Company name approval rules in India: how to pick a name MCA will accept

The basic structure of a name

A private company's name has two parts: a distinctive word or words, and a description of the activity, followed by "Private Limited". For example:

• Brightleaf (distinctive) Software (activity) Private Limited
• Kavya (distinctive) Foods (activity) Private Limited

The activity word should match the main object in your MOA. A name like "Brightleaf Foods" for a software company will be questioned.

Names that will be rejected

Identical or too similar names

Rule 8 treats a name as identical to an existing one if the only differences are:

• Plural or singular forms (Brightleaf vs Brightleafs)
• Type of company words like Private, Limited, LLP, Company, Corporation, Co., Inc.
• Spacing, punctuation or special characters (Bright Leaf vs Bright-Leaf)
• Tense of words, or different spellings that sound the same (Brite Leaf)
• Adding the name of a place, or words like "New", "Modern", "The" to an existing name
• Different word order of the same words

Trademarks

A name that includes a registered trademark, or one with a pending application, belonging to someone else will be rejected unless you have the owner's consent. Search the trademark register before you apply.

Undesirable or restricted names

Rule 8B and Section 4(2) bar names that are offensive, that suggest a connection with the government, or that use protected names and emblems under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950. Words like Bank, Insurance, Stock Exchange, Mutual Fund, Nidhi, Republic, President, National, Union, Federal and Board need approval from the relevant regulator or are restricted to certain types of company.

How name reservation works

Names are applied for through SPICe+ Part A (or RUN, Reserve Unique Name, for some other entity changes). You can propose up to two names per application.

1. 1.Run the name availability check on MCA and a trademark search.
2. 2.Submit SPICe+ Part A with two names and the main object.
3. 3.If approved, the name is reserved for 20 days for a new company.
4. 4.If the Registrar raises an objection, you can resubmit once.

See SPICe+ form explained for the rest of the form.

Tips for first-time approval

• Use a coined or uncommon distinctive word. Common words like "Global", "Tech" or "Solutions" are not distinctive on their own.
• Avoid names of famous brands, even in an unrelated industry.
• Give both proposed names real thought. The second name is a fallback, not filler.
• Explain the meaning of a coined word in the application's remarks field.
• If you use a family name, have that family member consent in writing.