Company name rejected? What to do next

Why was my company name rejected?

Almost always because the name breaks one of the registration rules in the Companies Act 2006, which Companies House applies to every application. The rejection tells you which rule, and each one has its own fix.

Reason	How to fix it
"Same as" a name on the register	Change the distinctive part of the name, or include written consent from the existing company if you are in the same group.
Sensitive word without approval	Drop the word, or ask for approval and include the response with your application.
Suggests a link to government or a public authority	Reword it, or get approval if the link is real.
Wrong ending	End a private limited company's name with "Limited" or "Ltd".
Characters that aren't allowed, or offensive words	Use only permitted characters, signs and punctuation, and remove anything offensive.

Source: Incorporation and names, section 6.1, checked 2 November 2026

Until the certificate of incorporation is issued, the company doesn't exist, so a refusal leaves nothing to undo. If a formation agent filed for you, ask them how they handle a resubmission.

Is my name the "same as" another company's?

It is if the only differences are ones Companies House ignores when it compares names. Before comparing, it sets aside:

• the company-type ending, such as "Limited", "Ltd" or "PLC"
• certain words such as "co" or "UK" after a space or full stop
• brackets, most punctuation, a plural "s" at the end, and "the" or "www" at the start

It also treats some characters as equal: "&" and "and", accented and plain letters, and numbers and the same numbers in words. So "Hands UK Ltd" and "Hand's Ltd" are both the same as "Hands Ltd". To get past the rule, change a word that carries meaning rather than adding one that is ignored.

Our guide to choosing a company name goes through these rules in more detail.

Can I use a "same as" name with permission?

Yes, in two cases: your new company will be in the same group as the company that already has the name, or that company gives its written consent. Include its letter confirming consent and group membership with your application.

What if my name includes a sensitive word?

You need approval before the name can be registered. Some words also need you to ask a named body for its view first, and you must include a copy of its response with your application. Words that suggest a link to government, a local authority or a public body are treated the same way.

If the word isn't essential, dropping it is usually the quickest route.

Can my name be challenged after it's registered?

Yes. If someone complains and Companies House agrees your name is "too like" an earlier one, it can direct you to change it. That direction must come within 12 months of registration and give you at least 28 days to act.

Separately, a company that registered a name to take advantage of someone else's reputation can face a complaint to the Company Names Tribunal, which can order a change.