Naming Your LLC: Rules and Requirements for All 50 States

Deciding on a name for your LLC can be practical — or creative — but the one thing it must be is unique. Additionally, when forming your LLC, there are prohibited or restricted words and phrases that vary by state.

Here's the big list of LLC naming requirements for all 50 states.

General Naming Guidelines for Limited Liability Companies

In general, no matter where you live, your business name must include one of the following terms or abbreviations at the end:

Limited Liability Company
LLC
L.L.C.
LC
L.C.
Limited Liability Co.
Ltd Liability Company
Limited Company
Company or Co.

Moreover, when naming your limited liability company, you must adhere to the following guidelines:

Your name cannot imply your LLC is a government agency, e.g. FBI, IRS, Treasury, DoD., etc.
Restricted words, such as Bank, Attorney, or University, may require additional paperwork, and a licensed individual(s), such as a doctor or lawyer, to be a principal of the LLC.
Your LLC must NOT contain any word inferring a different business entity type, e.g. Incorporation, Inc, Corporation, Corp., LLP, etc.
Your name must be unique and distinguishable from all other limited liability companies, corporations, or limited partnerships in your state.

Words, terms, and phrases allowed for use in LLCs vary from state to state, so we’ve compiled this list to help you create a legitimate and unique name — wherever you are.

If you’re new to business, learn more about limited liability companies with Skip’s Ultimate Guides on How to Setup an LLC in all 50 United States.

Alabama

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Alabama LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Search for an available LLC name in Alabama.

Alaska

Your Alaska LLC name must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines, and may not contain the following words:

City
Borough
Village
Or, any word that implies your LLC is a municipality of any sort. You may use the name of the village, borough, or city as part of the name.

Search for an LLC name in the state of Alaska.

Arizona

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Arizona LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Search for available Arizona LLC names online.

Arkansas

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Arkansas LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general naming guidelines. Search for available LLC names in Arkansas.

California

You will need a distinctive, original name for your California LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general naming guidelines. Search for an available LLC name in California.

Colorado

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Colorado LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general naming guidelines. Find available LLC names in Colorado.

Connecticut

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Connecticut LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general naming guidelines. Search for all available Connecticut LLC names.

Delaware

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Delaware LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general naming guidelines. Your Delaware LLC may include foreign words, as long as an English translation is provided when filing the LLC. Search for Delaware LLC names online.

Florida

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Florida LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general naming guidelines. You’ll need to file additional paperwork, or obtain professional licensing to include these terms in your Florida LLC name:

Bank
Credit Union
Architect
Doctor
Engineer, etc.

Search online for available Florida LLC names.

Georgia

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Georgia LLC, which must also adhere to the previously mentioned general naming guidelines. Georgia has an extensive list of prohibited or restricted words requiring additional paperwork and/or explicit approval.

Use of the following terms in your Georgia LLC requires the written approval of the Office of Commissioner of Insurance:

Insurance
Assurance
Surety
Fidelity
Reinsurance
Reassurance
Indemnity

Use of the following terms in your Georgia LLC name requires the written approval of the Department of Banking and Finance:

Bank
Banc
Banque
Banker
Banking Company
Banking House
Bancorp
Bankruptcy
Credit Union
Savings & Loan
Trust
Trust Company

Use of the following terms in your Georgia LLC name requires written approval of the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission:

College
University

Search for available LLC names in the state of Georgia.

Hawaii

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Hawaii LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. One exception: You may apply to use a name that is not readily distinguishable if the current owner provides written permission, or, if a court order allows it.

Lastly, All of the letters in your Hawaii LLC’s name must be from the English alphabet. Look for available LLC names in Hawaii.

Idaho

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Idaho LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general naming guidelines. Search for your unique Idaho LLC name online.

Illinois

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Illinois LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general naming guidelines. Additionally, your Illinois LLC may only use these words in your business name if you or your business is certified in the profession, and may require additional paperwork:

Insurance
Surety
Underwriters
Bank
Bankers
Banking

Look for your Illinois LLC name online.

Indiana

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Indiana LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Search for available Indiana LLC names online.

Iowa

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Iowa LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines, however, in some circumstances you may use a name that’s similar to another business’s with written permission from the entity’s owner.

If granted, the former name holder must also request to change their old name in order to make it different from yours. Lastly, you can also obtain a no similar names ruling from the court establishing your sole right to use the name. Find available Iowa LLC names online.

Kansas

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Kansas LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines, however, in some circumstances you may use a name that’s similar to another business’s with written permission from the entity’s owner.

Your Kansas LLC name may contain the name of a member or manager, and it may also contain these words (or abbreviations):

Association
Club
Company
Foundation
Fund
LimitedSociety
Syndicate
Trust
Union

Search for your Kansas LLC name online.

Kentucky

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Kentucky LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines, however, in some circumstances you may use a name that’s similar to another business’s with written permission from the entity’s owner. Find an available LLC name in Kentucky.

Louisiana

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Louisiana LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines, however, in some circumstances you may use a name that’s similar to another business’s with written permission from the entity’s owner.

Your Louisiana LLC must not include the phrase, or abbreviation of “Doing Business As.” Your Louisiana name must also not imply an affiliation with any administrative agency of any “parish” (Louisiana's equivalent of a county), or the federal government. Find available Louisiana LLC names here.

Maine

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Maine LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines, however, in some circumstances you may use a name that’s similar to another business’s with written permission from the entity’s owner. Search for available LLC names in Maine here.

Maryland

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Maryland LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines, however, in some circumstances you may use a name that’s similar to another business’s with written permission from the entity’s owner. Maryland LLC business entity name search.

Massachusetts

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Massachusetts LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. This applies to entities formed within Massachusetts, and those originally formed elsewhere, but authorized to conduct business in the state. Find your Massachusetts LLC business entity name here.

Michigan

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Michigan LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Look for an available Michigan LLC names here.

Minnesota

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Minnesota LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Search for an available Minnesota LLC name here.

Mississippi

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Mississippi LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Look for an available Mississippi LLC name.

Missouri

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Missouri LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Find an available Missouri LLC name.

Montana

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Montana LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Search for an available Montana LLC name.

Nebraska

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Nebraska LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. This applies to entities formed in Nebraska, as well as those originally formed elsewhere but authorized to operate in this state. Find an LLC name in Nebraska.

Nevada

Your Nevada LLC’s business name must be distinguishable from all other business entities authorized to conduct business by the Nevada Secretary of State, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines.

Your LLC’s name is not allowed to include the following terms unless authorized by the Nevada State Board of Accountancy:

Accounting
Accountant
Accountancy
Auditing
Auditor

Additionally, your Nevada LLC’s name may not include the words Bank or Trust unless the articles of organization show your LLC conduct business exclusively as a banking or trust company. You must seek approval by the Nevada Commissioner of Financial Institutions to use these terms.

Lastly, your Nevada LLC business name may not include the following terms without the State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors certifies the LLC’s principals are licensed to practice engineering under Nevada state law:

Engineer
Engineering
Engineered
Licensed Engineer
Professional Engineer
Registered Engineer

Search for an LLC name in Nevada.

New Hampshire

You will need a distinctive, original name for your Montana LLC, which must adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. A New Hampshire LLC name is allowed to contain the name(s) of a member(s) or manager(s), as well as any of the following words and/or their abbreviations:

Association
Club
Company
Foundation
Fund
Institute
Limited
Society
Syndicate
Trust
Union

Search for your New Hampshire LLC name here.

New Jersey

Your New Jersey LLC’s name must be distinguishable from the names of other business entities already registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Certain restricted words need additional paperwork, and other words are prohibited. Restricted and prohibited words include:

Blind
Cemetery
Funeral Homes
Handicapped
Urban Renewal
D.C.
District of Columbia
Little League
Metropolitan
Olympia
Olympic
Postal
Realtor
Trust
Underwriters

Look for LLC names in New Jersey.

New Mexico

Your New Mexico LLC’s name must be distinguishable from the names of other business entities already registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Find your New Mexico LLC business name.

New York

Your New York LLC’s name must be distinguishable from the names of other business entities already registered or reserved with the state, including registered trademarks, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines.

Restricted words for New York LLCs include:

America Espirito Sport Fraternite
Citius Altius Fortius
Academy
Acceptance
Annuity
Arboretum
Assurance
Bank
Benefit
Blind
Bond
Casualty
College
Conservatory
Council
Doctor
Education
Elementary
Endowment
Exchange
Fidelity
Finance
Guaranty
Handicapped
Historical
Historical Society
History
Indemnity
Industrial Organization
Institute
Insurance
Investment
Kindergarten
Labor
Lawyer
Library
Loan
Mortgage
Museum
Olympiad
Prekindergarten
Preschool
Savings
School
Secondary
Surety
Title
Trust
Underwriter
Union
United Nations
University

Additional prohibited words include:

Attorney
Board of Trade
Chamber of Commerce
Community
Cooperation
Cooperative
Corporation
Incorporated
Olympic or Olympics
Partnership
Redevelopment
State Police
State Trooper
Tenant Relocation
Urban Development
Urban Relocation

Find your New York LLC business name.

North Carolina

The name of your North Carolina LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines.

Your North Carolina's LLC’s name is only allowed to include the following terms with additional paperwork and authorization by licensing or governing agencies within the state of North Carolina:

Accountant
Accountancy
Architect
Architecture
Architectural
Auditor
Auditing
Auditor
Banker
Banking
Certified Public Accountant
Cooperative
Engineer
Engineering
Engineered
Licensed Engineer
Mutual
Professional Engineer
Registered Engineer
Survey
Surveyor
Surveying
Trust

Search for unique LLC names in North Carolina

North Dakota

The name of your North Dakota LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines.

In some circumstances you may use a name that’s similar to another business’s with written permission from the entity’s owner. North Dakota LLC business entity name search.

Ohio

The name of your Ohio LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Your Ohio LLC names may not contain:

Profanity
Racial, ethnic, religious, sexual orientaion, or any other gender- or hereditary-specific slurs

Certain restricted words require additional paperwork and qualifications for use in your business name, including names associated with financial institutions like a bank or credit union. Look for an Ohio LLC business name.

Oklahoma

The name of your new Oklahoma LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state during the past three years, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Find an LLC name in Oklahoma.

Oregon

The name of your Oregon LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Search for your Oregon LLC name here.

Pennsylvania

The name of your Pennsylvania LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. There are additional prohibited and restricted words with limitations on their use in a Pennsylvania LLC name. These include:

Annuity
Apothecary
Architect
Architecture
Assurance
Beneficial
Bond
Casualty
Bank
Banking
Banker
Certified Public Accountant
College
Drugs
Druggist
Drug Shop
Drug Store
Electricity
Endowment
Engineer
Engineering
Fidelity
Fraternal
Gas Utilities
Guaranty
Homeopathic
Homeopathy
Indemnity
Insurance
Insurer
Medicines
Medicine Store
Mutual
Pharmaceutical
Pharmacist
Pharmacy
Public Accountant
Reassurance
Reinsurance
Seminary
Surety
Surveyor
Surveying
Title
Trust
University

Certain restricted words need additional paperwork for use in your business name. This includes both names associated with institutions, (e.g., banks and credit unions) and words associated with qualified professions like doctors, engineers, attorneys or architects. Search for an LLC name in Pennsylvania.

Rhode Island

The name of your Rhode Island LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Find an LLC name in Rhode Island.

South Carolina

The name of your South Carolina LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Lookup a South Carolina LLC name here.

South Dakota

The name of your South Dakota LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Lookup a South Dakota LLC name here.

Additionally, a South Dakota LLC is allowed to use the name of another domestic or foreign company if the other company is authorized to conduct business in South Dakota, and any of the following statements are true:

The company asking to use the name has merged with the other company
The company asking to use the name has been formed by reorganization with the other company
The company asking to use the name has acquired all of the assets (including the name) of the other company

Find your South Dakota LLC name.

Tennessee

The name of your Tennessee LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Look up a Tennessee LLC name here.

Texas

Utah

The name of your Texas LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Your Utah LLC name may not contain the following words or phrases without the written consent of the U.S. Olympic Committee:

Olympic
Olympiad
Citius Altius Fortius

Unless your LLC has written consent from the Division of Consumer Protection, it may not contain the words University, College, or Institute. Find an available LLC name in Utah.

Vermont

The name of your Vermont LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Look for an LLC name in Vermont.

Virginia

The name of your Virginia LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Look for a Virginia LLC name.

Washington

The name of your Washington State LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Search for a Washington LLC name.

West Virginia

The name of your West Virginia LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Find your West Virginia LLC name.

Wisconsin

The name of your Wisconsin LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Look for a Wisconsin LLC business name.

Wyoming

The name of your Wyoming LLC must be distinct from any other business entity’s name registered or reserved with the state, and adhere to the previously mentioned general guidelines. Search for a Wyoming LLC business name.