Search the SSM company registry by name or registration number, or check whether a company name is available before you register. We check it against Malaysia's naming rules and the live registry. Free, no login.
Free SSM name check. Final approval of a new name is subject to SSM review during registration.
Malaysia's naming rules sit in the Companies Act 2016 and the SSM Guidelines on Company Names, and they are applied when you reserve a name through the MyCoID portal. Every later step, from incorporation to your bank account, chains off an approved name, so the rules are deliberately strict.
The name must end with the right form: Berhad or Bhd for a public company, Sendirian Berhad or Sdn Bhd for a private limited company, and Sendirian or Sdn for an unlimited company. The suffix signals the entity type and is mandatory.
The name cannot be identical, or misleadingly similar, to a company already registered or reserved with SSM. Sharing a generic word is fine; sharing the distinctive part of an existing name is what gets a name blocked.
Use correct spelling and grammar. Malay and English can be mixed if the name describes the business. Words from other languages, or invented words, need their meaning explained, and the name should not be excessively long or too short and generic.
A name cannot be blasphemous, offensive, or resemble religious elements. Government-related words, including Malaysia or a state name at the start, need official consent.
Only five symbols are allowed: the ampersand, full stop, hyphen, brackets, and apostrophe. Words such as Company, Corporation, and Incorporated are generally prohibited without government interest, and certain controlled words need written permission from the relevant authority.
From the names we file with SSM for clients. Each one is easy to spot once you know the pattern.
A name like International Trading Sdn Bhd or Beautiful Sdn Bhd is paused because the words are too general to distinguish the company. The fix is to add a specific, distinctive element.
A name like Zam Sdn Bhd is flagged as too short to be distinctive. A fuller distinctive name clears it.
Starting a name with Malaysia or a state name, such as Selangor, needs government consent, so Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd is held up without it.
Using Company, Corporation, Incorporated, or Syarikat inside the name is generally not allowed without government interest.
A name whose distinctive part matches an existing SSM company, such as Maju Bina against an existing Maju Bina Sdn Bhd, is rejected even when the filler words differ.
SSM, Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia, is the Companies Commission of Malaysia and the country's official companies registry, the equivalent of a companies house. It records every company and registered business in Malaysia, across all states including Sabah and Sarawak.
This tool searches that registry. Type an existing company name, or part of one, or a registration number, and it returns matching companies with their registration number, entity type, status, and registered address. The same search also checks a brand-new name against the naming rules above, so you can confirm availability and look up existing companies in one place.
Checking a name is free. For due diligence or an acquisition, you can order a full company report through Companies House Malaysia, covering the company profile, capital structure, directors and shareholders, charges, and financials, delivered within one business day.
Looking to buy or vet a Malaysian company? We pull the full report and walk you through what it means, based on SSM records and delivered within one business day. Get a company report.
What the suffix tells you about a company you find in the registry.
| Suffix | Type | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Sdn Bhd (Sendirian Berhad) | Private limited company | Limited liability, up to 50 shareholders, shares not offered to the public, common for SMEs |
| Bhd (Berhad) | Public limited company | Unlimited shareholders, shares can be offered to the public, often listed, stricter reporting |
| Sdn (Sendirian) | Private unlimited company | Shareholders have unlimited liability, far less common |
Search the registry by name or registration number, or check whether a new company name is available in the same step.
Free SSM name check. Final approval of a new name is subject to SSM review during registration.
Governs incorporation and company names, including the mandatory suffix and the bar on names identical to an existing company. SSM administers it.
The Companies Commission of Malaysia's rules on acceptable names, restricted and controlled words, allowed symbols, and language.
The basis for refusing a name that conflicts with a registered trademark or a well-known mark.
What people ask before checking a name or ordering a report.
Yes. Checking whether a company name is available with SSM is free. Detailed reports on existing companies are paid and delivered within one business day.
It checks against SSM records to give you a preliminary view of name availability and company details. Final approval of a new name still rests with SSM during the official registration process.
Yes. You can look up a company by its name or by its SSM registration number, and a report lists the registration number alongside the company's core details.
In effect, yes. SSM, the Companies Commission of Malaysia, is the country's official companies registry, the equivalent of a companies house, and it covers every state including Sabah and Sarawak.
Search the company by name to find its registration number, or order a report, which lists the registration number with the incorporation date, status, and registered address.
Yes. Anyone can check whether a name is available or order a report on an existing Malaysian company, wherever they are based.
Sdn Bhd is a private limited company, capped at 50 shareholders with shares that cannot be offered to the public. Bhd is a public limited company that can offer shares publicly and is often listed, with stricter reporting.
Reviewed by Emerhub's Kuala Lumpur team. Last updated June 2026. We reserve and register company names with SSM for clients regularly.
Found the name you want, or the company you need a report on? Our Kuala Lumpur team can reserve and register an available name with SSM, or pull a full company report for your due diligence.