Why Was My Company Name Rejected When It Wasn't Identical to Another?

Companies House doesn't just check for identical names, it checks whether your name is treated as "the same as" one already on the register, and a surprising amount gets ignored in that comparison. Punctuation, capitalisation, and a specific list of common words all get stripped out before the check happens, so a name that looks different to you can still get flagged as a clash.

Key Takeaways

• "Limited" and "Ltd" are treated as interchangeable, so you can't use one to distinguish your name from a company already registered with the other.
• Capitalisation, spacing, and punctuation are all ignored when Companies House compares names.
• "The" at the start of a name, and a trailing "s" at the end, don't count as a distinguishing feature.
• A set list of common words, including Company, Services, Trading, UK, International, and "& Company", are treated as too generic to tell two names apart.
• If your new company is part of the same corporate group as the existing name-holder, a "same as" name can still be registered with written consent.

What Actually Gets Ignored When Companies House Checks a Name?

More than most people expect. "Limited" and "Ltd" are treated as the same word, so if a name's already registered as one, you can't submit it using the other. Capitalisation makes no difference either, since the register itself is stored in capitals.

Spacing and punctuation are ignored too. "MadeSimpleGroup Ltd" and "Made.Simple.Group.Ltd" are treated as identical to "Made Simple Group Limited", so none of them would be accepted alongside the others. "The" at the start of a name is disregarded as well; if "Made Simple Group Ltd" already exists, "The Made Simple Group Ltd" won't be accepted. A trailing "s" gets the same treatment.

Which Words Are Too Generic to Distinguish a Name?

A specific list of common words are treated as adding no real distinction between two names. This includes Company, Services, Trading, UK, GB, International, and "& Company", among others. If an existing company is called "Acme Trading Ltd", a new application for "Acme Ltd" or "Acme Services Ltd" would likely be rejected as too close to it, since none of these added words are considered enough to tell the two apart.

Is There Ever an Exception to This?

Yes, if your new company is part of the same corporate group as the one already holding the name. In that case, a "same as" name can still be registered, provided you submit a written letter of consent from the existing company, signed by one of its officers, confirming the group relationship and including both companies' names and registration numbers. It's worth keeping that letter safe, since Companies House can ask to see it again after incorporation.

Is This the Same as a Name Being "Too Like" Another?

No, they're related but separate tests. "Same as" is the mechanical comparison covered above, largely automatic and based on stripping out punctuation and generic words. "Too like" is a broader judgement Companies House can apply afterwards, often triggered by a complaint from an existing company, where two names are similar enough in sound or meaning to genuinely confuse the public, even if they'd pass the "same as" check. Companies House has given "Easy Electrics For You Ltd" and "EZ Electrics 4U Ltd" as an example of names that could fall foul of this.

Since the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, Companies House also has stronger powers to reject or force a change of name where it believes a name is being used to facilitate fraud, or falsely implies a connection to a government or international body. If you're directed to change a name under these powers, you have 28 days to do so.

FAQs

Why was my company name rejected if it wasn't identical to another one?

Companies House checks whether a name is "the same as" an existing one after ignoring punctuation, spacing, capitalisation, and certain generic words, not just whether it's an exact match.

Can I use "Ltd" if a similar name is already registered as "Limited"?

No, these are treated as the same word, so switching between them doesn't create a valid distinction.

Does adding "UK" or "Services" to an existing name make it acceptable?

No, both are on the list of words treated as too generic to distinguish one name from another.

Can two group companies ever share a "same as" name?

Yes, if the new company is part of the same corporate group as the existing one, with a written letter of consent from an officer of that company.

What's the difference between a "same as" and a "too like" name?

"Same as" is a largely mechanical check that strips out minor differences. "Too like" is a broader judgement about whether two names could genuinely confuse the public, and can be raised after incorporation.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Companies House naming rules can change, so it's worth checking current guidance on GOV.UK before finalising your company name.