Is your business name available?

In Ireland, a company name is registered with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) under the Companies Act 2014, while a sole trader or partnership trading under a name registers it as a business name on the Register of Business Names (Form RBN1). A name can be refused for several reasons. The most common is that it is too similar to an existing name on the register — the CRO compares your proposed name against companies and business names already registered, and a name that differs only slightly (adding a place name or a single word) can still be rejected.

Names that are offensive or would suggest state sponsorship or connection with Government bodies are also refused — words like “Bank”, “University”, “Charter” or anything implying official status require approval or are prohibited outright. Certain activities (investment business, hotel/guesthouse use of “hotel”) need a licence before the name will be accepted.

Company names must end with a required suffix: Limited or LTD for private companies limited by shares, Teoranta (or TTA) for Irish-language names, DAC for designated activity companies, PLC for public companies. Business names carry no such suffix but must be registered within one month of trading under the name.

RBN1 vs A1: the RBN1 registers a business name (€20 for a sole trader / €40 for a body corporate) but creates no separate legal entity — you remain personally liable. The A1 incorporates a limited company, creating a separate legal person with limited liability. A limited company that wants to trade under a different name from its registered name can also register that trading name with a B1-linked RBN1. Registration of a name does not give you ownership of it — trademark law and passing-off rules decide who truly has rights in a name.