Last reviewed: 6 August 2026. Name rejections feel arbitrary until you read the rules the examiner applies: identical or too-nearly-resembling existing names, conflicts with registered trademarks, restricted words used without approval, and descriptors too generic to distinguish. Here is how the tests actually work and how to pick names that pass on the first submission.
The four tests your name must survive
| Test | What kills names here | How to pass |
|---|---|---|
| Identical/undesirable (Cos. Incorporation Rules) | Existing company/LLP names that match once fillers (Pvt, India, plurals, punctuation) are stripped | Search MCA for the STRIPPED core word, not your full string |
| Trademark conflict | Registered/applied marks in similar classes | Run a trademark search alongside the MCA search — the examiner does |
| Restricted words | Bank, Exchange, Insurance, Stock, and similar regulated terms without approvals; Board/Commission/national-emblem words | Avoid, or obtain the sectoral approval first |
| Descriptiveness | Purely generic strings (e.g., a plain activity + city) | Add a distinctive coined element — coined words clear fastest |
The stripping game (why “different” names are “identical”)
- Type/status words are ignored: Private, Limited, LLP, India, New, Modern…
- Plurals, spacing, punctuation and minor spelling shifts do not create distinction
- Translations/transliterations of an existing name are treated as resembling
Playbook for a first-pass approval
- Coin the lead word (two fused syllables beat dictionary words)
- Search MCA and the trademark registry for the coined core
- Keep the activity word accurate to your objects — mismatch invites questions
- File two genuinely different options, not one name in two costumes
- If a trademark is your future, file the TM application in parallel
Frequently asked questions
RUN or SPICe+ Part A — where should I test names?
Both routes apply the same rules; reserving via Part A inside the incorporation flow is common. What matters is doing the stripped-core searches BEFORE paying for either.
A similar name exists but is inactive/struck off. Can I take it?
Recently struck-off names have protection windows and resemblance tests still apply — treat an existing similar name as a red flag unless clearly outside the window and distinct.
Can I use my own surname in the company name?
Generally yes — personal names are a classic route to distinctiveness, subject to the other tests (and to another person’s trademark in the same field).
The examiner cited a trademark I have never heard of. Recourse?
You can contest with evidence (different class/field, your prior use) on resubmission — or choose the faster war: a new coined name. Pick battles by calendar value.
Does name approval give me trademark rights?
No — company name and trademark are separate regimes. Clearing MCA does not stop a TM owner objecting later; that is why the parallel TM filing is the professional habit.
How many resubmission chances do I get?
Name reservations allow limited resubmission before fees repeat — practically, treat attempt two as final and make it a genuinely new option.
Is there a way to “reserve” a name long before incorporating?
Reservation windows are short by design. Align name work with a real incorporation calendar rather than parking names for months.
My rejected name is my established brand. What now?
Evidence of your prior use/registration of the brand (especially a TM) argued on resubmission is the honest route — and where an obstructing mark is dead weight, TM-side action first, MCA second.
We run the stripped-core and trademark searches, shortlist names that clear the actual tests, and file the reservation with derivation notes examiners accept.
Company RegistrationTrademark AdvisoryRequest a Scope DiscussionThis article is a general educational summary as on 6 August 2026 and is not professional advice or an assurance of any approval, registration or outcome — departmental decisions rest with the authorities on each case’s facts. Requirements change; verify current rules or discuss your specific case before acting.