As a general guide, the Companies Registration Office will refuse registration of a company name if it breaches the following guidelines:-
It is offensive.
It suggests state sponsorship.
It causes phonetically and/or visually similar names.
Names containing certain words cannot be used unless written approval is received from certain bodies, examples include:-
Words such as “bank”, “banc”, “banker” and “banking” must be approved by the Central Bank of Ireland. This includes names containing these words such as “Sallybank”, even through the business does not intend operating in the banking sector.
Words such as “insurance”, “re-insurance” and “assurance” must be approved by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority.
Words such as “society”, “co-op” and “co-operative” must be approved by the Registrar of Friendly Societies.
Words such as “University” and “Institute of Technology” must be approved by the Department of Education.
“Holding”, “group”, “system”, “services”, “international”, etc. may not be regarded as a sufficient distinction between company names.