Naming Rules: Can I Choose Any Company Name in Bulgaria?

Naming rules: can you choose any company name in Bulgaria? To choose a legally acceptable company name in Bulgaria in 2025, your name must be unique in the Commercial Register, include the correct legal suffix (EOOD, OOD, EAD, AD), avoid protected or misleading words (like “bank”), and use characters and language that the registry accepts; a fast name check plus two backups will prevent delays and rejections.

Company Name Rules in Bulgaria: What’s Allowed & What’s Not

Your company name does more than sell your brand—it’s a legal identifier. The Commercial Register expects the name to be distinctive, honest (not implying special status you don’t have), and to end with the correct legal form. If you want the step-by-step incorporation flow around naming, we’ve mapped it in the company incorporation process for Bulgaria.

Legal Suffixes and What They Mean

Suffix	Full Form	Ownership	Minimum Capital (EUR)	Typical Use
EOOD	Single-member Limited	1 owner	~1	Solo consultants, micro-SaaS
OOD	Multi-member Limited	2+ owners	~1 total	Agencies, co-founders
EAD	Single-member JSC	1 shareholder	25,000	Investor-ready structures
AD	Joint-Stock Company	2+ shareholders	25,000	Larger teams, fundraising

Naming Restrictions: Words, Symbols, and Misleading Phrases

Some words are regulated or off-limits without permission. Others are fine but can confuse customers if used carelessly. Keep your name short, pronounceable, and brandable.

Common Restrictions and Examples

Category	Examples	Rule of Thumb	What to Do Instead
Regulated sectors	“bank,” “insurance,” “fund,” “exchange”	Require license/approval to use	Use neutral terms (“finance,” “advisory”) unless licensed
Official/state terms	“state,” “national,” “ministry,” “municipal”	May imply authority; often restricted	Use geographic or industry keywords without implying authority
Misleading status	“academy,” “institute,” “association”	Don’t imply non-profit/educational status if not true	Use “services,” “studio,” “lab” where accurate
Offensive/confusing	Obscene, hate, deceptive strings	Rejected if contrary to public order or clarity	Keep it professional and brand-safe
Symbols and characters	Excess punctuation, emojis	Follow registry character rules; keep it simple	Stick to letters/numbers, minimal punctuation

Language, Transliteration & Brand Consistency

Bulgaria uses both Cyrillic and Latin scripts in business. Your public entry may display in Cyrillic, Latin, or both; choose a spelling that’s easy to read and consistent across your materials. If your brand is English-first, consider how the Cyrillic rendering will look on invoices and contracts.

Transliteration Scenarios and Practical Tips

Scenario	What to Watch	Tip	Example
English brand → Bulgarian register	Readable Cyrillic variant	Pick a standard transliteration once	“Bright Tech” → “Брайт Тек”
Short coined word	Letter-sound mismatch	Test with locals for pronunciation	“Zyla” → “Зайла” or “Зила”?
Founders in multiple countries	Different spellings in contracts	Lock a style guide for both scripts	“Nova Labs EOOD / Нова Лабс ЕООД”

How to Check and Reserve a Company Name (Fast)

The official name look-up and filings are handled by the Commercial Register. Start with a quick search to avoid clashes, then prepare two backups. You can explore procedures on the Bulgarian e-Government portal and search the register directly via the Commercial Register & Registry Agency. If you trade EU-wide, cross-check other country registers through the European e-Justice Portal. Thinking about the domain? The official .bg registry is Register.bg.

Checklist: Name Availability & Risk Scan

Check	What You’re Looking For	Action if Conflict Found	Time Impact
Commercial Register search	Exact/near-identical company names in BG	Try backup name with distinct word	Minutes
EU business register scan	Clashes in key EU markets	Add unique descriptor (e.g., “Labs”)	30–60 min
.bg domain availability	Matching domain for brand trust	Use short, hyphen-free variant	Minutes
Trademark “red-flag” search	Obvious conflicts in your class	Rebrand slightly; pick safer term	1–2 hours

Timeline: How Naming Impacts Your Incorporation Speed

Name approval is one step in a chain. With clean documents, Bulgaria’s process moves quickly. For the overall calendar view, here’s the realistic company setup timeline in Bulgaria.

Where Name Choice Affects Your Timeline

Phase	Good Case	Risky Case	How to Win Back Time
Planning	Primary + 2 backups ready	Only one name; borderline words	Pre-screen restricted terms
Drafting	Suffix matches legal form	Wrong suffix in Articles	Double-check “EOOD/OOD/EAD/AD”
Bank KYC	Spelling matches everywhere	Passport vs Articles mismatch	Copy exact spellings from IDs
Registry filing	Distinctive, clean name	Too similar to existing entry	Switch to backup name instantly

Examples: Names That Work vs Names That Struggle

Let’s make this practical. These examples capture common patterns we see every week. Use them to tune your brand choices before you draft the Articles.

Real-World Naming Examples

Pattern	Example Name	Why It Works (or Fails)	Fix if Needed
Distinct + descriptive	“Lumen Analytics EOOD”	Unique head term + industry keyword	—
Generic & crowded	“Global Solutions OOD”	Likely clashes with similar entries	Add unique term: “Global Nova Solutions OOD”
Restricted sector term	“Alpine Bank EOOD”	Implies licensed activity	Use “Alpine Finance EOOD” unless licensed
Mismatch suffix	“Orion Labs AD” (but Ltd. in Articles)	Legal form inconsistency → rejection risk	Match suffix to chosen form (“EOOD/OOD”)
Hard to pronounce	“Xzqllp Tech OOD”	Unreadable; poor brand recall	Choose pronounceable consonant/vowel flow

Costs, Ownership, and Banking—Where Naming Connects

Your name choice doesn’t change statutory fees, but it can influence speed (and therefore cost) if it causes registry queries. Budget, bank steps, and suffix selection still matter. If you want the broader benefits of the Bulgarian jurisdiction while you pick your name, scan the reasons Bulgaria is a strong base for company formation, and if you prefer a short visual of the whole process, this is how to register your company in six steps. For post-launch compliance, we can handle bookkeeping and VAT through our accounting services in Bulgaria.

Naming & Formation—How Choices Affect the Build

Decision	What Changes	Impact on Time/Cost	Pro Tip
EOOD vs OOD vs AD/EAD	Suffix, governance, capital	Ltd. forms are faster/cheaper	Start Ltd.; upgrade as you scale
English vs Bulgarian name	Transliteration, brand fit	None in fees; affects readability	Pick one spelling style and stick to it
Domain alignment	Marketing, email trust	Small extra cost; big trust gain	Secure .bg/.com early

Remote Setup: Can Foreigners Handle Naming Without Traveling?

Absolutely. Foreigners can own 100% of a Bulgarian company and complete filings remotely with a notarised Power of Attorney. If you’re evaluating the full remote path, this quick primer on how a foreigner can open a Bulgarian company explains the documents and timelines you’ll sync with your name choice.

Preventing Rejections: The Most Common Naming Pitfalls

Most rejections are preventable: wrong suffix, near-identical name, or a restricted word. Use this table to bulletproof your application, then move straight to filing.

Top Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Pitfall	Why It Bites	How to Prevent It
Wrong suffix vs legal form	Articles don’t match the name	Confirm EOOD/OOD/EAD/AD before drafting
Too similar to existing name	Confuses the public	Add a distinctive word or pick backup
Restricted word without license	Implies unauthorized activity	Replace with neutral synonyms
Inconsistent transliteration	Banks and partners get mismatched records	Lock one Latin/Cyrillic style guide
Trademark blind spots	Risk of disputes later	Run a red-flag trademark scan early

What Happens After You Pick the Name?

Once you’ve picked a clean, unique, and suffix-correct name, you move to drafting, capital deposit (if required), and filing. For a complete map of tasks that follow naming, see the cost to set up a company in Bulgaria (time and items) and the fast, secure and tax-optimized company registration in Bulgaria we deliver end-to-end.

Step-By-Step: From Name Choice to Registered Company

A tight sequence keeps momentum. Below is the high-level path you’ll follow after finalizing the name.

From “Name Chosen” to “Registered” (At-a-Glance)

Step	What You Do	What We Do	Outcome
Name locked	Confirm suffix and spelling	Check registry risk & backups	Distinct name on file
Drafting	Share ownership & director data	Prepare Articles, appointments	Signing pack ready
Capital step	Fund capital (if Ltd./JSC)	Open temp account, get certificate	Bank letter obtained
Filing	—	Submit complete electronic pack	Registry decision in 1–3 days
Go-live	Start invoicing, plan VAT/payroll	Convert account; compliance onboarding	Operating and trade-ready

Talk to a Specialist—Free 30-Minute Name Review

Want a quick sanity check on your shortlist and two legally clean backups? Book your free 30-minute consultation. We’ll validate suffixes, scan for obvious registry conflicts, suggest stronger alternatives, and line up a filing plan for 2025.

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