Connecticut Secretary Of State Business Name Search (Apr. 2026)

Before submitting your Connecticut Certificate of Organization, you must confirm your chosen LLC name is distinguishable from existing business names registered with the Secretary of State.

Your desired LLC name must also follow state naming rules. If your LLC name is not available or does not comply with state naming rules, the SOS will reject your filing.

In this article, I will show you how to conduct a Connecticut business name search to determine if your LLC name is available for filing. You will also learn the state naming regulations and how to make your name distinguishable.

Connecticut Secretary Of State Business Name Search Overview

Under Connecticut General Statutes § 34-243k, your LLC name must be distinguishable and unique compared to existing business names in the Secretary of State database.

The state offers a free tool called the Connecticut Business Records Search. This tool lists all registered businesses so you can determine if your name is available to use.

How To Use The Connecticut Business Records Search Tool

Visit the Connecticut Business Records Search page to begin your business entity name search Connecticut.

In the search field, you can enter a business name, Authoritative Legal Entity Identifier (ALEI), or filing number. Since you’re verifying LLC name availability, use only the business name option.

When doing your search, it’s best just to enter the main part of your chosen LLC name.

Let me give you an example. If the name you want is “Bluehaven Consulting LLC”, you should start by searching for the words “Bluehaven Consulting,” then only “Bluehaven”. This way, you can catch all possible matches.

How To Interpret Your Connecticut Name Search Results?

1. No Results Show Up

If the search show no results, your desired LLC name is availabe to use.

Just to be safe, you should run another search only using part of your LLC name.

Let’s use the same example I mentioned. For example, if the name you want is “Bluehaven Consulting LLC”, search again only for the word “Bluehaven” instead of “Bluehaven Consulting”

2. Names That Aren’t Too Similar Show Up

If your desired name is something like “Bluehaven Consulting,” and you see “Bluehaven Creative” showing up in the search results, that’s usually a good sign. It means your name is likely fine to use, because the full names don’t really sound the same.

3. Exact Matches Are A “No”

If the name shows up exactly the way you typed it, that’s a hard stop. You’re out of luck there.

So if you were going for “Cat Cafe” and you see “Cat Cafe LLC” in the results, that name’s already taken. At that point, it’s better to go back, tweak it a bit, or come up with something new to stay on the safe side. Something like “Catty Cafe LLC” works because it’s clearly different.

4. Business Status

When you search a name, you’ll notice a small status tag next to each result. Don’t overlook them.

They’re basically telling you whether that name is available or not

If a business is listed as “Active” or “Current,” it is pretty clear they are still operating in the state. That means you cannot use that name.

Statuses like “Dissolved,” “Withdrawn,” “Revoked,” or “Forfeited” are a bit different. Technically, you might be able to use those names, but it’s not something I’d recommend.

Those businesses can still apply for reinstatement and become active again, which could make your name unavailable when you go to form your LLC.

So my advice is that you should just come up with variations of your desired LLC name or change your name altogether, if you find name that are too similar to yours.

Your Connecticut LLC Name Must Be Clearly Distinguishable

If you find your name is not unique, you will need to think of a variation of that name or change it entirely.

I will show some rules and examples that don’t make your name unique in Connecticut.

1. Designators

Differences in name endings don’t make a name distinguishable. Even if you use a different version of the LLC designator, the name still won’t be available.

Let’s say you want to use “Harborview Consulting LLC.” You wouldn’t be able to use it if any of these already show up in the search results:

• Harborview Consulting, Inc.
• Harborview Consulting Corp.

2. Filler Words

If you add filler words into your business name, that won’t cut it. The state usually ignores those words when determine distinguishability.

For example, you wouldn’t be able to use the name “Silverbrook Studio LLC” if the search results already show:

• The Silverbrook Studio LLC
• A Silverbook Studio Inc.
• Silverbrook and Studio Corp.

3. Singular Or Plural And Possessive Words

Just adding an “s” to make a word plural or possessive doesn’t make your name different enough.

So, for example, if you want to use “Monroe’s Garden LLC,” it wouldn’t be available if any of these names already exist:

• Monroe Gardens LLC
• Monroes Gardens LLC
• Monroe’s Gardens, L.L.C.

Connecticut LLC Naming Requirements

To gain legal acceptance in Connecticut, your LLC name must follow the rules under Connecticut General Statutes § 34-243k.

1. Is A Comma Required In An LLC Name?

The short answer is no. Connecticut doesn’t ask LLCs to put a comma before the legal designator. You can file your LLC name with or without a comma. Both formats receive equal acceptance from the Secretary of State.

For example, you may register Harborstone Ventures as Harborstone Ventures LLC or Harborstone Ventures, LLC. Both name designs remain legally valid.

2. What Endings Can I Use for My LLC Name?

Since you’re forming an LLC, the law says you need to include one of these words or abbreviations at the end of your business name:

• LLC
• L.L.C.
• Limited Liability Co.
• Limited Liability Company
• Ltd. Liability Co.
• Ltd. Liability Company

3. Which Designators Should You Avoid?

Don’t use “Inc.” or “Corp” anywhere in your business name. You’re an LLC, and the state wants your name to reflect that.

Using corporate designators is an automatic “no” from the state

4. Restricted Words

You can’t just throw any word into your name. Connecticut is pretty strict about names that might confuse the public.

For instance, you can’t make it sound like you’re a bank or part of the government if you aren’t.

Also, stay away from professional titles like “Attorney” or “Doctor” unless you actually have the licenses to back them up. Using those usually requires a different type of filing and extra paperwork.

What To Do If Your Connecticut LLC Name Is Rejected

If you file your Connecticut Certificate of Organization and your name gets rejected because it’s not available, yeah, it can be frustrating. But the state will usually tell you what went wrong.

From there, you’ll need to come up with a variation of your name or just pick a new one to stay on the safe side. Either way, make sure the new name still follows the state’s naming rules.

Once you’ve got that sorted out, you can go ahead and submit your filing again.

Connecticut Secretary Of State Contact Details

You can reach out to the Connecticut Secretary of the State if you need guidance on likely name approval. Business Services Division representatives help you navigate the Connecticut Business Records Search and resolve naming conflicts.

Call the Business Services Division at 860-509-6002. Office hours run Monday to Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time.

Frequently Asked Questions