Can I reserve a company name before registering it?

Not officially. Companies House does not offer a name reservation or hold service. A name only becomes yours the moment a company is successfully incorporated under it — until then, anyone else can register it first.

How long can I hold a company name for?

Indefinitely, once you have incorporated a company under that name. There is no expiry or renewal — as long as the company remains registered (even dormant), the name is yours and cannot be used by anyone else.

What happens if someone else registers my chosen name first?

The name is gone. Companies House operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no waiting list or notification system. If you delay, another applicant can take the exact name — or a name close enough to be rejected under the "same as" rule.

Does registering a trademark reserve a company name?

No. Trade marks and company names are entirely separate registers held by different bodies — the Intellectual Property Office and Companies House. Registering a trade mark protects the brand in relation to goods and services, but does not stop someone else incorporating a company with that name.

How to Reserve a Company Name in the UK

Q: What is the fastest way to secure a company name today?

Buying a company name that is already incorporated. Standard registration can take up to 24 hours and carries rejection risk if the name conflicts with an existing one. A pre-registered name is already secured — transfer of ownership typically completes within 48 hours.

YCN Editorial Team

YourCompanyName.co.uk

There Is No UK Company Name Reservation System

Unlike some countries, the UK has no formal process for reserving or holding a company name in advance. Companies House does not accept "name reservation" applications, does not run a waiting list, and will not notify you if a name you're interested in becomes available.

A company name only belongs to you the moment a company is successfully incorporated under it. Before that point, the name is available to anyone — including someone who searches for and registers it five minutes before you.

Why this catches people out

Many first-time founders assume that searching for a name on the Companies House register and finding it "available" means it's now reserved for them. It isn't. Standard online incorporation can take anywhere from a few hours to 24 hours to process, and during that window the name remains completely open to anyone else.

The "Same As" Rule — Your Only Real Protection

Once you do incorporate a company, Companies House's "same as" rule becomes your protection. It prevents anyone else from registering a name that is identical, or so similar that it would be confused with yours — certain punctuation, plurals, and word order variations are treated as "the same" for this purpose.

This is a strong protection, but it only switches on after incorporation. Read the full detail in our UK company name rules guide.

Your Three Practical Options

1. Register It Yourself

Incorporate a new company under the name immediately. This is the standard route, but it carries rejection risk if the name conflicts with an existing one, and today's date becomes your incorporation date.

2. Register a Trade Mark

Protects the brand name for goods and services — but on a completely separate register. It does not stop someone else incorporating a company with the same name. See our trademark guide.

3. Buy It, Already Secured

Buy a company that's already incorporated under a name you want. No rejection risk, no waiting — the name has been legally yours from the moment the transfer completes, usually within 48 hours.

Looking for something specific?

Search our live portfolio of pre-registered names — single letter, double letter, and premium word-based companies, all already secured and dormant.

Browse Available Names

Why Buying Beats Waiting

If you've found a company name you like among our available stock, there's no benefit to "waiting" or trying to register it fresh — someone else could take it first, and a freshly incorporated company only carries today's date. Buying the already-secured version gives you two advantages at once:

Zero rejection risk — the name has already passed Companies House registration successfully
An aged incorporation date — some of our stock dates back years, which reads as an established business rather than one registered today

Read more about the second point in our guide to aged company names.

Secure Your Name Today

Browse our full stock of pre-registered UK Limited company names — already incorporated, already dormant, ready to transfer within 48 hours.

Browse Available Names Get in touch

Related Guides

Can't find the name?

Tell us what you're looking for and we'll let you know if we hold it — or something close.

How to Reserve a Company Name