How to Check Corporation Name Availability in Virginia


Before you form a corporation, you’ll need to complete a business name search with the Virginia Name Check Availability tool to check if your corporation name is available.

We'll show you how to check corporation name availability in Virginia in this guide.

Recommended: You’ll want to secure your website domain name as soon as possible. Check GoDaddy to make sure it’s available.

Woman doing a Virginia corporation name search on her computer.

Virginia Corporation Name Search

The Virginia State Corporation Commission requires all business names to be distinguishable from other business entities in the state. So, you’ll want to search and make sure no other businesses in the state are already using your name.

It is also useful to see if your corporation name is available as a web domain (URL).

SKIP AHEAD:

  1. How to Register a Corporation Name in Virginia
  2. Virginia Corporation Name Requirements
  3. Virginia Corporation Name Search FAQ

How to Search Available Virginia Corporation Names

Once you know your corporation name meets Virginia business name guidelines, make sure it’s available by using the Virginia Name Check Availability tool.

Want to learn more about corporations? Check out our What Is a Corporation guide to get started.

How to Check Available Domain Names

When deciding on a name for your corporation, you should make sure that a similar or exact domain name is available. A matching URL will help potential customers find your corporation faster.

Find a Domain Now

How to Register a Corporation Name in Virginia

Register Your Name

A corporation name is officially registered when you file your Virginia Articles of Incorporation. You can hire a professional service to form a corporation for you or start a corporation yourself.

Ready to register your corporation name? Use our Form a Corporation guide to get started.

If you want to register a DBA in Virginia, known as a fictitious or assumed name, that’s a separate process that requires filing a separate form with the State Corporation Commission.

Reserve Your Name

While not required, you have the option to reserve your corporation name in Virginia for up to 120 days before you register it. This prevents other businesses from registering your name until you are ready to register it yourself. 

Name reservations can be filed online or by mail with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The filing fee is $10.

Need Help Forming Your Corporation? ZenBusiness will get you started.

Virginia Corporation Name Requirements

Key Guidelines

Virginia has official requirements for its corporation names.

The name must contain the word “corporation,” “company,” “incorporated,” “limited,” or an abbreviation of one of these terms.

There are also restricted words, such as “FBI” or “Treasury,” that you cannot use in order to keep your LLC from sounding like an official institution.

Virginia also has the following restrictions for corporation names:

  • The name cannot include any word, abbreviation, or combination of characters that states or implies the corporation is an LLC or a limited partnership.
  • The name cannot falsely imply that the corporation conducts business as a bank, trust company, insurance company, or public service company, such as a railroad, telephone company, utility, or water or sewer company.
  • The name cannot include the words “bank” or “trust” unless the LLC will be engaged in the banking or trust company business, or it is clear from the context of the remaining words that it will not be engaged in such business.
  • The name cannot include the words “engineer,” “architecture,” or “land surveying,” or any variation of those words unless the LLC will be lawfully engaged in those services or it is clear from the context of the remaining words that it will not conduct such business.
  • The words “United States,” “national,” “Federal”, and “reserve” may not be included in the name of a business entity that is engaged in the banking, loan, building and loan, brokerage, factorage, insurance, indemnity, savings, or trust business.

For more information, check out the naming guidelines on the Virginia State Corporation Commission website.

Distinguishability

Your name must be distinguishable from all other Virginia business names. In Virginia, a distinguishable name is one that is substantively different from all other existing or reserved business names in the state.

The following differences do NOT make a name distinguishable in Virginia:

  • Business entity type identifiers
  • Articles, conjunctions, and prepositions 

If your corporation name isn’t distinguishable, your Articles of Incorporation filing will likely be rejected.

What if my corporation name is already taken? Our AI-powered corporation name generator will give you thousands of new ideas. 

For a list of brainstorming tips, check out our guide to naming your business.

Virginia Corporation Name Search FAQ

How do I check if a corporation name is taken in Virginia?

You can use the Virginia Name Check Availability tool to see if your business name is available.

Learn more about business entity name availability in the Virginia Corporation Name Search section.

Should I name my corporation after myself?

While there’s no rule against naming a corporation after yourself, most experts advise against doing this. 

One of the benefits of starting a corporation is the ability to choose a different name for your business, which can make it sound more professional.

To explore other naming options, use our free AI-powered business name generator.

What words can’t be used in a Virginia corporation name?

Business names generally can’t include words that imply the company is a banking or financial institution or that it’s affiliated with a local, state, or federal government agency.

Additionally, Virginia corporation names:

  • Cannot include any word, abbreviation, or combination of characters that states or implies the corporation is an LLC or a limited partnership.
  • Cannot falsely imply that the corporation conducts business as a bank, trust company, insurance company, or public service company, such as a railroad, telephone company, utility, or water or sewer company.
  • Cannot include the words “bank” or “trust” unless the LLC will be engaged in the banking or trust company business, or it is clear from the context of the remaining words that it will not be engaged in such business.
  • Cannot include the words “engineer,” “architecture,” or “land surveying,” or any variation of those words unless the LLC will be lawfully engaged in those services or it is clear from the context of the remaining words that it will not conduct such business.
  • Cannot include the words “United States,” “national,” “Federal”, and “reserve” if the business entity is engaged in the banking, loan, building and loan, brokerage, factorage, insurance, indemnity, savings, or trust business.

Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Virginia Corporation Name Requirements section.

Should I use a business name generator?

If you’re having trouble choosing a name for your corporation, a corporation name generator can help you come up with some ideas.

Do I have to include ‘corporation’ in my name?

Virginia corporation names must contain the word “corporation,” “company,” “incorporated,” “limited,” or an abbreviation of one of these terms.

Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Virginia Corporation Name Requirements section.

Do I need to renew my business name in Virginia?

Virginia doesn't require corporations to renew their legal name or DBA name.

Can my business name be different from my corporation name in Virginia?

Some companies choose to operate under a name that’s different from their legal name. This can either be called a “doing business as” (DBA) name or fictitious or assumed name in Virginia. 

In Virginia, fictitious or assumed names for corporations are filed with the State Corporation Commission.

Learn more about fictitious or assumed names with our Virginia DBA guide.

Does my corporation need a DBA name?

Your corporation doesn’t need a DBA name unless it plans to do business under a name other than its legal name. Learn more with our Virginia DBA guide.