A rejected name reservation costs money and time. A few checks before you apply can avoid both.
Search the public register first
Before you settle on a name, search it on the CAC public search on icrp.cac.gov.ng. This costs nothing, unlike paying to reserve a name CAC then refuses.
Search close variations too, not just the exact name. A name that is almost identical to an existing one is treated the same as an exact match.
Try the name with and without common words such as "Nigeria", "global" or "limited" attached, since a registered name search sometimes returns different results depending on exactly how you type it.
Avoid a name too close to an existing one
CAC will not register a name that is identical, or close enough to confuse, to one already on the register. This is one of the most common reasons a reservation fails.
A different word order, a dropped common word, or a small spelling change often still counts as too similar. Aim for a name that stands apart clearly, not one that relies on a small difference.
Know which words are restricted
Some words need extra approval before CAC will reserve them. Check CAC's published list of restricted words before you settle on a name, since the categories are specific and easy to miss.
If your proposed name genuinely needs a restricted word, expect to provide extra documentation alongside the reservation. If it does not, avoid the word entirely rather than risk the query.
A word does not have to be an exact match to trigger this. A close variant can still draw the same scrutiny from CAC's reviewers.
The extra fee a restricted word carries
A restricted word costs ₦5,000 to reserve, instead of the standard ₦1,000. See CAC company name reservation: fee and validity for how that gap compares across structures.
This article cannot confirm whether that fee is refunded if the reservation fails, so budget for it either way. Weigh the word's value to your brand against the extra cost and the added scrutiny it invites.
Have a second choice ready
Prepare two or three names before your first attempt, not just one. If the first is refused, you move straight to the next rather than starting the naming process from zero.
Keep the alternatives genuinely different from each other, not small variations on the same idea. Once a name clears, it holds for up to 60 days, time enough to finish the rest of your application calmly.
If a name is still refused after all this, why business name applications get queried covers the other common reasons. From there, how to register a business name at CAC picks up once your name is reserved. Browse the CAC registration hub for the rest of the series.