The following is general information about name availability and name style requirements relating to corporations. In order to facilitate the filing of corporate documents, please ensure the name is consistent with the statutes related to the type of corporation being formed (i.e., close corporations, professional corporations, banks, etc.).

• Proposed corporate names are checked only against currently reserved corporate names and active corporations of record in the California Secretary of State's office. Since there is no legal requirement that corporate names be checked against other business entity names, corporate names are not checked against general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or limited liability partnership names, nor are names checked against trademarks, service marks or local fictitious business names filed at the county level.

• The Secretary of State's office cannot file a document which contains a name that is "likely to mislead the public or which is the same as, or resembles so closely as to tend to deceive," the name of a domestic or foreign (out of state or country) corporation that has registered with this office or a name which is under reservation for another corporation. (California Corporations Code sections 201(b) and 2106(b).)
  
  Please note, names are considered deceptive if the only difference is a corporate ending.

• A corporation may adopt a name that is similar to, but not the same as, the name of an existing domestic or foreign (out-of-state or country) corporation if the existing corporation consents in writing to the use of the name and the Secretary of State's office finds that under the circumstances the public is not likely to be misled. The consent letter should be submitted on the letterhead of the consenting corporation, signed by an authorized officer of that corporation. If a proposed name is reserved utilizing consent, a currently dated consent must accompany each renewal request.

• The corporate name may not falsely imply governmental affiliation.

• All names must use the English alphabet or Arabic numerals (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) or a combination thereof. Roman numerals are treated as letters and not translated into their numeric equivalent. Symbols are not allowed in an entity name; except, an ampersand & may be used in an entity name as a conjunction in place of the word "AND".

• There is no distinction between upper and lower case letters, typeface or font.

• The words "bank", "trust", "trustee" or related words may not be a part of the corporate name of a domestic corporation unless a Certificate of Approval from the Commissioner of Financial Institutions (Commissioner) is attached to the Articles of Incorporation. If the proposed corporation is subject to the Banking Law, the articles must include the endorsement of approval from the Commissioner. (California Corporations Code section 201 and Financial Code section 400.)

• The words "credit union" or related words may not be a part of the corporate name of a domestic corporation unless a Certificate of Approval from the Commissioner of Financial Institutions (Commissioner) is attached to the Articles of Incorporation. If the proposed corporation is subject to the Credit Union Law, the articles must include the endorsement of approval from the Commissioner. (Financial Code section 14100.)

• If the business of the corporation is to be an insurer, a Certificate of the California Insurance Commissioner approving the corporate name must be attached to the Articles of Incorporation (California corporation) or to the Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation form (out-of-state or country corporation) at the time of filing. (California Corporations Code sections 201.5 and 2106.5.)

• The word "cooperative", or any abbreviation or derivation thereof, or a word similar thereto, may not be a part of a corporate name unless the corporation is incorporated within the definition of California Corporations Code section 12311(b). If the applicant is a foreign (out-of-state or country) corporation, documentation must be included indicating the corporation is organized as a cooperative corporation under the laws of the foreign jurisdiction.

• The name of a close corporation subject to the provisions of California Corporations Code section 158, must contain the word "corporation", "incorporated" or "limited" or an abbreviation of one of those words. (California Corporations Code section 202.)

• The name of a corporation authorized to incorporate as a professional corporation, pursuant to the Business and Professions Code, must comply with the namestyle requirements of the regulatory agency which has jurisdiction over the particular profession. Please refer to the appropriate sections of the Business and Professions Code and the regulatory agency for the specific type of profession authorized.

• Fictitious business names filed with the county cannot include word(s) indicating corporate or limited liability company status unless organized as such pursuant to the laws of the State of California. (Business and Professions Code section 17910.5.)