New Hampshire LLC Name Search

How to search for LLC names in New Hampshire

Searching for an available LLC name in New Hampshire is a required step before you submit your Certificate of Formation to the Secretary of State. The New Hampshire QuickStart business name database lets you look up active entities, reserved names, and dissolved businesses to determine whether your proposed name conflicts with an existing registration. A name that returns no results may still be unavailable if it is too similar — not just identical — to a registered name, so the search shows you what exists but does not guarantee approval. The Division of Corporations makes the final call on whether two names are "distinguishable upon the record." Running a thorough search before filing saves you the cost and delay of a rejected filing.

Step-by-step: using the New Hampshire Secretary of State name search

1. 1. Navigate to the New Hampshire Secretary of State QuickStart business search portal at https://www.sos.nh.gov/corporations/corp.aspx.
2. 2. In the 'Business Name' field, type your proposed LLC name — omit the designator (LLC, L.L.C., etc.) for the broadest results, then search again with the designator included.
3. 3. Review all results for exact matches, phonetically similar names, and names that differ only by punctuation, articles (the, a, an), or entity-type designators.
4. 4. Click individual results to view the entity's status (active, dissolved, withdrawn) — a dissolved name may still be considered conflicting depending on how recently it was dissolved.
5. 5. Repeat the search using common abbreviations, alternate spellings, and shortened versions of your proposed name to ensure no confusingly similar entity exists before you proceed to filing.

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New Hampshire LLC naming rules

• The name must contain the words 'Limited Liability Company,' the abbreviation 'LLC,' or 'L.L.C.' — other variations are not accepted by the New Hampshire Division of Corporations.
• The name must be distinguishable upon the record from all other business entities registered or reserved with the New Hampshire Secretary of State, including corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships.
• The name cannot contain language that implies the business is organized for a purpose other than what is stated in its Certificate of Formation.
• The name cannot include words or phrases that imply an affiliation with a federal, state, or local government agency (e.g., 'Federal,' 'State,' 'United States,' 'New Hampshire Department of').
• Words suggesting a regulated profession or industry — such as 'Bank,' 'Trust,' 'Insurance,' 'Attorney,' or 'Doctor' — require prior written approval from the applicable New Hampshire regulatory authority before the Secretary of State will accept the filing.
• The name cannot be obscene, profane, or otherwise contrary to public policy as determined by the Division of Corporations.
• Punctuation, spacing differences, and the addition or removal of common words such as 'the,' 'and,' or 'of' generally do not make a name distinguishable — the division looks at the substantive word elements.
• If the name includes a term implying the business is a professional LLC (PLLC), all members must be licensed in New Hampshire in the applicable profession, and the filing must be submitted as a PLLC.

Restricted words in New Hampshire LLC names

The following words require special approval from a state agency before you can use them in your New Hampshire LLC name:

• Bank / Banker / Banking — requires approval from the New Hampshire Banking Department
• Insurance / Insurer / Underwriter — requires approval from the New Hampshire Insurance Department
• Trust / Trustee — requires Banking Department approval unless context clearly excludes banking activity
• University / College — requires approval from the New Hampshire Department of Education or appropriate accrediting authority
• Attorney / Law / Legal — may require confirmation that all members are licensed New Hampshire attorneys (PLLC designation)
• Engineer / Engineering — may require confirmation that the entity is properly licensed through the New Hampshire Board of Professional Engineers
• Cooperative / Co-op — implies a specific legal structure and may require additional review
• Lottery / Casino / Gaming — requires applicable state licensing and regulatory approval before use in an LLC name

How to reserve an LLC name in New Hampshire

New Hampshire allows you to reserve an LLC name before filing by submitting an Application for Reservation of Name (Form LLC-2) to the Secretary of State along with a $15 filing fee. A reservation holds the name exclusively for 120 days and is not renewable — if you need more time, you must wait until the reservation expires and then file a new application. Reservations can be submitted by mail or in person at the Division of Corporations in Concord.

Tips for choosing an LLC name that passes in New Hampshire

• Search both with and without your LLC designator, and test common abbreviations and misspellings — the distinguishability standard catches names that sound alike even if they are spelled differently.
• After clearing the state database, run your proposed name through the USPTO Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) at tess.uspto.gov to avoid potential federal trademark infringement issues.
• Check domain name availability immediately after your state search — securing a matching .com domain protects your brand even before you file.
• Avoid hyper-local geographic terms (e.g., a specific street or neighborhood name) if you plan to expand services statewide or beyond New Hampshire, since the name may not reflect the business well later.
• Search the New Hampshire professional licensing boards' directories if your name includes a professional term — confirming the regulatory pathway before filing saves time on back-and-forth with the Division of Corporations.
• Consider reserving the name as soon as you have decided on it, especially if you need time to prepare the full Certificate of Formation — the $15 fee is far less costly than losing the name to another filer.