Delaware LLC Name Search: How to Check If Your Name Is Available

Delaware naming rules

• Must contain "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
• Must be distinguishable upon the record from every other Delaware entity name.
• Cannot suggest a different entity type ("Inc," "Corporation") or use restricted words (e.g. "Bank," "Trust," "University") without the required approval.

How to search

1. Delaware's Division of Corporations offers an online name-availability search. Enter your desired name; if nothing active matches and the name is distinguishable, it is likely available. Treat the search as a strong indicator — the state confirms final availability when the Certificate of Formation is filed.

Reserving a name (optional)

Not ready to file yet? Delaware lets you reserve a name for 120 days for a small state fee, holding it while you prepare. Most founders skip this and file as soon as the name checks out, but a reservation is useful if you are mid-fundraise and want to lock the brand.

A tip for non-resident founders

Choose a name that reads cleanly internationally and works for your US bank account and processors (Stripe, Mercury, Wise). Steer clear of finance, legal or medical terms unless that is truly your line of work, since those can trigger extra review at the bank and the state.