trademarks: the check Companies House won't do for you

Companies House doesn't check the IPO trademark database at incorporation. It's on you. If you're spending money on branding, do a UK trademark search before you file the IN01. A registered trademark in the class you plan to trade in beats your company registration in a dispute — you'll be forced to rebrand.

How to lock a name if you're not ready to incorporate

Companies House doesn't offer reservation. Three real options:

  • Incorporate a dormant company. £12 online, minutes. Holds the name indefinitely at £13/year (confirmation statement fee).
  • Use a formation agent's holding service. £30–£50/year — they'll incorporate and transfer to you when you're ready.
  • Trademark it now. ~£170 for one class, protects the name commercially beyond just the Companies House register.

Adjacent tools

Frequently asked questions

Is a name 'available' if no exact match exists on Companies House?

Mostly — but not always. Companies House rules also forbid names that are 'too similar' to an existing company (adding 'The' or a punctuation mark doesn't make it available), names containing sensitive words without approval, and names that infringe existing trademarks. This tool catches exact matches; the sensitivity and trademark checks are on you.

What counts as 'too similar'?

The Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business (Names and Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2015 give the test. Broadly: names differing only in punctuation, spacing, plurals, common abbreviations (Ltd / Limited), or the addition of connective words are treated as the same name. Companies House can refuse or later force a change.

What are 'sensitive words'?

Words like 'Bank', 'Insurance', 'Royal', 'Chartered', 'Institute', 'Trust', 'National' — around 150 protected terms. Using them requires prior approval from the relevant regulator (PRA, FCA, Lord Chamberlain's Office, etc.). The Companies House sensitive words list is public and free to check.

Does availability mean I can use the name commercially?

No — that's a trademark question, not a Companies House question. A name may be free on Companies House but blocked as a trademark. Cross-check the IPO trademark database before you spend money on branding.

How long can I 'hold' a name?

You can't. Companies House doesn't offer name reservation. To lock a name, incorporate the company (£12 online, minutes). Some formation agents will hold a dormant company for you at £30–£50/year.

Can I use symbols in a company name?

Limited. Companies House allows letters, numbers, and a specific list of characters (& - . ,). No emojis, no non-Latin scripts (with narrow exceptions), no punctuation that would confuse a court order.

What about '@' or '.com' in the name?

'.com' is allowed as a suffix (e.g. 'Example.com Limited'). '@' is not on the permitted-character list. You can trade under 'example@thing' but you can't incorporate under it.

Can I use 'Ltd' or must I write 'Limited'?

Both are allowed. 'Ltd' is the standard abbreviation; 'Limited' is the full form. Welsh alternatives 'Cyfyngedig' or 'Cyf' are also allowed for Welsh-registered companies.

What if my chosen name is already dissolved?

You can re-use it — but Companies House will reject if the previous company was dissolved within the last 20 years and someone objects, or if there's a phoenix-abuse concern. Waiting 20 years is unusual; usually it's fine after 5.

Does 'available' guarantee no trademark issue?

No. IPO trademarks operate independently. A registered trademark holder can force you to change your company name even if Companies House accepted it. Always cross-check IPO.

What about the .co.uk domain?

Completely separate. Some names are free on Companies House but taken as domains, and vice versa. Check both before you commit.

Can I object to someone using a name similar to mine?

Yes — via the Company Names Adjudicator (part of the IPO). Free objections are possible if you already trade under the name; £400 for formal adjudication.

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