- Knowing how to choose a company name in Hong Kong comes down to three rules: the name must end correctly, be unique, and avoid restricted words you have not cleared.
- A Hong Kong limited company can have an English name, a Chinese name, or both. An English name must end in “Limited”; a Chinese name must end in “有限公司”.
- You can check name availability for free using the Companies Registry’s Cyber Search Centre (ICRIS) before you incorporate.
- Hong Kong has no formal name-reservation system, so a name is only secured once your incorporation is approved.
- Passing the Companies Registry check does not clear trademarks, so search the Intellectual Property Department database too.
- A Hong Kong company can use an English name, a Chinese name, or both, and the name must be unique on the Companies Registry index.
- English names must end in "Limited" and Chinese names in "有限公司"; you cannot mix English letters and Chinese characters in one name.
- Check availability for free with the Companies Registry's Cyber Search Centre (ICRIS) using "Exact Name Search".
- Restricted words such as "bank", "trust" or "insurance" need prior approval, and the name is only confirmed once incorporation is processed.
How to choose a company name in Hong Kong is usually the first question founders ask, and it matters more than it looks. The name is not just branding. It is a legal and compliance decision that the Companies Registry has to approve before your company can exist.
The good news is that the rules are clear once you know them. Get the ending right, make sure the name is unique, avoid restricted words you have not cleared, and run a quick availability check.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- The company name rules in Hong Kong
- Whether you can have an English and a Chinese name
- How to check if a company name is available
- Why company names get rejected
- How to secure and use the name at incorporation
What are the company name rules in Hong Kong?
To register a Hong Kong limited company, the name must meet three core rules:
- It must end correctly (“Limited” or “有限公司”).
- It must not be the same as a name already on the Companies Registry index.
- It must not contain restricted words you have not cleared.
Beyond those three, the Companies Registry can reject a name that is offensive, against the public interest, or likely to suggest a connection with the government. The full naming rules sit in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) and the Companies (Words and Expressions in Company Names) Order (Cap. 622A).
The six rules to check before you submit are:
- Use the correct ending. An English name must end in “Limited” (not “Ltd”); a Chinese name must end in “有限公司”.
- Keep it unique. The name cannot be the same as one already registered. Near-identical names can also be refused.
- Do not mislead or offend. Names that imply a government link, or that breach the public interest, are refused.
- Clear restricted words first. Words like “bank”, “trust”, “insurance” or “securities” need approval from the relevant regulator.
- Stick to one language per name. A single name cannot mix English letters and Chinese characters.
- Use traditional Chinese only. Hong Kong does not accept simplified Chinese characters in company names.
The Companies Registry does not restrict the meaning of a name, so abstract, invented or transliterated names are fine as long as they pass these rules.
The Companies Registry only confirms whether a name can be registered after it processes your incorporation documents. A free search tells you the name is not taken today, but it does not reserve anything.
Can I have an English and a Chinese name?
Yes. A Hong Kong limited company can register an English name, a Chinese name, or both. What you cannot do is combine English letters and Chinese characters into a single name. Each name stands on its own and must use the correct ending.
Which option fits depends on your customers:
- Mostly overseas clients? An English-only name keeps contracts, invoices and bank documents simple.
- Mostly local or Cantonese-speaking clients? A dual English and Chinese name helps local customers recognise you.
- Mostly Mainland clients? A dual-language name helps Greater Bay Area partners identify you, but remember Hong Kong only accepts traditional Chinese characters.
A dual-language name gives you flexibility to use either version in different settings. The trade-off is that any future name change has to update both versions.
How do I check if a company name is available?
You can check name availability for free using the Companies Registry’s Cyber Search Centre, the online part of ICRIS. It is the official tool, open to the public, and takes about two minutes.
Here is the process:
- Go to the Cyber Search Centre. Open the Companies Registry’s e-Services and choose company name search.
- Use “Exact Name Search”. This free mode checks whether your full intended name, including spaces, punctuation and the ending term, matches a live company.
- Search English and Chinese. Even if you only plan to use an English name, search the common Chinese version too so you do not clash by accident.
- Check for similar names. A name that differs only by punctuation, or by adding “Holdings” or “Group”, can still be treated as too similar.
- Save a screenshot. Keep the result in case the Registrar later asks how you checked the name.
One important point to remember is the search only shows whether a name is in use right now. Hong Kong has no name-reservation system, so anyone can still register the same name before you submit your incorporation.
Check the trademark register too
Passing the Companies Registry check does not mean the name is free of trademarks. The Companies Registry only compares company names. Trademarks sit in a separate Intellectual Property Department database.
A name that clears incorporation can still receive a legal letter later if it matches someone’s registered trademark. Before you commit, run a free trademark search on the Intellectual Property Department’s online system, covering English, Chinese and transliterated versions.
Why do company names get rejected?
Most rejections come down to three reasons: the name is the same or too similar to an existing one, it uses restricted words without approval, or it is misleading or offensive.
Common restricted words and who must approve them:
|
Restricted word or type |
Regulator |
What it means in practice |
|
Bank, banking |
Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) |
Needs a banking licence and HKMA consent |
|
Trust |
Companies Registry, referred where relevant |
Approval needed if it implies regulated trust business |
|
Insurance, assurance |
Insurance Authority (IA) |
Must be a regulated insurer or broker with IA consent |
|
Securities, exchange |
Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) |
Must be a regulated firm with SFC consent |
|
Royal, imperial |
Registrar of Companies |
Implies a royal link; generally refused |
|
Government, municipal |
Registrar of Companies |
Implies a government link; refused unless genuine |
|
Authority, department, bureau |
Registrar of Companies |
Implies a statutory body; generally refused |
|
Chamber of commerce |
Registrar of Companies |
May need consent from the relevant body |
If your name contains any of these, email the Companies Registry or the relevant regulator before you submit, so you know what consent or evidence you need.
How do I secure and use the name?
Because Hong Kong has no name-reservation service, you secure a name by incorporating with it. Your chosen name is reviewed as part of the incorporation application (Form NNC1), and it is only confirmed once the Companies Registry processes the documents.
Before you submit, it helps to do a soft check in two situations:
- Restricted words. If your name uses words close to regulated activities, get written confirmation from the regulator first.
- Similar names. If the search shows a close competitor name, prepare a short explanation of the difference to submit with your application.
Once your name passes, the Companies Registry issues your certificate of incorporation, which shows the registered name and company number. If you want a realistic timeline for the whole process, see our guide to how long setup takes.
If you need to change the name later, you pass a special resolution (at least 75% of shareholders), then file Form NNC2 within 15 days. Electronic filings usually return a new name certificate within an hour; paper filings take about four working days.
Shortlist three to five names, run each through the free search, then incorporate quickly so no one registers the name first. Holding a name in your head is not the same as holding it on the register.
How Sleek helps with naming and incorporation
Naming is step one. Sleek handles the rest, so you only have to decide on the name.
With Sleek, you can:
- Get name suggestions and checks: we propose compliant options, run the Companies Registry search and an initial trademark check.
- Clear restricted words: if your name uses sensitive words, we contact the regulator and prepare the evidence needed.
- Incorporate in one go: we file with the Companies Registry and IRD together, so the name, certificate of incorporation and Business Registration Certificate are handled as one process.
- Cover first-year compliance: company secretary, registered office and statutory registers are included under our TCSP licence.
If you are still mapping out the bigger picture, our guide to how to start a business sets out the full journey from name to launch.
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