California Code of Regulations
Title 2 - Administration
Division 7 - Secretary of State
Chapter 8.5 - Business Entity Names
Section 21003 - Names that Are Likely to Mislead the Public

(a) If the proposed name creates a false implication of government affiliation.

(b) If the proposed name creates a false implication that it is a professional corporation within the meaning of the Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act. The use of the words "Professional Corporation," "Prof Corp" or the letters "P.C." or "PC" at the end of a proposed name by a corporation that is not a professional corporation or foreign professional corporation within the meaning of the Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act is likely to mislead the public.

(c) If the proposed name creates a false implication that it is a business entity formed pursuant to a different law other than that under which it is actually formed. The use of a business entity identifier under Section 21001(c) for a business entity type other than specified in that section is misleading.

(d) If the proposed name creates the false implication that the business entity's purpose is to be an insurer. The words "insurance," "reinsurance," "assurance" and "surety" in a proposed name for a business entity that is not subject to the Insurance Code as an insurer may mislead the public unless the words are accompanied by other words that remove the implication that the business entity's purpose is to be an insurer. The addition of the words "agency," "agent," "services" or "broker" (such as "insurance agency," "insurance agent" or "insurance broker") may remove the implication that the business entity's purpose is that of an insurer.

(e) If the proposed name of a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation includes the words "Charitable Foundation" or "Foundation" at the end of the name or immediately preceding a business entity identifier.