list of sensitive company names

Some company names are protected!

When forming a company, there are several words, names or expressions that are protected. These are called sensitive words. The list of sensitive words within company names is quite extensive. It includes some words or expressions that you may expect to see like ‘charity’ and others that you may be more surprised to see included.

The following lists shows the words or expressions that are deemed as sensitive. Many of these names can be used within a company name quite simply whilst others require supporting information or approval from the relevant authority. If you need to clarify the latest list please contact Companies House.

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This list of sensitive words and expressions, including public authorities, specified in regulations that cannot be used in a company name without the prior approval of the Secretary of State.

Accounts Commission for Scotland
Accredit
Accreditation
Accredited
Accrediting
Adjudicator
Alba
Na h-Alba
Albannach
(Registered names only)
Association
Assurance
Assurer
Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England and Wales
Auditor General for Northern Ireland
Auditor General for Scotland.
Audit Scotland
Auditor General
Audit Office
Auditor General for Wales
Banc
Bank
Banking
Benevolent
Breatainn
Bhreatainn
Breatannach
Bhreatanach
Bhreatanaich
Breatannaich
Brenin
Frenin
Brenhines
Frenhines
Brenhinol
Frenhinol
Brenhiniaeth
Frenhiniaeth
Britain
British
Cenedlaethol
Chenedlaethol
Genedlaethol
Chamber(s) of
Chamber(s) of Commerce
Business
Industry
Enterprise
Training
Trade
Charitable
Charity
Charter
Chartered
Chartered Accountant
ICAEW
Chartered Secretary
Chartered Surveyor
Child Maintenance
Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission
Child Support
Coimisean
Choimisean
Chomisein
Coimisein
Comhairle
Chomhairle
Comhairlean
Chomhairlean
Comisiwn
Gomisiwn
Chomisiwn
Comisiwn
Cynulliad
Cenedlaethol
Cymru
Commission
Comptroller and Auditor General
Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland
Co-operative
Council
Cymru
Gymru
Chymru
Nghymru
Cymreig
Cymraeg
Chymraeg
Chymreig
Gymraeg
Gymreig
Chymreig
(Registered names only)
Cyngor
Chyngor
Gyngor
Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru
Dental
Dentistry
Dentist
Dental Surgeon
Dental Practitioner
Diùc
Dhiùc
Diùcan
Dhiùcan
Ban-diùc
Bhan-dhiùc
Bhan-dhiùcan
Ban-diùcan
Dug
Ddug
Duges
Dduges
Duke
Duchess
Ei Fawrhydi
Ei Mawrhydi
England
English
Federation
Financial Conduct Authority
Financial Services Authority
Financial Reporting Council.
Foundation
Friendly Society
Fund
Government
The Governor and Company of the Bank of England.
Gwasanaeth iechyd.
Wasanaeth iechyd
Gwladol
Wladol
Health and Safety Executive.
Health centre
Health service
Health visitor
His Majesty
Her Majesty
House of Commons
House of Lords
HPSS
HSC
Inspectorate
Institute
Institution
Insurance
Insurer
Judicial appointment
King
Law Commission
Licensing
Llywodraeth
Lywodraeth
Medical centre
Midwife
Midwifery
Mòrachd
Mhòrachd
Mutual
National Assembly for Wales.
National Assembly for Wales Commission.
NHS
Northern Ireland
Northern Irish
Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly Commission
Northern Ireland Executive
Northern Ireland Audit Office
Nurse
Nursing
Oifis sgrùdaidh
Oilthigh
t-Oilthigh
Oilthighean
h-Oilthighean
Ombudsman
Ombwdsmon
Parlamaid
Pharlamaid
Parlamaidean
Pharlamaidean
Parliament Parliamentarian Parliamentary
Patent
Patentee
The Pensions Advisory Service
Police
Polytechnic
Post Office
Prifysgol
Brifysgol
Phrifysgol
Prince
Princess
Prionnsa
Phrionnsa
Prionnsaichean Phrionnsaichean
Bana-phrionnsa
Bhana-Phrionnsa
Bana-Prionnsaichean
Bhana-Phrionnsaichean
Prudential Regulation Authority
Prydain
Phrydain
Brydain
Prydeinig
Phrydeinig
Brydeinig
Queen
Reassurance
Reassurer
Reinsurance
Reinsurer
Regional Health and Social Care Board
Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being
Registrar
Regulator
Riaghaltas
Riaghaltais
Riaghaltasan
Rìgh
Banrigh
Bhanrigh
Bhanrighrean
Banrighrean
Rìoghachd Aonaichte.
Rìoghail
Rìoghalachd
Royal
Royalty
Scotland
Scottish
Scottish Law Commission
The Scottish Parliament
The Scottish
Parliamentary Corporate Body
Senedd
Sheffield
Siambr
Siambr o
Fasnach
Fusnes
Ddiwydiant
Fenter
Hyfforddiant
Masnach
Social Service
Society
Special School
Standards
Stock exchange
Swyddfaarchwilio
Teyrnas Unedig
Teyrnas Gyfunol
Deyrnas Unedig
Theyrnas Unedig
Deyrnas Gyfunol
Theyrnas Gyfunol
Trade Union
Tribunal
Trust
Tywysog
Thywysog
Tywysoges
Thywysoges
Dywysog Dywysoges
Underwrite Underwriting
University
Wales
Welsh
Welsh Government
Welsh Assembly Government
Windsor

This list of sensitive words and expressions could imply a connection with a government department, a devolved administration, a local or specified public authority or a relevant body.

Accountancy and Actuarial Discipline Board
Accounting Standards Board
Auditing Practices Board
Board for Actuarial Standards
Agency
Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru
Assembly
Border Agency
Cabinet Office
Cadw
Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales
CISSW
Commissioner
Commonhold Association
Court
Courts
Crime Squad
Criminal Intelligence
Service
Crown Estate
Employment Medical
Advisory Service.
EMAS
Financial Reporting Review Panel
Further Education
Health and Safety
Health and Social Care
Higher Education
Home Office
Industrial and Provident Society
Intellectual Property
IPO
Licensing Authority Assets Recovery
National Accounts
National Accounting
NAO
Notary
Notary public
Notarial
Nuclear Installation
Primary Education
Professional Oversight Board
Scrivener
Scrivener notary
SE
Secondary education
Select Committee
Serious Organised
Crime
SOCA
Trade Mark
UKBA
UKIPO

This list includes words and expressions controlled by other legislation.

Anzac
Architect
Arts psychotherapist
Art therapist
Biomedical scientist
Chiropodist
Clinical psychologist
Clinical scientist
Counselling psychologist
Diagnostic radiographer
Dietician
Dietitian
Drama therapist
Diagnostic radiographer
Educational psychologist
Forensic psychologist
Health psychologist
Hearing aid dispenser
Music therapist
Occupational psychologist
Occupational therapist
Attorney General
Bachelor of medicine
Building Society
Chemist.
Dispensing Chemist
Dispensing Druggist
Druggist
Pharmaceutical
Pharmaceutical chemist.
Pharmaceutical druggist
Pharmaceutist
Pharmacist
Pharmacy
Chiropractor
Chiropractic practitioner
Chiropractioner
Chiropractic physician
Contact lens
Credit Union
Dispensing Optician
Doctor of medicine
Enrolled Optician
General practitioner
Geneva Cross
Housing Corporation
Licentiate in medicine and surgery
Olympic
Olympian
Olympiad
Paralympic
Paralympian
Paralympiad
Citius, Altius, Fortius
Faster, Higher, Stronger
Spirit in Motion
Any 2 of the following words:
Games
Two Thousand and Twelve
Twenty-Twelve
2012
Any one of the above words when used with one or more of the following words:
London; Medals;
Sponsors; Summer
Gold; Silver; Bronze
Ophthalmic Optician
Optician
Optometrist
Ordnance Survey
Physician
Red Crescent
Red Cross
Red Lion and Sun
Registered Optician
Solicitor
Surgeon
Vet
Veterinary
Veterinary Surgeon
Veterinary Practitioner

How to include one of these words?

In most circumstances we can assist with the formation of your company with a sensitive name. Please contact us if you need to submit a company name with a protected word included.

(Please note these pages are for guidance only. The legislation and regulations regarding the use of sensitive names changes regularly. To clarify the use of a sensitive word in a company name please contact Companies House on 0303 1234500).