In business, names can be revolutionary. As former eBay and Hewlett Packard CEO Meg Whitman famously said, “When people use your brand name as a verb, that is remarkable.” She’s not kidding: Consumers use brand names like Kleenex, Band-Aid, ChapStick, and Xerox more than these products’ common nouns. Some brand names have even become entirely new words—like “Googling” a question or “DoorDashing” a burrito.
A good name can define a business and propel it forward. Selecting a thoughtful and strategic one when starting your own business is crucial. Read on for legal requirements, stylistic suggestions, and marketing guidelines to follow when devising, registering, or modifying an LLC name.
Requirements for LLC names
A limited liability company is a legal business structure that impacts its taxes, liabilities, operations, and long-term operations. If you’re starting an LLC, you must register it under a legal business name. Each state has different rules for naming LLCs, but most follow these themes:
Uniqueness
A unique name is good for marketing, and it’s a legal requirement. Most states require LLC names to be distinct from other local businesses. Some states prohibit technically unique names if they’re similar to existing business names, a rule intended to foster public transparency and limit corporate disputes.
Run a business name search within your state of incorporation to ensure uniqueness. Your state agency’s website likely offers a search tool connected to a local business name database that can verify that no other company in the state uses the same name.
An LLC designator
All 50 states require LLC business names to include a specific designator reflecting its legal status as an LLC. Depending on local rules, designators can include “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” and “Limited Liability Company.” Designation helps potential customers and other businesses understand your company’s liability protections, which dictate contract and dispute frameworks.
The LLC designator also signals credibility and professionalism.
No restricted words
Certain words are entirely off limits; others you can use only if you, your partners, or your business hold specific licenses or certifications. Generally, these prohibitions and restrictions concern:
- Government connections. Names cannotimply a relationship within government agencies (e.g., “Bureau,” “Federal,” “County,” or “Commission”).
- Regulated industries. Your business name can’t suggest involvement in particular regulated industries unless it holds the necessary license (e.g., “School,” “Bank,” or “Insurance company”).
- Business structure. An LLC name can’t misrepresent your business entity type (e.g., “Corporation”).
- Regulated professions. You can’t imply that you or your business partners practice a profession unless you are appropriately licensed (e.g., “Attorneys at law,” “Architects,” or “Family doctor”).
No offensive nature or implication of illegality
Most states prohibit LLC names (or business names of any kind) from containing profanities, racial slurs, suggestions of illegal activity, or language considered offensive to a reasonable person.
For example, imagine a computer repair business choosing a tongue-in-cheek name that suggests lightning-fast services: “Computer Hacking Pros LLC” might work paired with a savvy marketing tagline (“We’ve hacked the computer-repair market!”), but it’s unlikely to pass muster with a state business registrar.
No trademark infringement
States require LLC names to be unique compared to currently active businesses within their boundaries. They don’t enforce claims against LLCs or existing businesses registered outside the state; disputes like that fall under federal trademark law.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) offers trademark protections for businesses and provides a digital search tool for brands to search existing trademarks proactively. Look up your chosen name and similar terms before registering it with the state to avoid lawsuits from running afoul of an existing trademark.
Tips for choosing an LLC name
All the rules are important, but they’re not the only resources to guide you. The following best practices can help your LLC meet its full brand recognition potential and maybe even become the next Google or Kleenex.
Make it sensible
Like any business name, a good LLC name communicates what you’re selling. Conduct a market analysis to understand what gives your business a competitive edge—how it meets your target audience’s unique needs, interests, and design sensibilities. Seek relevant words or phrases (or create a new word entirely) to create the perfect LLC name that reflects your business’s mission and offerings.
Ensure it’s memorable
Be sensible when naming your business, but not to the point of forgetability. Literal and indistinct names like A+ Electronics LLC or Consolidated Inventory Solutions LLC don’t exactly stick to the mind.
Memorable LLC names are usually concise, evoking emotion, imagery, or sensory experience. They might include idioms, portmanteaus (combined words), rhymes, puns, alliteration, or local relevance.
For example, “Everlane” suggests classic, enduring quality, while “Snapchat” conjures quick communication.
Consider your domain name
With more than $6 trillion in sales across over 26.2 million ecommerce sites globally, even small businesses operate online, so your LLC’s legal name must have a matching domain name.
The most desired domain name format is “YourLLCName.com.” If that’s unavailable or out of your budget, you can try alternative top-level domain extensions like .net or .biz. If you can’t find a domain to match your LLC name, consider naming your business something else.
Your domain name affects visibility on search engines, and unique LLC names with multiple words score higher on search engine results pages. If your company name is a single word—particularly a common one—it may negatively affect your SEO. Learn to improve your ranking in this guide to SEO-friendly domain names.
Check social media availability
Choose a name for your business that allows uniformity across social media platforms. Check the platforms you intend to use to see if your desired handle is available. Choose something as close as possible to your domain and entity name. If you can’t achieve relative uniformity, you’ll have to get creative. For a company called Good Denim LLC, this might be something like @WeAreGoodDenim or @GoodDenimHQ.
LLC vs. DBA: When to use a fictitious name
An LLC is a formal business structure that provides its owners with limited liability protection so they aren’t personally responsible for the company’s debts.
A “doing business as” (DBA) name—also known as a fictitious, assumed, or trade name—is an allowable alias. Register for a DBA name if you want to publicly operate your LLC under a different name—or even just a name that doesn’t include “LLC.”
Let’s say you’ve chosen a generic LLC name like “AAA Building,” and you think your marketing will be more effective if the business were called something like “The Construction Brothers.” This is a good case for a DBA name. Or, perhaps your company has changed since its formation and is offering new products or selling to a different geographical market or customer segment. A DBA could keep your business name on brand.
When to consider trademarking the name of your LLC
Trademarking an LLC name protects its uniqueness beyond the securities offered by your state of incorporation. Consider trademarking your LLC name with the USPTO for these reasons:
- Brand protection. If your name is a cornerstone of your brand identity and you want to prevent businesses outside your state from using it, then trademark it.
- Competitive advantage. Consider a trademark if new competitors are entering the market with similar names or slogans.
- Business expansion. Plan to expand beyond your local market? Start with a US trademark. Afterward, you can use the Madrid Protocol for international trademark registration.
You can use the USPTO’s trademark search tool to check if your LLC name is available.
200 LLC name ideas
As a thought starter, here are 200 LLC business name ideas that adhere to the rules and tips in this article, all created using Shopify’s AI Business Name Generator:
1. Skyward Ascent Ltd.
2. Eventfull LLC
3. Quantum Innovations Limited Company
4. Pinnacle Performance LLC
5. Visionary Ventures Ltd.
6. Stone Masonry LLC
7. Catalyst Consultants Limited Company
8. FreshField Ltd.
9. Gaze LLC
10. Sunrise Yoga Limited Company
11. Mountain Majesty Ltd.
12. Nest Realty LLC
13. Beacon Advisors LLC
14. Drift Motors Limited Liability Company
15. Island Adventures Ltd.
16. Peak Cleaning LLC
17. GatsbyGlamour Limited Company
18. Summit Limited Company
19. Trail Landscaping Ltd.
20. Blaze Fireworks LLC
21. Crest Jewelers Limited Liability Company
22. Dawn Bakery Ltd.
23. Terra Firma Holdings Ltd.
24. Momentum Assets Limited Liability Company
25. SweetBake Limited Company
26. Edge Landscaping LLC
27. HarmoHomes Limited Liability Company
28. Flame Hot Sauce Limited Company
29. Grove Orchard Ltd.
30. EnlightenmentEnergy Ltd.
31. VineValley Limited Liability Company
32. Horizon Music LLC
33. Isle Coaching Limited Liability Company
34. Journey Travel Ltd.
35. DesignDare Ltd.
36. Epic Eateries LLC
37. Key Fitness LLC
38. Light Photography Limited Company
39. Meadow Ltd.
40. Nook Childcare LLC
41. Oasis Ltd.
42. VictorianValues LLC
43. Path Art Supplies Ltd.
44. Code Craft Ltd.
45. Ridge Solar Limited Company
46. tream Aquariums Ltd.
47. Tides Seafood LLC
48. Unity Limited Liability Company
49. TrailBlazer Ltd.
50. Voyage Cruises Ltd.
51. Wave Health Foods LLC
52. Expanse Landscaping Limited Company
53. Better Conduct Business Ltd.
54. Iconic Ltd.
55. KeystoneKraft Limited Company
56. Zenith Climbing Gear LLC
57. Apex Jewelers Limited Liability Company
58. Bloom Florist Ltd.
59. Twain Travels LLC
60. Serene Bottled Water Ltd.
61. RadiantRentals LLC
62. Rainbrella LLC
63. NannyNet Limited Liability Company
64. Gourmet Glow Ltd.
65. Wilde Ideas Ltd.
66. Revolutionary Rise LLC
67. Infinity Bridge Ltd.
68. Dreamcatcher Ltd.
69. Silver Lining Limited Liability Company
70. BlockchainBounty LLC
71. Pixel Frontier Ltd.
72. Data Alchemy LLC
73. Hashtag Dynamo Limited Company
74. Riot LLC
75. Outlaw Marketing Ltd.
76. Peak Innovations LLC
77. Blue Ridge Artistry LLC
78. Greenlight Solutions LLC
79. Zenith Builders LLC
80. Echo Point Legal Documents LLC
81. Silverline Dynamics LLC
82. Orchard Gate Properties LLC
83. Crimson Edge Consulting LLC
84. SkyHigh Networks LLC
85. Golden Horizon Enterprises LLC
86. Aurora Insights LLC
87. Business Law Buds LLC
88. Crystal Clear Media LLC
89. Deep Dive Analytics LLC
90. Emerald Estates LLC
91. Flame Point Services LLC
92. GlobeTrotter Travel LLC
93. HarborView Advisors LLC
94. Infinity Solutions LLC
95. Jade Forest Technologies LLC
96. Kite Runner Ventures LLC
97. Luminous Path Wellness LLC
98. Mystic River Productions LLC
99. Noble Quest Realty LLC
100. Opal Bridge LLC
101. Pinecrest Holdings LLC
102. Quantum Leap Labs, a Limited Liability Company
103. Riverside Capital LLC
104. Starlight Entertainment LLC
105. Traverse Digital LLC
106. VistaView Strategies LLC
107. Willow Creek Designs LLC
108. Xenon Technologies LLC
109. Yellowstone Services LLC
110. Zephyr Innovations LLC
111. Alpha Crest Consulting LLC
112. Beta Wave Media LLC
113. Cedar Grove Investments LLC
114. Dragonfly Dynamics LLC
115. Eclipse Enterprises LLC
116. Falcon Ridge Capital LLC
117. Granite Peak Systems LLC
118. Horizon Reach LLC
119. Ivory Tower Education LLC
120. Jupiter Holdings LLC
121. Kingsway Group, a Limited Liability Company
122. Lakeside Ventures LLC
123. Midnight Sun Studios LLC
124. North Star Development LLC
125. Oasis Energy Solutions LLC
126. Elevated Experiences LLC
127. Venture Beyond Limits Ltd.
128. Synergy Works Agency Ltd.
129. Apex Consulting Group Ltd.
130. Inspired Innovations LLC
131. Luminate LLC
132. Nexify LLC
133. Limitless Group LLC
134. AuGusto Systems LLC
135. Brio Insights LLC
136. Vivid Innovations Group LLC
137. Folio Group, a Limited Liability Company
138. Crafted Essentials LLC
139. Flux Home Solutions LLC
140. Inspiro LLC
141. InnoDrive LLC
142. Fusion Network Solutions LLC
143. Glimmer Group LLC
144. Essentia LLC
145. Summit Consulting Group LLC
146. Mentorix LLC
147. Innovo LLC
148. Printology LLC
149. Dynamic Impact Partners Ltd.
150. Horizon Growth Partners Ltd.
151. NestledIn LLC
152. Glimpse Consulting Ltd.
153. Sway Marketing Solutions LLC
154. Unity Development Group LLC
155. Elysian Designs LLC
156. Craftify LLC
157. Snack Attack Co. Ltd.
158. Vigor Group Ltd.
159. BiteBox LLC
160. Vista Cove LLC
161. Design Excellence Group LLC
162. Thrive Fitness Studio LLC
163. Wellness Warriors LLC
164. Biteful LLC
165. Holistic Brand Solutions Ltd.
166. Media Horizon Group, Limited Liability Company
167. Brand Growth Consultants Ltd.
168. Buzzify LLC
169. Scenescape LLC
170. NextGen Financial Services Ltd.
171. The Book Loft LLC
172. Pages and Prints LLC
173. Wags and Whiskers Kitchen Ltd.
174. Chow Down Pet Foods Ltd.
175. Catalyst Consultants LLC
176. Furlicious LLC
177. Modern Home Essentials LLC
178. Luxe Comforts LLC
179. Timber & Textiles LLC
180. Vantage Consulting Services LLC
181. Revelry Group Ltd.
182. Memorable Moments Co. LLC
183. Noble Ventures Ltd.
184. Refined Aesthetics LLC
185. Prairie Wind Farms LLC
186. Civitas Group, a Limited Liability Company
187. Skyline Consulting LLC
188. Nest Realty Solutions LLC
189. Dwell Realty Collective, a Limited Liability Company
190. PrintPulse LLC
191. Frosted Footwear LLC
192. Classic Curiosities LLC
193. The Vintage Vault LLC
194. Herb & Bloom LLC
195. The Succulent Spot Ltd.
196. Sprig LLC
197. Green Thumb Group, a Limited Liability Company
198. Tastique LLC
199. Harvest Table Catering LLC
200. Heritage LLC
LLC names FAQ
What is a good name for an LLC?
A good business name for an LLC is concise, memorable, and communicates your company’s values and function. It allows for relatively uniform use across branded websites and social media accounts.
How do you come up with a catchy LLC name?
There are many devices for making memorable names, including idioms, combined words, rhyme schemes, puns, alliteration, and local relevance. You can also use an online business name generator like Shopify’s AI Business Name Generator to develop a catchy LLC name.
How do you change an LLC name?
The procedure depends on your state of incorporation, but you can often change your LLC name by filing an amendment to your LLC formation documents with the state office.
What do you do if an LLC name is taken?
If your desired LLC name is taken in your state of incorporation, you must develop an alternative or incorporate your LLC in a state where the name is still available. Incorporating in another state could cause problems if you intend to trademark your LLC name nationally or expand beyond your local market.
