What restrictions apply to a not-for-profit corporation's name under ONCA?

An Ontario not-for-profit corporation's name has to clear the same kind of name-search process business corporations go through — it cannot be identical or confusingly similar to an existing corporate name or registered trademark, and it cannot be misleading about what the organization actually does or its legal status. A name that implies government affiliation, professional accreditation, or charitable registration the organization doesn't actually have can be refused or later challenged.

Certain words are restricted and require special consent before they can be used — terms suggesting a connection to the Crown, certain professional designations, or words implying a scope or scale the organization doesn't have. As with business corporations, choosing a numbered name (something like "1234567 Ontario Inc.") skips the name-search and approval step entirely and is a completely normal, valid choice for organizations that don't need a distinctive name for public recognition.

Because a name search does not guarantee there is no trademark conflict, and because clearing the corporate name registry is a different check than clearing a trademark, organizations planning significant public fundraising or a recognizable public brand should think about trademark clearance separately from the basic corporate name search before settling on a name.