Tips for Choosing a Business Name

• LLC
• L.L.C.  
• Limited Liability Company

Approved suffixes for Delaware corporations

When choosing a buisness name, it must contain one of the corporate endings below, or abbreviations thereof, with or without punctuation. For example, 'Inc.' (with period) and 'Inc' (without period) are both permitted company suffix. Words that are recognized as corporate endings in other countries can also be used in your Delaware company name.

• Association 
• Company 
• Corporation 
• Club 
• Foundation 
• Fund 
• Incorporated
• Institute
• Limited
• Society
• Union 
• Syndicate

If the name of your corporation contains words from any language other than English, you must submit an English translation of the name upon filing.

For example:

• Sociedad Anonima (S.A.) which basically translates into "public company" or "corporation," is often used in countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay, and the Virgin Islands. 
• Societe Anonyme is the version often used by companies in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.  Companies in Switzerland may use Societe Anonyme or Societe Anonima.
• Aktiengesellschaft or Akteingesellschaften (AG) for publicly traded companies or corporations is often used in Germany and Austria.

Requirements for Delaware public benefit corporations

A Delaware public benefit corporation has some additional options beyond the standard company suffixes for corporations. These include:

• Public Benefit Corporation
• PBC
• P.B.C.
• any of the Delaware corporation endings mentioned above

Restrictions on Your Delaware Company Name

Delaware, similar to other states, has restrictions on certain words and phrases which cannot be used in a company name without prior approval.

Corporations:

When choosing a business name for your Delaware corporation it cannot contain the words "bank," "trust," "university" or "college," unless you get pre-approval from the Delaware Banking Commissioner or the Delaware Secretary of Education.

Your corporation's name cannot contain any words that may, in the judgment of the Delaware Secretary of State, be degrading, vulgar or unacceptable. The Secretary of State has full veto power over any name deemed unacceptable.

Your corporation's name must not be the same as any other company name that is formed or reserved in the state of Delaware. However, even the slightest variation can qualify. If you want to form a corporation using all the words in another company's name, you can simply add a Roman numeral or another word to make your name unique.

Limited Liability Companies:

When choosing a business name for your Delaware LLC, it must not contain the word "bank" or any variation thereof without prior approval of the Delaware Banking Commissioner. It cannot contain a word that purports to do banking business that might mislead the public, in the judgment of the Secretary of State. The same goes for choosing a business name that implies you are a law office or medical facility.

Your LLC name cannot contain any words that may, in the judgment of the Secretary of State, be degrading, vulgar or unacceptable. The Secretary of State has full veto power over any name deemed unacceptable.

Your LLC name must not be the same as any other company name that is formed or reserved in the state of Delaware. However, even the slightest variation can qualify. If you want to form an LLC using all the words in another company's name, you can simply add a Roman numeral or another word to make your name unique.