UK company name rules: the "same as" test

You can't register a company with a name that is the "same as" one already on the Companies House register. "Same" doesn't mean identical. Before comparing, Companies House strips away the parts of a name that don't make it different. Those rules are set out in Schedule 3 of the 2015 Names Regulations.

What gets ignored, in order

1. Accents. "Café" counts as "Cafe", and "Æ" as "AE".
2. The company type at the end. "Limited", "Ltd", "PLC", "LLP", "CIC" and their Welsh versions, with or without full stops.
3. Equivalent words and symbols (as separate words): "&" and "and", "+" and "plus", "2", "two", "to" and "too", "4", "four" and "for", other numbers and their words, "£" and "pound", "%" and "per cent", "@" and "at".
4. Endings like "Company", "Co", "UK", ".com", "GB", "Wales" at the end of the name, alone or combined, including in brackets, as in "(UK)".
5. Punctuation such as full stops, commas, hyphens, apostrophes, brackets and quotes, and the symbols *, = and #.
6. A final "S".
7. Everything after the first 60 characters, counting spaces.
8. "The", "www" or "@" at the start.
9. Spaces.

If what's left is identical for two names, they count as the same.

Examples

Other rules that can still block a name

• "Too like" names. Even if a name isn't the same, an existing company can object if yours is too similar to theirs. Our checker lists similar registered names so you can judge.
• Sensitive words. Some words, such as ones suggesting a connection with government or a regulated profession, need permission before you can use them. Companies House publishes the list in its incorporation and names guidance.
• Length. A company name can be at most 160 characters.
• Trade marks. Companies House doesn't check trade marks. Search the UK trade marks register separately.

There is one exception to the "same as" rule: a company in the same group can register a same-as name with the existing company's consent.

Check your name