How names are applied for
- New company: SPICe+ Part A on the MCA portal, either on its own with up to two proposed names, or together with Part B with one name.
- Change of name of an existing company: the RUN (Reserve Unique Name) form.
- Fee: ₹1,000 per application, not refunded if the name is rejected.
- Resubmission: one, if the Central Registration Centre marks the application for resubmission.
- Validity: 20 days from approval for a new company, within which SPICe+ Part B must be filed; 60 days for a change of name (section 4(5) of the Companies Act, 2013).
An LLP reserves its name through RUN-LLP, for ₹200, under similar resemblance rules. See LLP registration.
Rule 8: the resemblance test
A proposed name is treated as identical to an existing one if the two are the same after ignoring differences such as:
- Words like Private, Limited, Pvt, Ltd, LLP, Company, Corporation
- Singular or plural forms, and verb tenses
- Spacing, punctuation, letter case and special characters
- Phonetic or slight spelling variations, such as Colour and Color
- Word order and articles such as "the"
- Domain endings such as .com or .in
- Added place names, numerals, or words such as Global or International
- A full translation of the name into Hindi or English
So "Bright Path Technologies Private Limited" is likely to be refused if "Brightpath Technology Pvt Ltd" exists, and "Bright Path Technologies India" adds nothing that counts. An existing company can give a no-objection board resolution for some of these grounds, but you cannot rely on getting one.
Rule 8A: undesirable names
- Registered trademarks. A name that includes a trademark registered by someone else, without their consent. Search the trademark register as well as company names.
- Close to an LLP name or a name already reserved by someone else.
- Financial activity mismatch. Words like Finance, Investment, Leasing or Chit Fund when the objects do not include that business, or the reverse.
- Another legal form. Words such as Co-operative, Trust, Partnership or LLP in a company name.
- Purely descriptive or geographic names. A name made only of common words describing the activity, or only of a city, state or country name.
- Regulated words such as Bank, Insurance or Mutual Fund without the regulator's approval.
- Offensive names, or names implying patronage by the government or a public figure.
Rule 8B: words that need Central Government approval
Words such as Board, Commission, Authority, Undertaking, National, Union, Central, Federal, Republic and President need prior approval, which is rarely given to a private business. Avoid them unless the company genuinely needs them and you are ready to apply separately.
How to choose a name that gets approved
- Make it distinctive: a coined or unusual word plus an activity word, such as "Zentrova Logistics", rather than "Fast Logistics".
- Check MCA's company and LLP name search for anything that matches after ignoring the Rule 8 differences.
- Search the trademark register in the classes you will trade in; see how to check trademark availability.
- Make sure the activity word matches the objects in your memorandum.
- Prepare two strong options for Part A, each with a line on what the name means if it is a coined word.
- Once approved, file Part B within 20 days, and apply for the trademark soon after so the brand is protected too.
Talk to Regikart
Our Company Secretaries check your proposed names against the rules before filing, which is the main reason our applications rarely need a resubmission. Private limited registration starts from ₹1,499, and the ₹1,000 name fee is paid at actuals. Work out the full cost with our incorporation cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Why was my company name rejected?
Usually because it resembles an existing company or LLP once suffixes, plurals, spacing and spelling variations are ignored (Rule 8), it includes someone else's registered trademark, it is purely descriptive, or it uses a restricted word without approval (Rules 8A and 8B).
How many names can I apply for?
Up to two in a standalone SPICe+ Part A or RUN application, and one if Part A is filed together with Part B. One resubmission is allowed if the application is marked for it.
What is the fee for company name approval?
₹1,000 per application. It is not refunded if the name is rejected.
How long is an approved name reserved?
20 days from approval for a new company, and 60 days for a change of name of an existing company.
Can I use a word like National in my company name?
"National" is one of the words that need prior Central Government approval under Rule 8B. Separately, adding a place name such as India to an existing company's name does not make it different under Rule 8.
Does name approval give me trademark rights?
No. Company name approval only lets you incorporate with that name. To protect the brand, register it as a trademark.
About the author
Regikart CS Team
Company Secretaries at Regikart. Want to discuss this in the context of your business?
