How To Select Your Ideal Company Name
Your company name is the first thing ACRA checks, the first thing a bank sees, and the first impression you make on clients. Restricted words, existing names and trademark conflicts are the three reasons applications get rejected.
Quick Reference — Singapore Company Name 2026
How do you choose a company name in Singapore?
Your company name must be unique on the ACRA register, free of restricted words, and not offensive or misleading. Submit a name application via BizFile+ for S$15 — approval takes as little as one hour. Once approved, the name is reserved for 120 days. Choose a name that also works as a domain and on social media before you apply.
- Name application fee: S$15 — processed via BizFile+
- Approval time: as fast as 1 hour for straightforward names
- Reservation period: 120 days after approval
- Restricted words (bank, insurance, school, etc.) require regulatory pre-approval
Knowing how to choose a company name in Singapore is the first practical decision every founder makes before incorporation. The name must pass ACRA's availability check, comply with naming rules under the Companies Act 2016, and reserve the right business identity before someone else does. Get it right and your brand has a strong foundation from day one — get it wrong and you face rejection, delays, or a costly rebrand after launch.
ACRA's Naming Rules — What Your Company Name Must Satisfy
Every name application is assessed against four criteria. Fail any one and ACRA rejects it — no refund on the S$15 fee.
Choosing a company name in Singapore is not purely creative — it is a compliance step. ACRA applies the following rules to every name submitted through BizFile+:
-
Uniqueness The name must not be identical or confusingly similar to any existing entity on the ACRA register. This includes phonetic similarity — "Tomoorrow" will be rejected if "Tomorrow" is already registered. ACRA also flags names identical to well-known international brands even if they are not locally registered.
-
No restricted or controlled words Certain words require prior approval from a specific regulatory authority before ACRA will accept the name. The most common restricted words are listed in the table below.
-
Not offensive or contrary to public interest Names that are obscene, racially insensitive, religiously offensive, or misleading about the nature of the business will be rejected. There is no grey area — ACRA will decline without appeal.
-
Not already reserved or under application If another company has reserved the same name within its 120-day window, you cannot use it until the reservation lapses. Check availability on BizFile+ before investing time in branding.
Restricted Words — Which Words Require Pre-Approval
Using a restricted word without prior approval is the most common reason for name rejection. Check this list before submitting.
| Restricted Word | Approval Authority | What They Assess |
|---|---|---|
| Bank, Finance, Financial | Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) | Whether the business is a licensed financial institution |
| Insurance | MAS | Whether the entity holds an insurance licence |
| School, University, College, Institute | Ministry of Education (MOE) | Whether the entity is a registered educational institution |
| Medical, Hospital, Clinic | Ministry of Health (MOH) | Whether the entity is a licensed healthcare provider |
| Law, Legal, Solicitors | Ministry of Law (MinLaw) | Whether the entity is a licensed law practice |
| National, Singapore | ACRA / relevant ministry | Whether use is appropriate and non-misleading |
| Royal, Chartered | ACRA | Assessed case-by-case; rarely approved for private companies |
| Trust | MAS | Whether entity is a licensed trust company |
How to Check Name Availability Before You Apply
Do not submit a name application before checking availability. The S$15 fee is non-refundable if ACRA rejects the name.
Search ACRA's live register at bizfile.gov.sg. Results show registered entities and active reservations. Check exact spelling and phonetically similar variations before applying.
Check .com and .sg availability simultaneously. A company named "Pinnacle Solutions" without a matching domain will fragment your brand from day one. Secure the domain immediately after ACRA approval.
ACRA does not check for trademark conflicts — only for identical registered names. Search the IPOS trademark database separately. A registered business name can still infringe an existing trademark.
Check LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for the exact name and close variants. Brand consistency across platforms matters for SEO and client credibility — especially for B2B service companies.
What Makes a Good Company Name — Practical Criteria
Beyond compliance, your name needs to work commercially. These are the criteria that actually matter.
Most founders focus on compliance and creativity separately. The best company names satisfy both simultaneously. Based on registering thousands of companies through ACRA, these are the practical criteria that separate names that work from names that cause long-term friction:
- Easy to spell and pronounce: If a potential client cannot spell your name after hearing it once, they cannot find you online. This matters more for service businesses where word-of-mouth drives referrals.
- Not geographically limiting: "West Singapore IT Services" creates a rebrand problem the moment you expand east — or out of Singapore entirely. Keep geography out of the name unless it is a deliberate brand anchor.
- Not activity-limiting: "Singapore Bike Rental Pte. Ltd." makes diversification harder and can mislead clients if your activity changes. Broader names age better. Consider your long-term business structure selection when choosing a name that won't box you in.
- Distinct from competitors: Search your proposed name against the five largest competitors in your sector. If it resembles any of them, clients will confuse the two — which helps them, not you.
- Short and clean: Three words maximum in the core brand name. "Pte. Ltd." will be appended automatically — long names become unwieldy on business cards, invoices, and email signatures.
- Works as an acronym (if applicable): If clients will naturally shorten your name, choose one that shortens well. "Global Advisory Network" becomes GAN — check that the acronym has no negative associations.
The Name Application Process — Step by Step
The ACRA name application is a separate step from incorporation. Most founders do both in sequence through BizFile+.
- Search BizFile+ for your proposed name — check exact and phonetic matches
- Check domain and social media availability for the same name
- If the name includes a restricted word, obtain regulatory pre-approval first
- Submit the name application via BizFile+ — fee: S$15 (2026)
- Receive ACRA approval — typically within 1 hour for straightforward names, longer if ACRA refers it for review
- Name is reserved for 120 days — secure domain and social handles immediately
- Proceed to full Singapore incorporation within the 120-day window
After Approval — What to Do Before You Incorporate
You have 120 days. Use the first 48 hours to lock down your brand before moving to incorporation documents.
Once ACRA approves your name, two parallel tracks begin: brand lockdown and document preparation for incorporation. Both need to move quickly — the 120-day clock does not pause.
Brand lockdown (do immediately): Register the .com and .sg domains. Secure the LinkedIn company page and any social handles you need. Register the trademark with IPOS if the brand will carry long-term value — trademark registration is separate from and not automatic with ACRA registration.
Incorporation documents (start in parallel): Prepare your Memorandum and Articles of Association, confirm your director and shareholder details, appoint a qualified company secretary, and arrange a registered address. For a complete walkthrough, see our complete incorporation guide. If you need a nominee director, this is the point to engage one. Terra Advisory handles all of this as a single engagement.
How do I check if a company name is available in Singapore?
Search the ACRA BizFile+ portal at bizfile.gov.sg. Enter your proposed name and check for identical and phonetically similar matches. You should also check domain availability and the IPOS trademark database separately — ACRA only checks against its own register of registered entities and active reservations. Terra Advisory runs a pre-submission availability check as part of every incorporation engagement.
How much does an ACRA name application cost in 2026?
The ACRA name application fee is S$15 (2026). This fee is non-refundable — if ACRA rejects the name, you pay again for a new application. The approved name is reserved for 120 days, during which you must complete your incorporation or the reservation lapses.
How long does ACRA take to approve a company name?
For straightforward names with no restricted words and no similarity issues, ACRA typically approves within one hour of submission via BizFile+. Names that include restricted words require regulatory pre-approval (which can take 2–4 weeks), and names that closely resemble existing brands may be referred for manual review, adding 2–14 working days.
Can I change my company name after incorporation?
Yes. A company name can be changed after incorporation by passing a special resolution among shareholders and filing a name change application with ACRA via BizFile+. The new name goes through the same availability check. However, changing a registered name requires updating all business documents, contracts, bank accounts, and signage — costs and effort that make it worth getting the name right from the start.
What words are not allowed in a Singapore company name?
ACRA will reject names that are identical to existing entities, phonetically similar to existing names, offensive or misleading, or that contain restricted words without regulatory pre-approval. Restricted words include Bank, Insurance, School, University, Medical, Hospital, Trust, Law, National, Singapore, Royal, and Chartered. Each restricted word has a specific approval authority — MAS, MOE, MOH, or MinLaw depending on the word.
Does ACRA check for trademark conflicts when approving a company name?
No. ACRA only checks its own register for identical or similar business names. It does not cross-check the IPOS trademark database. A name can be approved by ACRA and still infringe an existing trademark — which creates a separate legal risk entirely. Always run an IPOS trademark search before committing to a name, particularly if you plan to build a brand around it.
Ready to Register Your Singapore Company Name?
Terra Advisory runs the BizFile+ name availability check, flags restricted words, and handles the full incorporation once your name is approved — all from one team.