Business name generator
Enter one or two keywords and pick a style to generate company name ideas. Check any name against Companies House with one click.
How the UK Business Name Generator Works
Enter one or two keywords that describe your business and choose a naming style. The generator combines your keywords with common UK business naming patterns to produce distinctive company name ideas. Each style produces a different type of name:
- Professional - formal names suited to consulting, finance, and B2B services (e.g. "Apex Consulting", "Sterling Partners")
- Modern / Tech - contemporary names with tech-inspired elements (e.g. "Neoflow", "Pixelhub", "Syncwave")
- Traditional - classic British business naming conventions (e.g. "The Hartley Group", "Ashworth & Co")
- Creative - distinctive, memorable names for creative and consumer businesses (e.g. "BrightSpark Studio", "Ironleaf Works")
What Makes a Good UK Company or Business Name?
- Check availability first - use the "Check availability" link next to any name to search Companies House for conflicts
- Avoid restricted words - words like "Royal", "Bank", "British", or "Chartered" need government approval before Companies House will accept them
- Consider the "same as" rules - Companies House treats "ABC Solutions Limited" and "A.B.C. Solutions Ltd" as the same name. Punctuation and common suffixes are ignored
- Check the domain - before settling on a name, see if a matching .co.uk or .com domain is available
- Think about trademarks - a registered company name does not protect you from trademark infringement claims. Search the UK trademark register too
Trading Name vs Registered Company Name
Your registered company name (as it appears at Companies House) must end with "Limited", "Ltd", or another required suffix. You can use a shorter trading name on marketing materials - for example, "Acme Digital Ltd" might trade as "Acme". The full registered name must still appear on invoices, contracts, and official correspondence. Trading names are not registered at Companies House, but they must not infringe existing trademarks.
Companies House Naming Rules and Restrictions
Companies House will reject a name if it is identical or "the same as" an existing registered company. The "same as" comparison strips out:
- Punctuation and special characters
- Standard endings (Limited, Ltd, PLC, LLP, etc.)
- Common words like "the", "and", "company", "business"
Some words and expressions are classified as "sensitive" and require approval from a relevant government body. The full list is published in the Companies House guidance.
Related Tools
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- SIC Code Lookup - find the right classification code for your new company
- Free Company Search - search over 5.7 million UK companies
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the UK business name generator work?
Enter one or two keywords that describe your business and pick a naming style (professional, creative, modern, or traditional). The generator combines your keywords with common UK naming patterns to produce a list of company name ideas. Click any suggestion to check whether it is available at Companies House.
Are the generated names available to register as a limited company?
Each suggestion can be checked instantly against the live Companies House register. Because availability changes constantly, always verify a name immediately before committing to it or starting the registration process. The final acceptance decision rests with the Companies House examiner.
What makes a good UK company or business name?
A strong name is distinctive, memorable, and easy to spell. It should reflect what you do without being so generic that it clashes with existing companies. Check that a matching domain is available, verify there are no trademark conflicts, and avoid words that require special approval from Companies House.
Should my limited company name include Ltd or Limited?
Most private limited companies must end their registered name with 'Limited' or 'Ltd' - this is a legal requirement. The ending tells people the company has limited liability. When trading, many businesses use a shortened version of their name (without 'Ltd') on marketing materials, which is allowed as long as the full registered name appears on official documents.
Can I use a trading name that is different from my registered company name?
Yes. A limited company can trade under a name that differs from its registered name - this is called a trading name or business name. The trading name cannot be the same as another company's name or an existing trademark, and the full registered company name must still appear on official correspondence, invoices, and your website.
Can I use any name I want for my company?
Not quite. Your name cannot be identical to or too similar to an existing registered company. It cannot contain sensitive or restricted words without appropriate approval. Certain endings (Ltd, PLC, LLP) are regulated. Names that suggest a government connection or mislead the public are also rejected.
Should I check trademarks as well as the Companies House register?
Yes - and it is important. A name being free at Companies House does not mean it is free of trademark protection. Someone could hold a registered trademark for that name or a similar one, and using it could lead to an infringement claim. Search the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) trademark register before committing to a name.
How do I check if a business name is already trademarked?
Search the UK IPO's online trademark register at gov.uk. Check both exact matches and similar names in the relevant industry classes. A trademark attorney can carry out a more thorough clearance search if the name is important to your brand.
Do I need to include my company name on business documents?
Yes. Limited companies must display their full registered name on all business letters, emails, invoices, receipts, contracts, websites, and official forms. Failure to do so can result in a fine. You can use a trading name on marketing materials, but legal documents must show the full registered name and company number.
What happens if my chosen company name is too similar to an existing one?
Companies House will reject the application and ask you to choose a different name. If the clash only becomes apparent after registration - perhaps because an existing trademark holder complains - you may be required to change the name and could face legal costs. Checking thoroughly before you register avoids this.
Can two UK businesses use the same name?
No two limited companies on the UK register can share the same name (after applying the 'same as' rules). However, a sole trader or unregistered partnership can use a trading name that resembles a company name, unless it infringes a trademark. This is why trademark registration matters beyond the Companies House register.
What is a sole trader trading name?
A sole trader trading name (or business name) is a name used for trading that is different from the person's own name. For example, 'Jane Smith' could trade as 'Brighton Web Design'. Sole traders do not register their trading names at Companies House, but the name must not infringe any trademarks or be misleading.