Sensitive words in UK company names – what you need to know

When you register a limited company, the name you choose becomes part of the public record. It appears on the Companies House register, on incorporation documents, and on statutory filings that anyone can look up.

Because company names carry that level of visibility, they’re regulated. Some words can’t be used freely where they suggest authority, official backing, or professional standing. These are known as sensitive words and expressions, and they are a common reason for delays or rejections in company formation applications.

This guide explains how sensitive words work, why Companies House restricts them, and what to expect if your preferred company name includes one.

What are sensitive words and expressions?

Sensitive words and expressions are terms that trigger additional checks during company registration. When a proposed company name includes one of these words, Companies House requires confirmation that its use is appropriate.

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The reason is straightforward. Certain words create expectations. They can suggest that a business has authority, recognition, or expertise that may not exist in practice.

In most cases, sensitive words raise questions about whether a business:

• Holds official authority or a recognised status
• Has links to government or public bodies
• Operates in a regulated profession
• Represents an established institution or organisation
• Is associated with a protected or regulated body

Where a name points in any of these directions, Companies House needs reassurance that the implication is accurate. And that reassurance usually takes the form of written approval from the body responsible for the word in question.

Sensitive words are grouped into official lists

To make the rules workable, Companies House groups sensitive words and expressions into three official lists. These terms are detailed in The Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business Names (Sensitive Words and Expressions) Regulations 2014. Which list a word appears in determines whether approval is needed and who that approval must come from.

Annex A: Words that require prior approval

Annex A covers words and expressions that always require approval before they can be used in a company or business name. These are typically words that imply authority, formal standing, or institutional weight, such as:

• Accredited
• Banking
• Commission
• Council
• Fund
• Insurance
• King
• Mutual
• NHS
• Ombudsman
• Police
• Regulator
• Society
• University

The exact requirements vary by word, but whether approval is granted depends on context, evidence, and how the business is structured.

Annex B: Words that imply a government or public body connection

Annex B focuses on words that could make a company appear to be linked to government, public services, or official agencies. These words are closely scrutinised because of the risk of confusion, including terms such as:

• Agency
• Assembly
• Authority
• Court
• Home Office
• Select Committee

In most cases, approval must come from the relevant government department confirming that the name won’t mislead the public.

Annex C: Words protected under other legislation

Annex C contains words that are restricted because they’re protected under separate legislation or linked to specific organisations or humanitarian causes. The terms include:

• Anzac
• Building society
• Credit union
• Druggist
• Geneva Cross
• Olympic
• Registered society
• Spirit in motion

Using these words without permission may not just result in rejection. In some cases, it can be an offence. Companies House will not register names containing these terms unless the appropriate authorisation is provided.

National and pre-eminence terms

Some sensitive words relate to national identity or perceived importance. These are often restricted because they suggest scale, representation, or public relevance beyond what a private company can normally claim.

Examples include:

• British / Britain
• English / England
• Scottish / Scotland
• Welsh / Wales

Using these words doesn’t automatically mean rejection, but Companies House will consider whether the name implies national authority or wide representation. In many cases, additional evidence is required to show that the business has a genuine connection or scope that justifies the wording.

Regulated professions and protected titles

Some words are restricted under Annex C because they indicate professional qualifications or regulated activities. These restrictions exist to protect the public and ensure that company names don’t imply expertise that isn’t backed up. To use them legitimately, Companies House expects written confirmation from the relevant professional bodies.

Examples include:

• Architect
• Chartered Surveyor
• Optometrist / Optometry
• Veterinary
• Pharmacy

In each case, approval is tied directly to evidence that the business is entitled to use the title.

Sensitive words and company type restrictions

Some sensitive words are tied not only to approval, but also to company structure.

A common example is ‘Association’. This word is often associated with membership bodies or non-profit organisations. As a result, Companies House typically expects companies using it to be limited by guarantee, not limited by shares.

In these cases, the issue isn’t the word itself, but the mismatch between the implication of the name and the structure of the company. Approval may still be required, but the underlying problem is structural rather than evidential.

This distinction matters because it affects more than naming. It determines the type of company you must form, the documents you’ll use, and the obligations you’ll have going forward.

Other company name rules that often cause confusion

Sensitive words are only one part of the naming framework. Even if a name clears the sensitive words rules, it can still be rejected for other reasons.

The ‘same as’ rule

Your company name must be unique. Small variations (such as adding ‘UK’, changing punctuation, or swapping ‘Ltd’ for ‘Limited’) usually don’t count. If an existing company has the same name in substance, Companies House will reject the application.

The ‘too like’ rule

Names that are very similar can be challenged, sometimes after registration, if an existing company believes there is a risk of confusion. This often arises through complaints rather than automatic checks, which means problems can surface after the company has already started trading.

Offensive or inappropriate names

Companies House will not register names that it considers offensive, discriminatory, or harmful. Because the register is public, the threshold is deliberately conservative here. Names rejected on these grounds cannot be approved with evidence or explanation – they must be changed.

How approval works in practice

If your chosen company name includes a sensitive word, you must obtain approval before registration. Companies House will not ‘hold’ an application while approval is sought, and it expects written confirmation from the authority responsible for the word in question.

Depending on the term, this can include:

• A letter or email of non-objection from a government department
• Confirmation from a professional regulator
• Evidence of qualification, licensing, or regulatory status
• Supporting information explaining how the word will be used

The approval must be clear, explicit, and relevant to the exact company name being registered. Generic statements or informal assurances are not sufficient.

Once obtained, the approval is submitted alongside the company formation application. Without it, Companies House has no discretion to accept the name.

How Rapid Formations checks for sensitive words

When you enter a proposed company name using the Rapid Formations name checker, our system automatically checks it against Companies House naming rules. This means you’ll see immediately:

• Whether the name appears available, and
• Whether it contains a sensitive word that requires approval

If a sensitive term is detected, we clearly flag it during the process and explain the necessary next steps. This prevents you from completing an application for a company that can’t be registered without additional documents. At that point, you can decide whether to proceed with the name or choose an alternative.

Does using a sensitive word increase the cost of formation?

Using a sensitive word does not automatically make company formation more expensive.

Companies House does not charge additional fees simply because a name includes a restricted term. However, costs can increase indirectly if:

• Approval takes time to obtain
• Professional advice is needed to support the application
• A different company type is required (for example, limited by guarantee)

The cost difference comes from the route you need to take, not from the word itself.

What if approval is refused?

Occasionally, an authority will refuse permission to use a sensitive word. When this happens, it’s worth understanding why. Refusals are usually based on:

• Insufficient evidence of qualification or standing
• A risk of misleading the public
• Inappropriate use of the term in context

At that point, you have a few options. You can adjust the name, gather additional evidence, or reconsider whether the word is genuinely necessary.

If you already have a sensitive word in mind

If you’re set on a particular name, a structured approach helps avoid wasting time. Start by checking the name early. If it’s flagged as sensitive, decide whether the word is essential to your brand or positioning. If it isn’t, choosing an alternative name is usually the most efficient option.

If it is essential, identify which authority needs to approve the word and what evidence they’ll expect. Obtain that approval first, then submit your formation application with the supporting documents included. This avoids submitting an application that can’t be registered.

Expert guidance on sensitive words

Sensitive words don’t have to slow things down. Rapid Formations helps flag restricted terms early, explain what approval is required, and guide you through the process so you can register your company without unnecessary delays.

By identifying issues upfront and showing you exactly what’s needed, we help you avoid rejected applications and move forward with confidence – saving time, reducing stress, and ensuring your company name meets all the right criteria from day one.