What does Ltd mean in a company name
In Virginia's corporation statute, "ltd." is the listed abbreviation of the word "limited". Delaware, New York and Minnesota list "limited" as a word a corporation name may contain, and each state words its list differently.
Ltd. is a short form of "limited"
Ltd. is the abbreviation of the word "limited". State statutes treat that word as one of the endings a corporation name can carry, next to words such as "corporation", "incorporated" and "company". Virginia is the clearest case. Section 13.1-630 of the Code of Virginia says a corporate name shall contain the word "corporation," "incorporated," "company," or "limited." It may instead contain the abbreviation "corp.," "inc.," "co.," or "ltd."
The same section adds that the words and their corresponding abbreviations may be used interchangeably for all purposes. A Virginia corporation called Blue Heron Bakery Ltd. and one called Blue Heron Bakery Limited would both use a listed ending.
What the corporation statutes list
Delaware, New York and Minnesota each name "limited" in their corporation statutes, in different words.
Delaware's General Corporation Law, Title 8, section 102, says a name shall contain one of a list of words. The list includes "association," "company," "corporation," "club," "foundation," "fund," "incorporated," "institute," "society," "union," "syndicate," and "limited." Abbreviations count, with or without punctuation. Section 102 also allows words of like import of foreign countries or jurisdictions, provided they are written in roman characters or letters.
New York's Business Corporation Law section 301 is shorter. A name shall contain the word "corporation", "incorporated" or "limited", or an abbreviation of one of those words.
Minnesota Statutes section 302A.115 uses nearly the same wording. It adds that the name may contain an abbreviation of one or more of the words.
Punctuation and variations
Delaware says abbreviations count with or without punctuation. A period after the short form does not change that. Virginia goes further by stating that the words and abbreviations are interchangeable. Neither statute ranks one form above another, and Virginia's wording lets a corporation use whichever listed form it prefers.
New York and Minnesota speak of an abbreviation of one of the listed words without spelling the abbreviation out. A filer in New York or Minnesota who wants "Ltd." in the name relies on that general language. The state decides whether the name is accepted.
Ltd. in an LLC name
An LLC is a separate kind of entity, and its statute asks for different endings. Delaware's Limited Liability Company Act, section 18-102, says an LLC name shall contain the words "Limited Liability Company." The abbreviation "L.L.C." or the designation "LLC" also works. Ltd. is not on that list.
Virginia's LLC statute, section 13.1-1012, lists "limited company" or "limited liability company" or their abbreviations "L.C.," "LC," "L.L.C.," or "LLC." Here too, Ltd. does not appear.
Virginia also keeps the two entity types apart. Section 13.1-630 bars a corporation name from stating or implying that it is a limited liability company. The same bar covers a limited partnership and a registered limited liability partnership. Section 13.1-1012 bars an LLC name from stating or implying that it is a corporation or a limited partnership.
The endings side by side
Across these six statutes, only Virginia's corporation statute spells out "ltd." by name. The Delaware and Virginia LLC statutes do not list it.
| State and entity | Listed words | Ltd. listed |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware corporation | "limited" and other words, with abbreviations | Not spelled out |
| New York corporation | "limited" or an abbreviation | Not spelled out |
| Minnesota corporation | "limited" or an abbreviation | Not spelled out |
| Virginia corporation | "limited" and "ltd." | Yes |
| Delaware LLC | "Limited Liability Company", "L.L.C.", "LLC" | No |
| Virginia LLC | "limited company", "limited liability company", "L.C.", "LC", "L.L.C.", "LLC" | No |
Checking the ending in your own state
The statutes above come from four states, and the other states each have their own. A name that fits Virginia's corporation list tells you nothing about the rule in a state that wrote its list in other words.
The SBA's name page tells new owners that each state may have different rules about what an entity name can be and about the use of company suffixes. One state's list can differ from another's. An LLC and a corporation in the same state also face different lists.
The name endings required in each state show the wording for the states on this site, such as Delaware and New York. To compare a proposed name with a register before you file, use the business name search.
What does Ltd mean in a company name: more questions
Can an LLC name end in Ltd.?
Not in Delaware or Virginia, whose LLC statutes do not list it. Delaware section 18-102 asks for "Limited Liability Company", "L.L.C." or "LLC". Virginia section 13.1-1012 lists "limited company", "limited liability company", "L.C.", "LC", "L.L.C." and "LLC".
Does a corporation name have to use the word limited?
No. New York section 301 and Minnesota section 302A.115 accept "corporation" or "incorporated" as well. Virginia section 13.1-630 also accepts "company".
Does Delaware accept abbreviations of its listed words?
Yes. Section 102 of Title 8 allows abbreviations of the listed words, with or without punctuation.
Next: name endings required in each state, examples of LLC names and how to register a company name.
7 official sources
- Delaware Code Title 8, Chapter 1, Subchapter I (General Corporation Law) section 102, retrieved November 12, 2026.
- Delaware Code Title 6, Chapter 18 (Limited Liability Company Act) section 18-102, retrieved November 12, 2026.
- New York Business Corporation Law section 301, retrieved November 12, 2026.
- Minnesota Statutes section 302A.115, retrieved November 12, 2026.
- Code of Virginia section 13.1-630, retrieved November 12, 2026.
- Code of Virginia section 13.1-1012, retrieved November 12, 2026.
- U.S. Small Business Administration, guide to choosing a business name, retrieved November 12, 2026.