Choosing a company or business name

For many companies and businesses, the name can be one of its most valuable assets. It not only identifies you to your customers, but also allows you to differentiate yourself from your competitors and enables your customers to make an emotional connection to your business and brand.

If you are setting up a company or business for the first time, or changing the name of an existing company or business, making sure your proposed name is available and acceptable for registration could save you time and money.

Try to ensure the name you apply for is unique, distinctive and not too similar to that of another company or business, especially one in a similar line of business.

Names which are likely to be refused

• are identical to a company or business name already registered in the Isle of Man;
• are descriptive of a business activity but not distinctive;
• are identical to a company known to exist elsewhere;
• are grandiose and imply the company is in some way pre-eminent in its field (unless this is the case);
• are not conducive to the good name of the Isle of Man;
• are similar enough to an existing company or business name already registered in the Isle of Man, or known to be registered elsewhere, to cause confusion in the minds of those who might deal with the other business;
• contain restricted words and phrases such as 'Bank' or 'Building Society';
• contain words which imply royal patronage or connection, e.g. 'Royal', 'Royalty', 'King', 'Queen', 'Prince', 'Princess', 'Windsor';
• do not contain an approved suffix, where one is required;
• imply the company will be undertaking a regulated activity, without holding the appropriate licence;
• were used by a company that has been struck off or dissolved in the preceding 5 years;
• would indicate that the company may be engaging in illegal activities;
• are registered for the main purpose of obtaining money (or other consideration) from a person who has goodwill in the same or sufficiently similar name elsewhere;
• imply a relationship or association with a government department or statutory board.

See also - Company and Business Names (Restricted Words and Phrases) Regulations 2013

Trade marks 

The Companies Registry does not consult any Trade Mark Index or other Trade Mark Register. Approval of a name is not an indication that no trade mark rights exist over it.

There is no Trade Mark Index in the Isle of Man, but Isle of Man Trade Marks are included in the UK Trade Mark Index.