LLC Naming Rules by State
Every state requires an LLC's name to include a designator such as "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company," and to be distinguishable from every other registered business name on file with that state's filing agency. Most states restrict words implying a bank, insurance company, or government affiliation without prior approval, and nearly every state lets you reserve an available name before filing for a fee that ranges from $10 to $100, held for anywhere from 30 days to a year depending on the state.
By LLC Register · Last reviewed October 1, 2026
Comprehensive Guide
The LLC Designator Requirement
Every state requires your LLC's legal name to include a designator identifying it as a limited liability company. Most states accept "limited liability company," "limited company," or an abbreviation such as "LLC," "L.L.C.," "LC," or "L.C." Some states allow shortening "limited" to "Ltd." and "company" to "Co." within the designator. A professional LLC, used by licensed professionals such as doctors, accountants, or attorneys, typically requires its own designator instead, such as "PLLC" or "P.L.L.C.," and several states, including Maine and Vermont, offer a special "L3C" designator for a low-profit LLC.
What "Distinguishable" Actually Means
Every state requires your name to be "distinguishable" from every other name already on file, but this standard is narrower than simple uniqueness. Most states' rules specifically exclude certain differences from counting as distinguishable: punctuation, spacing, plurals, articles like "the" or "a," and the specific entity designator used (so "Smith LLC" and "Smith, L.L.C." are typically treated as the same name). Georgia's rule states this explicitly: differences in articles, plurals, punctuation, abbreviations, or entity designators don't make a name distinguishable from an existing one. Check your specific state's distinguishability rule rather than assuming a name is clear just because it isn't an exact character-for-character match.
Restricted and Regulated Words
Most states restrict certain words in an LLC name without prior approval from a specific regulator, commonly including "bank," "insurance," "trust," and words implying a government affiliation. Arizona, for example, requires prior written approval from its Department of Financial Institutions for a name implying a bank, credit union, or trust company. Separately, most states prohibit words implying the LLC is a different type of entity, such as "corporation" or "incorporated," since those contradict the LLC designator itself.
Name Reservation Costs and Durations
Nearly every state lets you reserve an available name before you're ready to file Articles of Organization, but the fee and how long the reservation lasts vary significantly:
| State | Reservation Fee | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $10 | 120 days, not renewable |
| Montana | $10 | 120 days, not renewable |
| Georgia | $25 | 30 days, not renewable |
| Delaware | $75 | 120 days, renewable |
| Oregon | $100 | 120 days |
| North Dakota | $10 | Up to 12 months, renewable |
| Minnesota | $35 | One year, renewable |
A handful of states, including Florida and Indiana, don't offer a formal name reservation process at all; in those states, the only way to secure a name is to file Articles of Organization itself.
Checking Availability Before You Reserve or File
Every state provides a free online business entity search to check name availability before filing or reserving a name. Running this search first avoids paying a reservation fee for a name that turns out to conflict with an existing registration, and it avoids a rejected Articles of Organization filing later.
State Rules Don't Check Federal Trademarks
A state's name approval, whether through its entity search, a reservation, or an approved Articles of Organization filing, only confirms the name is distinguishable from other state-registered businesses. It does not check for conflicts with a federally registered trademark. Search the USPTO's trademark database separately if brand protection matters to your business.
Practical Considerations
Don't Assume One State's Rule Applies to Another
Because designator requirements, restricted words, and reservation terms differ by state, a naming rule you learned for one state doesn't necessarily apply elsewhere. If you plan to register the same name in multiple states, such as a home state and a foreign-qualification state, check each state's specific naming rule separately.
A Short Reservation Window Can Lapse Before You're Ready
Georgia's 30-day, non-renewable reservation is among the shortest in the country. If your state's reservation period is short, don't reserve a name until you're close to actually filing, or you risk the reservation expiring before you're ready and having to pay the fee again.
Restricted Words Often Require a Separate Approval Step
If your proposed name includes a word like "bank," "trust," or "insurance," expect an extra approval step from a specific state regulator before the filing agency will accept your Articles of Organization, which can add time to your formation timeline beyond the standard processing window.
Professional and Low-Profit LLC Names Follow Different Rules
If you're forming a professional LLC (PLLC) or a low-profit LLC (L3C), confirm your state actually offers that designation and what specific naming requirement applies, since these aren't available, or don't use the same name format, in every state.
This Is General Information, Not a Substitute for Your State's Current Rule
Naming statutes, reservation fees, and restricted-word lists can change. Confirm your specific state's current naming rule directly with its Secretary of State or equivalent filing agency before relying on any figure in this article for your own filing.
Sources
The official sources used for this article.
Arizona Corporation Commission: Fee schedule (LLCs) | azcc.gov/docs/default-source/corps-files/fee-schedules/fee-schedule-llcs646a1cd0d6b24246ab2253aecbc3ab40.pdf |
|---|---|
Georgia Secretary of State: Name rules (Rule 590-7-20) | rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/590-7-20 |
Delaware Division of Corporations: Name reservation | corp.delaware.gov/reservename |
USPTO: Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) | uspto.gov/trademarks/search |
North Dakota Secretary of State: Business records | sos.nd.gov/business/business-records |
Created by: LLC RegisterLast reviewed October 1, 2026
Updated: October 1, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my LLC name include the word 'bank' or 'insurance'?
Generally not without prior approval from a specific state regulator. Most states restrict these and similar words, such as 'trust,' without sign-off from the relevant financial or insurance regulator before the filing agency will accept the name.
Which state has the cheapest LLC name reservation?
Several states, including Arizona, Montana, and North Dakota, charge just $10 to reserve a name, though the duration differs: Arizona and Montana hold it for 120 days without renewal, while North Dakota's reservation can last up to 12 months and is renewable.
Does every state let you reserve an LLC name before filing?
No. A few states, including Florida and Indiana, don't offer a formal name reservation process. In those states, the only way to secure a name is to file Articles of Organization itself.
Do punctuation and spacing differences make two LLC names distinguishable?
Usually not. Most states explicitly exclude differences in punctuation, spacing, plurals, and entity designators from what makes a name distinguishable from an existing one already on file.
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