Trading Names. A trading name is the name (or names) used by a person, partnership or company for carrying out business, which is not the same as their own name or official registered name. A business may use as many trading names as it requires, but these cannot be registered as official names of the company. Trading names are not protected by law; When you register a company name at Companies House, it is protected by law so no other business can use it. Trading names do not receive this protection, which means that if someone wanted to register your trading name as a limited company, they could do so, whilst also demanding that you stop using it. If you follow the company names guidance and observe the restrictions, a company name can be anything you choose - as long as it’s not the same as or too similar to another name on the register. Trading names. You can also trade using a different name to your registered name. This is known as a ‘business name’ or ‘trading name’.