Choosing a company name in the UK is an important step in establishing your business. Here are the key steps and considerations to help you choose a suitable company name:

1. Uniqueness and Availability

• Check Name Availability: Use the Companies House name availability checker to ensure your desired name is not already in use or too similar to an existing name.
• Avoid Restricted Words: Some words are restricted and require permission from certain authorities (e.g., "British," "Royal," "Bank").
• Trademark Search: Conduct a trademark search through the Intellectual Property Office to ensure your chosen name does not infringe on existing trademarks.

2. Naming Rules and Requirements

• Include Legal Designation: For a private limited company, the name must end with "Limited" or "Ltd."
• No Offensive Words: The name should not contain any offensive or sensitive words without proper justification and permission.
• No Misleading Information: The name should not imply a connection with government or local authorities unless permission is granted.

3. Consider Your Brand

• Reflect Your Business: Choose a name that reflects your business's purpose, values, and identity.
• Easy to Remember and Spell: Ensure the name is easy to pronounce, spell, and remember.
• Domain Name Availability: Check if the corresponding domain name is available for your company’s website.

4. Legal and Compliance Checks

• Non-Duplicative: Ensure the name is not identical or very similar to an existing company name registered at Companies House.
• Avoid Sensitive Words: Words like "association," "group," and "international" may require additional documentation or approval.

5. Reserve Your Name

• Secure the Name: Once you have chosen a name and ensured its availability, you can reserve it by incorporating your company with Companies House.

Step-by-Step Process

1. Brainstorm and Shortlist Names:
   • List several potential names that align with your business objectives and values.
2. Check Availability and Restrictions:
   • Use the Companies House WebCHeck service to ensure your name is available.
   • Check for any restrictions or requirements for certain words and phrases.
3. Trademark Search:
   • Use the Intellectual Property Office to ensure your name does not infringe on existing trademarks.
4. Check Domain Availability:
   • Use domain registration sites like GoDaddy or Namecheap to check if the domain name is available.
5. Finalize and Register:
   • Once you have confirmed the name is available and compliant, you can proceed with registering your company name when incorporating your company at Companies House.

Summary

Choosing a company name in the UK requires ensuring uniqueness and compliance with legal requirements, reflecting your brand identity, and checking the availability of both the company name and corresponding domain. Follow the steps above to select a suitable name and secure it by registering your company with Companies House.