Lanzamo

Name rule checker

Does your company name follow the rules?

Check your proposed LLC name against state naming rules before you fall for it. The check runs instantly in your browser and points you to the official availability search.

Check a name Official state searches
Runs
Local
browser-only
Focus
Format
not availability
Reviewed
June 2026
Runs in your browser · never leaves your device Format check, not an availability or trademark check

Type a name above and pick a state — we’ll check it against that state’s LLC formatting rules, instantly and privately.

How the check works

  1. 1 Pick the state where you’ll form your LLC — naming rules are set state by state.
  2. 2 Type the exact name you’re considering, including the ending you plan to use (LLC, L.L.C., or Limited Liability Company).
  3. 3 The checker tells you, instantly and in your browser, whether the name fits that state’s format: does it have a required designator, and does it contain a word that’s usually barred or needs a regulator’s approval.
  4. 4 Format is only half the answer — click through to the official Secretary of State search to confirm no other company already holds the name.
  5. 5 Then check the brand beyond the state register: a free trademark search, the .com domain, and the social handle.

What we check — and what we don’t

A required designator

Every state requires an LLC’s legal name to end in a limited-liability designator — LLC, L.L.C., or Limited Liability Company. We detect whether yours has one in a form the state accepts.

Restricted & barred words

Words implying a government agency are usually barred; words tied to banking, insurance, education, or a licensed profession usually need a regulator’s approval. We flag the nationally-common ones so you’re not blindsided at filing.

What this isn’t

It is not a verdict that a name is available, cleared, or safe to use. Availability lives on the official state register; trademark rights are national and separate. We never say "available" — only whether the format fits — and we link you to the authoritative checks for everything else.

Name’s in good shape — ready to form?

Once your name fits the rules and the official search comes back clear, the next step is filing. Do it directly with the state, or compare formation services that handle the paperwork and act as your registered agent.

Compare formation services Check availability by state

Frequently asked questions

Does this tool tell me if my business name is available?

No — and no honest tool can, because the only authoritative source is each state’s official register, which has no public API. This checker tells you whether your name fits the state’s formatting rules (has a valid LLC designator, avoids barred or approval-only words). For actual availability, it links you straight to the official Secretary of State search, where you confirm no one else holds the name.

What does "format looks complete" mean?

It means your proposed name satisfies the mechanical naming rules for that state — it ends in a recognized limited-liability designator and we didn’t spot a commonly-restricted word. It does NOT mean the name is available, cleared, or safe to use. Another company may already be registered under it, and trademark rights are a separate, national check.

Which words are restricted in an LLC name?

Most states bar words that imply a government agency (FBI, Treasury, Secret Service) outright, and gate words tied to regulated activities behind a license or approval — banking (bank, trust), insurance, education (university, college), and licensed professions (engineering, architecture, law). The exact list varies by state; the checker flags the nationally-common ones and links to your state’s specific note.

Is my proposed name sent anywhere?

No. The check runs entirely in your browser using a built-in rule set — the name you type never leaves your device, is never stored, and is never sent to a server. The same is true of the domain and social links: they only open a search on those services when you click.

Why does the name have to be "distinguishable"?

Every state requires a new LLC’s name to be distinguishable upon the record from existing entities. Cosmetic tweaks usually don’t count — adding "the", swapping "Inc." for "LLC", or changing punctuation won’t make a near-identical name acceptable. That’s why you search variations on the official register, not just the exact string.

Keep going

Check availability by state → Compare naming rules across states → Free trademark search → How to name your LLC (guide) →

Naming-rule data reviewed June 2026. Rules are general summaries, not legal advice — always confirm with your state’s official Secretary of State before filing.