Kentucky lesson 1 of 6
Name your Kentucky LLC
The Secretary of State will reject Articles of Organization if the name is not distinguishable from an entity already on record, so search the business database before you file.
Required wording
Under KRS 275.060, a Kentucky LLC name must contain the words limited liability company, limited company, or an abbreviation such as LLC, L.L.C., LC, or L.C. Limited may be abbreviated as Ltd. and Company as Co.
- Acceptable: Bluegrass Logistics LLC, Bluegrass Logistics L.L.C.
- Not acceptable: wording implying the entity is a bank, a corporation, or a government agency without the required approval
- Certain regulated words may require sign-off from the relevant Kentucky board before use
Checking availability and reserving a name
Search the Secretary of State's business entity database before filing, since Kentucky applies a distinguishable-on-the-record standard where small punctuation or spacing differences are usually not enough to separate your name from an existing one.
If you are not ready to file yet, you can reserve a name with the Secretary of State to hold it while you prepare your Articles of Organization and other formation documents.
If you plan to operate under a name different from the one in your Articles of Organization, that is an assumed name in Kentucky, filed as a separate certificate with the Secretary of State.
🇺🇸 Check United States company name availability
Search the official United States state registry before you file. Opens the government portal in a new tab.
Tip: also confirm the .com domain and matching social handles are free before you commit.
Key takeaways
- End the name with LLC, L.L.C., or limited liability company.
- Search the Secretary of State's business database before filing.
- A name reservation can hold your chosen name while you prepare to file.
Official sources
Or let us file your Kentucky LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Articles of Organization, act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team