Can you freely choose the name of an association?

Verified 24 January 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

In principle, founders can freely choose the name of the association.

However, it must be checked that the intended name for the association is not already in use.

The name you choose must not exceed 250 characters to be published to JOAFE: titleContent.

It can be followed by an acronym (for example: Animal Protection business - SPA). However, the use of an acronym alone is not recommended.

The following labels may be used:

Combination
Friendly
Club
League
Circle
Movement
Union
Business

When several associations come together, they can be called union, federation, confederation or else group (for example, the national confederation of radio associations).

FYI

With the exception of sports federations approved on 16 July 1992, only delegated sports federations may use the designation "Fédération française de" or "Fédération nationale de".

It is possible to use a name referring to the activity of the association (sports association of ..., cultural association of ...).

It is also possible to use a name referring to the name of a natural person (example: Jean Monnet Association). However, an authorization is required unless the name is in the public domain.

It is also possible to use a pure fantasy name.

The founders of the association cannot choose a protected name as their name. Thus it is not possible to use:

A trademark registered with the National Institute of Industrial Property (Inpi)
A designation of origin (i.e. the name of a country, region or locality used to designate a product originating in it), such as Laguiole
The surname of an individual without the individual's consent (unless it is the surname of one of the founders with the individual's consent)
A term corresponding to a qualification or title the use of which is restricted to certain natural persons, or moral such as, for example, the designations foundation, company foundation or mutual

Please note

For protect association nameSo you have to go to theInpi: titleContent.

An association cannot choose a name already taken by another association or another legal person, provided that it is an original name. The original character of a name is determined by the judicial judge.

The name chosen by an association must not be confused with the name of another natural person or morality (private or public), including through the use of similar words.

To meet this obligation, it is useful to check that the names envisaged are not already used.