Company name in Lithuania: requirements, English words and reservation

A company’s name must allow it to be told apart from other legal entities, must be formed in line with the norms of standard Lithuanian, and must contain the words describing its legal form, such as “UAB” or “MB”. The law has no separate rule on English names, but the requirement of Lithuanian language norms applies to them too. A name identical or similar to a foreign company’s name is possible where the Lithuanian company is related to that foreign company and has its consent. A name can be entered in the Register of Legal Entities temporarily, in advance, for six months. This is not mandatory, but it is useful: the register checks that the name is not identical to others, and names filed later are also checked against temporarily entered names (JAR nuostatai, point 110).

How to prepare the incorporation documents and who signs them is covered in Setting up a UAB step by step: documents, signatures and the notary. This article covers the name only: what it must contain, what it must not, and how to protect it until the company is registered.

What the name must contain

A legal entity must have its own name by which it can be distinguished from other legal entities (Article 2.39(1) of the Civil Code, CK). The name must meet the requirements of Articles 2.39 and 2.40 CK, the Regulations of the Register of Legal Entities (JAR nuostatai) and other legal acts (JAR nuostatai, point 102).

The name must contain the legal form:

• the name of a private limited company must contain the words “uždaroji akcinė bendrovė” or the abbreviation “UAB”, and the name of a public limited company the words “akcinė bendrovė” or the abbreviation “AB” (Article 2(5) of the Law on Companies, ABĮ);
• the name of a small partnership must contain the words “mažoji bendrija” or the abbreviation “MB” (Article 2(3) of the Law on Small Partnerships, MBĮ).

A name is formed from words or word combinations used figuratively or having a literal meaning (Article 2.40(1) CK).

Lithuanian language norms and English words

The main requirement is this: the name must be formed in line with the norms of standard Lithuanian (Article 2.40(2) CK). The Law on the State Language says the same of all companies operating in Lithuania: their names are formed in line with the norms of the Lithuanian language and the resolutions of the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language (Article 16 of the Law on the State Language, VKĮ).

The Civil Code has no separate rule that directly allows or prohibits English words. So the question is not whether a word is English, but whether the name meets Lithuanian language norms. How the register applies this requirement to a particular word is not listed in the law. A temporary entry only shows that the name is not identical to others (JAR nuostatai, point 110). Whether it meets language norms is settled only when the company is registered, so a doubtful word is worth checking in advance.

The law provides for two cases in which a name may be formed differently (Article 2.40(3) CK):

1. Letters and digits. A name may be made of letters that cannot be understood as words, and of digits or combinations of them, but only if such a name is established in society. For the name of a newly formed company this is hard to prove.
2. A foreign company’s name. The name of a legal entity related to a foreign legal entity or other organisation may be identical or similar to the foreign legal entity’s name, if it has consented to the use of the name.

The second case is the most common when a foreign group sets up a subsidiary in Lithuania. The following are then filed with the register together with the application (JAR nuostatai, points 108.2 and 110):

• the foreign legal entity’s consent to the use of its name;
• its register extract, or another document confirming its registration if no extract is issued under the law of that state;
• a document confirming the authority of the person who signed the consent.

Documents filed with the register must be drawn up in the state language, and documents in another language must be accompanied by translations signed by a translator (JAR nuostatai, points 62 and 63). What foreign documents need is covered in Translation, notary and apostille: what your documents actually need.

What the name must not contain

A name may not be made only of (Article 2.40(2) CK):

• a generic word or words directly naming the type of goods or services of the business, for example only the word “Statyba” (“Construction”);
• a place name, for example only the name of a city;
• another word without a distinguishing feature.

The word “only” matters here. A generic word or place name can be used together with a distinguishing word.

In addition, the name must not be contrary to public order or good morals. It must not mislead the public about the founder, member, registered office, purpose of activity or legal form. Nor may it mislead by being identical or similar to the names of other legal entities, the names of foreign companies, institutions and organisations better known to the Lithuanian public, or trademarks and service marks (Article 2.39(3) CK). The name must also not mislead by being similar to trademarks and service marks filed for registration, registered or recognised as well known in Lithuania earlier (Article 2.39(3) CK).

The Regulations of the Register of Legal Entities may set additional requirements (Article 2.39(5) CK). For example, the official name of the state, “Lietuvos Respublika”, may be used only where the legal entity is set up under a law or another legal act provided for by law (JAR nuostatai, point 104).

Identical or similar names

The register checks whether the name is identical to the names of other legal entities, branches or representative offices and to names entered in the register temporarily. A name is considered not identical if at least one letter or digit differs. The words describing the legal form, or their abbreviation, are disregarded (JAR nuostatai, point 110). So “UAB Alfa” and “MB Alfa” are identical names for the register.

A letter or two, however, does not protect against similarity. The Civil Code requirement not to mislead by similarity to other legal entities’ names and to trademarks applies separately (Article 2.39(3) CK). When documents are filed directly with the Centre of Registers, the register checks the name only under points 103–105, 107 and 110 of the JAR nuostatai, and point 110 sets only an identity check (JAR nuostatai, points 58 and 110). It does not cover similarity to other companies’ names or to trademarks, so it is worth checking that yourself before filing the application. An added distinguishing word does not remove the requirement of Article 2.39(3) CK if the similar element remains.

Similarity also matters after registration. A legal entity whose right to its name is infringed because another person has or uses a name that does not meet the requirements of Article 2.39 CK may go to court. It may ask for the unlawful acts to stop, or for the name to be changed, and for compensation of the pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage caused, and, where the other person acted under its name or used the name without consent, for the handover of everything gained that way (Article 2.42(2) CK). So before choosing a name it is worth checking not only the register but also the trademark databases.

When the word “Lietuva” is allowed

The short name of the state, “Lietuva”, may be used only where at least one of the conditions in point 105 of the JAR nuostatai is met (JAR nuostatai, point 105). For a new company the most relevant are:

• a foreign legal entity sets up the legal entity or is a member of it, and uses the name of Lithuania together with its own name;
• the founders or members are at least three legal entities established in Lithuania, or at least 30 natural persons;
• a legal entity whose name already contains the name of Lithuania transfers its full name with the distinguishing words to a subsidiary of which it is the sole founder or member;
• the name of Lithuania is used to indicate the geographical part of Lithuania in which the company will operate, and this is laid down in its incorporation documents.

The word “Lietuva” also has a practical consequence. If the name does not contain it, the incorporation documents of a UAB or MB based on the model forms can be filed electronically directly with the register, without a notary, where the other conditions are also met (JAR nuostatai, point 46). With the word “Lietuva” this route is not available.

Name reservation: temporary entry in the register

In everyday speech this is called a reservation; in the law it is the temporary entry of a name in the Register of Legal Entities. The founders of a legal entity may apply to the register for the temporary entry of the name of the legal entity being set up (Article 2.41(1) CK). This is a right, not a duty: a company can be set up without an advance entry.

How it works:

1. Application. An application for the temporary entry of the name is filed with the register and, if the name is related to a foreign legal entity, its consent with the attachments (JAR nuostatai, point 108).
2. Check. The register checks whether the name is identical to other names (JAR nuostatai, point 110).
3. Entry. The register enters the name no later than the next working day after receiving the application and the fee, if there is no obstacle (JAR nuostatai, point 112).

A temporarily entered name stays in the register for six months (Article 2.41(3) CK). The period runs from the day the application is filed with the registrar (JAR nuostatai, point 113). If the company is not registered within that time, the name is removed without notice to those who filed the application (JAR nuostatai, point 113). Article 2.41 CK and points 108 to 113 of the JAR nuostatai do not provide for an extension. Once the period ends, the name can be entered temporarily again by filing a new application.

The same rules apply to the name of a legal entity being set up as to the name of a registered one, except the rules on when protection starts and on the right to the name (Article 2.41(2) CK). The same temporary entry is available when an existing company changes its name (Article 2.43(4) CK). How a name is changed is covered in Changing a company’s name or articles: who to notify, when it takes effect.

From when the name is protected

A company name is not registered separately. It is protected from the day on which the application to register the legal entity is filed with the Register of Legal Entities (Article 2.39(4) CK). The name is the legal entity’s property, but it cannot be sold or otherwise transferred separately from the legal entity (Article 2.39(2) CK). Another legal entity’s name may not be used without its consent (Article 2.42(1) CK).

A company name is not a trademark. Registering it in the Register of Legal Entities does not give exclusive rights to a mark on the market. The risk also runs the other way. The owner of a registered trademark may prohibit the use of an identical or similar sign as a legal entity’s name or part of it. This applies where the name is used in business for identical or similar goods or services and may cause confusion (for an identical mark on identical goods or services, no confusion needs to be shown), or, for a mark with a reputation, also for other goods or services (Law on Trademarks, Article 14(2) and (3)(4)). The right to use one’s own name applies only to a natural person, not to a company, even if its name contains the founder’s surname (Law on Trademarks, Article 18(1)(1)). If you want to protect the name as a trademark or service mark, it has to be registered separately.

Can the name of a deregistered company be used? In practice, yes, if it does not mislead by being similar to the names of operating legal entities or to trademarks (Article 2.39(3) CK). The JAR nuostatai directly prohibit using the name of a deregistered entity only for political parties and religious communities and associations (JAR nuostatai, point 106).

The name on documents, signboards and the website

A company’s documents used in dealings with others, such as letters and invoices, must state its name, legal form, registered office, electronic delivery box address, legal entity code and the register in which its data are kept (Article 2.44(1) CK). A company must also give the same information on its website, if it has one (Article 2(6) ABĮ).

Lithuanian language requirements apply not only to the name. The state language is mandatory on companies’ seals, document forms, signboards and other signs, and information on goods sold and services provided is given in the state language (Article 17 VKĮ). The requirement on information about goods and services was written into Article 17 VKĮ by an amendment adopted on 3 October 2024, which entered into force on 1 January 2026. So a signboard in English only does not meet Article 17 VKĮ, and a website presenting goods and services in English only is risky. The law does not prohibit adding a version in another language alongside the Lithuanian text.

What to check before choosing a name

1. Legal form. Does the name contain “UAB”, “MB” or the other required abbreviation?
2. Distinguishing word. Is the name more than just the type of business, a place name or a general word?
3. Language. Does the name meet Lithuanian language norms? If it is identical or similar to a foreign company’s name, do you have that company’s consent?
4. Identity and similarity. Is there no identical or very similar name in the register and in the trademark databases?
5. The word “Lietuva”. Do you really need it, since it closes the route of incorporation without a notary?
6. Timing. Will you register the company within six months of the temporary entry application?

Related articles

• Setting up a UAB step by step: documents, signatures and the notary
• Setting up a UAB in Lithuania: the registration term and whether to travel
• Setting up an MB in Lithuania: members, contributions, documents
• Changing a company’s name or articles: who to notify, when it takes effect
• Branch, representative office or subsidiary: starting out in Lithuania

How to start

Send us two or three name options and tell us what the company will do and whether it is related to a foreign company. We will check the names, enter the chosen one in the register temporarily and prepare the incorporation documents.

Phone +370 5 212 1506, email info@linden.lt

More about this service: establishment of legal entities.