How to choose and reserve a company name?

To choose and reserve a company name properly, you take three steps: come up with a unique name that does not match and is not confusingly similar to already registered ones, check it in the Register of Legal Entities (JAR), and reserve it officially through the Register of Legal Entities (application JAR-5, about EUR 16, valid for up to 6 months). Ideally you can also secure the same name as an internet domain — then your business name reads the same in contracts, invoices and the browser address bar.

In this article we explain how the uniqueness rule works, which requirements you must meet, how company name reservation happens, how much it costs, how long it lasts, and why it pays to check the domain and website availability at the same time. All prices and deadlines here are indicative (2026) and for general understanding only — always verify the current rules and fees at the Register of Legal Entities.

A name is your cheapest but longest-living decision: customers will see it on invoices, in contracts and in the website address for years after registration, so it is worth spending a few days to choose it deliberately.

Name uniqueness: why JAR decides everything

The main rule is simple — the company name must be unique. It cannot match an already registered or reserved legal entity name, and it cannot be confusingly similar to one. That is exactly why your first job is to check whether the desired name is free in the Register of Legal Entities (JAR), maintained by the Register of Legal Entities.

It is important to understand that "similarity" is judged not only by matching letters, but also by sound and meaning — changing a single letter or ending often does not solve the problem. If a name too closely resembles an existing legal entity, registration can be rejected, and even a registered name can later be challenged. So it is worth doing this step carefully — it is one of the first tasks of starting a business, with broader context in our guide on how to start a business in Lithuania 2026. In practice a rejected name costs not only the reservation fee you paid but also time — so it is better to pick a name that raises no doubts from the start.

Naming rules: what the law requires

Beyond uniqueness, the name must meet several content requirements. Without diving into the exact legal wording (you will find the full list at the Register of Legal Entities), the key principles in practice are:

• Legal form indicator. The name must state the legal form — for example, "UAB" (private limited company) or "MB" (small partnership).
• Non-misleading content. The name may not mislead about the nature or scale of the activity, or contradict public order and good morals.
• Protection of state and international names. Without a separate permit you may not use the official names of the Lithuanian state, municipalities or international organisations.
• Avoiding third-party trademarks. Even if the name is free in JAR, it may clash with a registered trademark — so it is worth checking the trademark register separately too.

Language rules also apply: the name must be formed in line with Lithuanian language norms, and foreign words are used only to a limited extent. These requirements change little from year to year, but their interpretation in a specific case can differ. If you are unsure whether a name infringes someone's rights, consult a lawyer before reserving rather than after registration.

How to check whether a name is free

Before paying for a reservation, run a few free checks — they take a few minutes but protect you from expensive mistakes:

• JAR search. Enter several name variants in the Register of Legal Entities public search and make sure no identical or very similar name already exists.
• Trademark check. See whether the name clashes with registered trademarks — this protects you from disputes once the business is up and running.
• Domain and social media check. Make sure the .lt domain and at least the main social media handles are free (more on this in the next section).

Always keep a few backup options: even a well-checked name sometimes "falls through" at the last step. How the whole registration process looks in practice, step by step, is described in our article on how to set up a UAB in 2026 — the steps. If any variant looks borderline, it is better to drop it immediately than to risk registration stalling at the last moment.

Reservation via JAR-5: cost, deadline and when to do it

Once a name is checked, you can reserve it temporarily — for this you file application JAR-5. A reservation means the name is "tied" to you for a certain period and others cannot take it while you prepare the founding documents.

Indicative figures (2026):

• Reservation cost — about EUR 16.
• Validity — up to 6 months. Within this time you must register the company.

A reservation is especially useful when you set up a UAB or MB and the process takes time — for example, while waiting for a notary, accumulating UAB share capital (EUR 1,000, of which at least EUR 250 must be in place before registration), or agreeing documents with partners. The JAR-5 application can be filed electronically in the Register of Legal Entities self-service with an e-signature, so a reservation is usually handled without approaching any intermediary institutions. If you register straight away with an e-signature, you can sometimes do without a separate reservation, but it gives peace of mind that no one will grab the name ahead of you.

Do not forget the domain: the name must fit the internet too

Today a name lives not only in JAR — it becomes your website address and email suffix. So check domain availability at the same time as the name itself, not after registration. It is unpleasant to register a beautiful name only to realise the .lt domain is already taken or on sale for an unreasonable price.

A practical tip: pick a name that looks short and clear in a domain, is easy to dictate over the phone, and has no confusing hyphens or hard-to-spell letters. How to match a name with a domain and which mistakes to avoid is covered in more detail in our article on the company name and domain. And if the domain already has an old website, or you want to assess a competitor's page, you can quickly check its condition with our free website audit. It is worth looking at several domain extensions at once (e.g. .lt and .com) so a similar address does not cause confusion later.

How to align the name with your website and brand

A good name works the same for you everywhere — in documents, in the domain and in search. To achieve that, follow a few principles:

• One spelling everywhere. The same name must appear in JAR, in the domain, in email and on social media — with no unexpected abbreviations or variants.
• Think about search. If the name also has a descriptive element (e.g. a hint of the activity or the city), the business is easier to find in Google. How to lay the groundwork properly is explained in our article on SEO basics for small business.
• Leave room to grow. A too-narrow name (e.g. tied to one specific product) can get in the way if the activity later expands into new areas.

Also think about how the name sounds in other languages if you plan to export or serve foreign clients — sometimes a beautiful Lithuanian word takes on an unexpected meaning abroad. When the name, domain and website fit together, the customer gets a coherent, trustworthy impression from the very first contact — and that often decides whether they message you at all.

Example: the path from idea to a reserved name

Suppose you are setting up a UAB and want to do everything in an orderly way from the start. An indicative path (2026) would look like this:

1. Come up with 3–4 name variants and check each one in JAR and the domain system.
2. Choose one free name whose .lt domain is also available.
3. Reserve the name with application JAR-5 for about EUR 16 — it is yours for up to 6 months.
4. During the reservation period you prepare the founding documents and register the UAB at the Register of Legal Entities (electronic registration — about EUR 30).
5. At the same time you register the domain and start building a website under the same name.

In that case the official fees for the name reservation and registration alone come to roughly EUR 16 + EUR 30, to which, if a notary is needed, about EUR 85–338 may be added depending on the share capital. The exact amounts depend on your situation, so verify them at the Register of Legal Entities. The main thing is to run the free JAR and domain checks before the paid reservation, so you do not pay twice for the same decision.

Check the name and costs at official sources

Before paying for a reservation, check the name once more in the Register of Legal Entities JAR search and confirm your future tax obligations with VMI (the State Tax Inspectorate). And if you are also planning a website, you can quickly estimate its scope and indicative price with the free price configurator — that way you make the name, domain and website decisions together, rather than in a rush after registration.

Disclaimer: all fees, deadlines and rules in this article are indicative (2026) and for general understanding only — this is not legal or tax advice. Always check the current naming rules and taxes at the official Register of Legal Entities and VMI sources, or consult a lawyer or accountant.

Want your new business name to have a fast, orderly website under the same name from day one? web1o helps small businesses align the name, domain and website from the first day. Estimate the scope with the free price configurator and, if you want a concrete plan, book a free consultation.