Company naming guidelines

Choose a good name for your business.

First, ensure that the name accurately conveys the core of your business and values while matching the services your company provides. Choosing a creative name that is easy to pronounce and remember can help attract customers and leave a lasting impression. Additionally, it is essential to check the availability of the name and obtain approval from the relevant authorities.

Choose suitable name elements

Your company name should clearly convey your business core and values

An ideal name allows customers to immediately identify your business field and reflects the key characteristics of your company

Choosing simple and easy-to-understand words can help customers remember your company more easily without needing additional explanations

Ensure the name matches your business content so that customers can instantly understand the services you offer

Be creative but exercise caution

Creative and modern company names can attract customers and leave a lasting impression, but avoid using names that are odd or difficult to pronounce

Choosing a name that is both attractive and easy to pronounce and remember will help you stand out in the competition

Avoid using acronyms that hold little meaning for most people

A good company name should be concise and clear, effectively conveying the brand image of the company

Ensure the availability of the name

After deciding on a company name, the next step is to check its availability. In Malaysia, when registering a new company, you must submit a name search application to the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) to confirm the availability of the name and obtain approval from SSM

The process of searching for a company name typically takes 1-2 business days
Once SSM approves the company name, it will be reserved for you for a period of 3 months (during which you need to submit the company registration to SSM)
If you fail to submit the registration documents to SSM within 3 months, the approved company name will be released

When naming a company, consider the following principles and characteristics:

According to the Companies Act of 1965, a company must first obtain approval from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs or the Companies Commission of Malaysia before registering or changing its name. The company may not register an inappropriate name or one deemed unacceptable by the authorities without their consent

Language and spelling requirements

Company names should use correct language and spelling
If the name contains words other than Malay or English, their meanings must be provided

Inappropriate or offensive names

The name must not be blasphemous or likely to offend the public
The name must not be similar to or associated with religious elements

Special names

Avoid using generic names such as “Alpha Innovations Ltd.” or “Galaxy Solutions Sdn. Bhd”

Use of personal names

If the company name is based on a personal name, that name should be from the directors specified in the company’s memorandum and articles of association
If using the names of a director’s direct relatives (such as children, father, wife, grandfather, or grandmother) as the company name, relevant proof of the family relationship must be provided
If the company name is derived from the personal name of an existing group company, consent from that group company must be obtained

Explanation of the name's meaning.

Explain the meaning of new coined words or terms in the company name

Avoid misleading

The company name must not be similar to the names of well-known multinational companies to avoid confusion. For example, it should not be similar to acronyms like “PNB,” “ICI,” or “IBM”

Words prohibited from use in company names

Names related to royalty or royal titles, including "Royal," "King," "Queen," "Prince," "Princess," "Crown," "Regent," or "Imperial."
Names related to state or federal government departments, statutory bodies, authorities, or any municipal or local authorities, including names containing "Federal," "State," or "National."
Names indicating association with any ASEAN, Commonwealth, or foreign government, or with the United Nations or any other international organization, including names containing "ASEAN," "UNESCO," "NATO," "EEC," or "OPEC."
Names related to any political party, society, union, cooperative, or construction association.
Various terms such as "Bank," "Banker," "Banking," "Indigenous," "Bureau," "Chamber of Commerce," "Manufacturers' Association," "Chartered," "Academy," "Consumer," "Council," "Credit," "Remittance," "Executor," "Fair Price," "Finance," "Foundation," "Fund," "Guarantee," "Institution," "Insurance," "Investment," "Leasing," "Malaysia Manufacturing," "Prime," "Registrar," "Ministry of Finance," "Trust," "Unit Trust," "University," and other special terms.
Names that are misleading regarding the company's identity, nature, purpose, or any other aspect
Names that are blasphemous or likely to offend the public
Translations of company names registered under the Companies Act or names of foreign companies
Names that might be similar to or mistaken for any company or foreign company registered under the Act; or names that could be similar to or mistaken for other newly registered or reserved names of companies or foreign companies, or names similar to those of companies or foreign companies seeking a name change

*If the applicant or promoter of a company wishes to use any of the specified terms for registering a company name in Malaysia, they must submit an application to the Companies Commission of Malaysia, clearly stating the reasons for using these terms, and pay a name application fee of RM150.00.*

Names associated with activities regulated by other regulations.

Banking and Financial Institutions Act 1989: Terms such as "Bank," "Deposit," "Finance," "Commercial Bank," "Discount House," "Currency Brokerage," "Foreign Exchange Brokerage," "Finance," "Factoring," "Leasing," "Development Finance," "Credit Establishment," or words with similar meanings.
Securities Commission Act 1983: Terms such as "Stock Exchange," "Securities Market," "Securities Trading Market," or words with similar meanings
Futures Trading Act 1993: Terms such as "Futures Exchange," "Futures Broker," "Futures Trading Advisor," or words with similar meanings
Insurance Act 1963: Terms such as "Insurance," "Protection," "Underwriter," or words with similar meanings.
Moneylenders Act 1998: Terms such as "Moneylender," "Foreign Exchange," or words with similar meanings.
Valuers, Appraisers, and Estate Agents Act 1981: Terms such as "Real Estate Agent," "Property Agent," "Estate Agent," "Land Agent," "Housing Agent," or words with similar meanings.
Islamic Insurance Act 1984: Terms such as "Islamic Insurance (Takaful)" or words with similar meanings.
Accountants Act 1967: Terms such as "Taxation," "Tax," "Accounting," "Accountant," "Auditor," "Tax Consultant," "Tax Advisory," or words with similar meanings.
Medical (Advertising and Sale) Act 1956: Terms such as "Private Clinic," "Clinic," "Private Radiology Clinic," "Private Medical Laboratory," "Alternative Medicine," "Traditional Herbal Medicine," "Tabib," "Treatment," "Hair Clinic," "Hair Loss," "Homeopathy," "Traditional Medicine Herbal," and "Medical Hall," or words with similar meanings.
Any other laws, follow up with the Registrar’s notice. If the applicant or company promoter obtains the necessary written approval from the relevant regulatory authority, names containing terms prohibited by the aforementioned legislation may be considered. The consent letter should be attached to the application form for name search.

Names related to activities regulated by government agencies or professional bodies.

Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority (LOFSA): Terms such as "Labuan Offshore," "Offshore Company," "Labuan Trust Company," or words with similar meanings
Malaysian Board of Architects: Terms such as "Architect" or similar words
Ministry of Education Malaysia: Terms such as "Higher Education," "College," "Academy," "University," "School," or words with similar meanings.
Cooperative Development Department – Terms like "cooperation," "cooperative," or words with similar meanings.
Civil Aviation Department – Terms like "aviation," "airlines," "routes," "flight," or words with similar meanings.
Board of Engineers Malaysia – Terms like "engineer" or similar.
Malaysian Institute of Accountants – Terms like "accountant" or "taxation."
Prime Minister's Office – Terms like "dinar" or similar.
Ministry of Primary Industries – Terms like "Forest Management Information Center" or similar.
Islamic Development Department (Jabatan Kemajuan Agama Islam Malaysia) – Terms like "Crypto," "Muttaqim," "Mustaqim," "Ehram Mukjizah," "Wakaf," "Amil," "Baitulmal," "Halal," "wasiat," "faraid," or similar.
Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) – Terms like "Amanah" and "Trust" related to forming trust companies.

If the applicant or the company’s founders obtain written approval from the relevant government agencies or professional bodies, names containing such terms (associated with the activities regulated by the aforementioned government agencies or professional bodies) may be considered. The approval letter should be attached to the application form for company name retrieval.

Names regulated and restricted due to national and public interest considerations

Government-linked companies registered under the "Trademark Registration Ordinance" and well-known company names.
For example: "Astro," "DIGI," "Berjaya," "Chase," "HICOM," "Petronas," "Intrakota," "Celcom," "Pernas," "Perodua," "Modenas," "Telekom," "Kenyir," "Kulim Hi-Tech."
"Cyber" or any words to the same effect.
"Putrajaya" or words to the like effect.
"MSC / Multimedia Super Corridor"
"Middle Man"
"Malay Reserve"
Words resembling gambling activities, such as "sweepstake", "lottery", "fortune teller", or words with the same meaning
Words like "wine"
Government slogans such as "Vision 2020", "Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah", "Jatidiri", "Kuala Lumpur 2001", "Kuala Lumpur 2006", "Kuala Lumpur 2008", "Malaysia Boleh ", "Dulu, Kini dan Selamanya" (before, now and forever) and other government slogans that have grown with the times

If the applicant or the promoter of the company obtains written approval from the relevant government agency or professional body, the application of a name containing such words (a name that has an association with an activity regulated by the said government agency or professional body) may be considered. The approval letter should be attached as an annex to the application form for searching the company name.

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