On this page:

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legalName

legalName · Recommended

Appears in

What is it?

legalName is the official registered name of an organization, the name on file with the government, company registry, or tax authority. It is distinct from the name property, which holds the trading name or brand name customers recognize. A technology company might trade as "Acme" (name) but be legally registered as "Acme Software Holdings Ltd." (legalName).

The field expects a plain text string.

Why this matters for AEO

Legal entity databases, financial data providers, and government registries use the registered name to identify organizations. When AI answer engines answer questions about corporate structure, ownership, funding, or legal status, they cross-reference structured data legalName against authoritative business databases.

Google's Knowledge Graph uses legalName to distinguish entities with similar trading names. For organizations operating in regulated industries, financial services, healthcare, law, the legal name is often how compliance systems and B2B databases identify them. Including legalName helps AI engines correctly attribute corporate actions, regulatory filings, and news coverage to the right entity.

What the specs say

Schema.org:legalName expects Text. "The official name of the organization, e.g. the registered company name." [Source: https://schema.org/legalName]

Google: Recommended for Organization. "The registered, legal name of your Organization, if applicable and different from the name property." [Source: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/organization]

How to find your value

Company registration certificate — The name on your articles of incorporation or certificate of formation
Companies House (UK) — Search at companies-house.service.gov.uk
SEC EDGAR (US public companies) — Search at efts.sec.gov
State business registry (US) — Each state has a Secretary of State business search
Tax registration documents — The name used in tax filings

If your trading name and legal name are identical, you may omit legalName or repeat the value. Google recommends including it when there is a difference.

Format and code

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Shopify",
  "legalName": "Shopify Inc.",
  "url": "https://shopify.com"
}

When trading name equals legal name (still valid to include):

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Xoo Code Inc.",
  "legalName": "Xoo Code Inc."
}

Invalid, using the brand slogan as legalName:

{
  "@type": "Organization",
  "legalName": "Commerce Made Easy for Everyone"
}

legalName must be the actual registered name, not a tagline or description.

Webflow implementation

Static pages

Add to the Organization JSON-LD in Site Settings > Custom Code:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Shopify",
  "legalName": "Shopify Inc.",
  "url": "https://shopify.com"
}
</script>

CMS template pages

For a business directory CMS, add a plain text field called "Legal Name" and bind it:

"legalName": "{{wf {"path":"legal-name"} }}"

In Schema HQ

legalName is emitted in the Organization schema configuration panel alongside name. Enter the registered legal name once and it propagates across all pages using the Organization schema block.

Real examples

Xoo Code Inc.:

{
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Xoo Code Inc.",
  "legalName": "Xoo Code Inc."
}

Stripe :

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Stripe",
  "legalName": "Stripe, Inc.",
  "url": "https://stripe.com",
  "foundingDate": "2010"
}

Related fields

name — trading name, distinct from legal name
alternateName — other names the organization is known by
taxID — tax identification number
leiCode — legal entity identifier
legalAddress — registered legal address
legalRepresentative — authorized legal representative of the organization

FAQ

Is `legalName` required if it is the same as `name`?

No. Google recommends it "if applicable and different from the name property." If your trading name and legal registration are identical, adding legalName is optional but not harmful.

What format should the legal name follow?

Use the exact name as it appears in the official registration document. This includes any legal suffixes: Ltd., Inc., GmbH, S.A., LLC, PLC. Do not abbreviate or expand unless the official name uses that form.

Does `legalName` affect Google Business Profile?

legalName in structured data is independent of Google Business Profile settings. Your GBP trading name should match name, not necessarily legalName. However, consistency between structured data and official records improves entity confidence for Knowledge Graph purposes.