The selection your company's name is one of the first steps of the incorporation process. To enable the incorporation to proceed smoothly with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM/SSM), it is important that you understand the guidelines on how to come up with an acceptable company name.
For the purposes of incorporating a company, a confirmation of availability of the proposed name from SSM must first be obtained.
As a general rule, a company name will not be available if the name is:
undesirable or unacceptable
identical to an existing business entities under the registers kept pursuant to laws administered by SSM
identical to a name reserved under the registers kept pursuant to laws administered by SSM
a name of a kind that the Minister has directed not to accept for to be registered
The following principles should be observed when deciding on a name of a company
Correct spelling and proper grammar must be used;
The use of mixture of Bahasa Malaysia and English is allowed if the use is to describe the type of business and must follow proper grammar.
If a name contains words other than the Malay or English Languages, the meaning of such words must be given;
Names which are not blasphemous or likely to be offensive to members of the public;
Names which do not resemble elements of religion;
Refrain from using words which are too general, for example “Technology Sdn. Bhd.” or “International Sdn. Bhd.”;
Only names of directors who are specified at the application form for incorporation can be used as company names. Proof of relationship must be given if other individual names are proposed to be used. Similarly, consent letter must be obtained from the group of companies whose individual names are proposed;
The meaning of created or coined words must be given;
The name refers to the name of the director or owner
Use symbols that are allowed to be used in the name of the company is limited to 5 symbols only and must be appropriate to the use of:
“&” (include “dan”, ‘and” and “N”) Example : D&T Services Sdn. Bhd.
“.” (“dot” symbol) Example : Mr. John Trade Sdn. Bhd.
“-“ (“hyphen” symbol). Allowed only for double words or common words that use hyphen. Example : Kupu-Kupu Design Sdn. Bhd.
“( )” bracket symbol Example : ZY Advertising (2017) Sdn. Bhd.
“ ’ ” ( “apostrophe” symbol) Example : Mum’s Recipe Sdn. Bhd.
UNDESIRABLE OR UNACCEPTABLE NAMES
The Registrar has a full discretion in determining whether a name is undesirable or unacceptable. In exercising that discretion, the Registrar may determine that a name is undesirable or unacceptable if—
contains words of an obscene nature;
it is contrary to public policy;
it may likely offend any particular section of a community or any particular religion; or
Names that are misleading as to the identity, nature, objects or purposes of a company or in any other manner.
IDENTICAL NAMES
In determining whether a company name is identical to another, the following shall be disregarded:
“The”, where it is the first word of the name;
“Sendirian”, “Sdn”, “Berhad” and “Bhd”;
the following words and expressions where they appear at the end of the name: “company”, “and company”, “corporation”, “Incorporated”, “ Holding”, “Group” “Malaysia”;
any word or expression which, in the opinion of the Registrar, is intended to represent any word or expression in #3;
the plural version of the name;
the type and case of letters, spacing between letters and punctuation marks;
the symbol “&” is deemed to have the same meaning as the word “and”.
NAMES WHICH ARE PROHIBITED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE MINISTER
The Minister has directed the Registrar not to accept the following names for registration:
Names suggesting connection with a members of the Royal family or Royal patronage including names containing such words as “Royal”, “King”, “Queen”, “Prince”, “Princess”, “Crown”, “Regent” or “Imperial”;
Names suggesting connection with a State or Federal government department, statutory body, authority or government agency or any municipality or other local authority, including names containing such words as “Federal”, “State” or “National
Names suggesting connection with any ASEAN, Commonwealth or foreign government or with the United Nations or with any other international organization or cartel including names containing such words as “ASEAN”, “UNESCO”, “NATO”, “EEC”, “OPEC”;
Names suggesting connection with any political party, society, trade union, co-operative society or building society;
Names including the following words or any words of like import: “Bank”, “Banker”, “Banking”, “Bumiputra”, “Bureau”, “Chamber of Commerce and Industry”, “Chamber of Manufacturers”, “Chartered”, “College”, “Consumer”, “Council”, “Credit”, “Exchange”, “Executor”, “Fair Price”, “Finance”, “Foundation”, “Fund”, “Guarantee”, “Institute”, “Insurance”, “Investment”, “Leasing”, “Made in Malaysia”, “Prime”, “Registry”, “Treasury”, “Trust”, “Unit Trust”, “University”