I'm not offended but if they are not actually crazy, the name is misleading.

Who would it be offensive to?

Well, if they named it after you, Maniac, and you aren't offended, maybe it's ok.

..... very offended

It seems a poor choice of name. Hard to pronounce, little relation to the nature of the business, open to accusations of sexism etc. As far as companies house goes I would have imagined fcuk set something of a precedent for this years ago. Still, a better name can only be a good thing.

Put an apostrophe in and tell them it's named in honour of a tenth century king of England - particularly appropriate if they're selling a range of water resistant clothing.

Still, I congratulate your nephew for perusing a career that will essentially involve lots of days at the beach before concluding we should encourage the creation of new salt marsh.

Octavious - Cnut is related to mitigating the effects of rising sea levels. Just checked and Fcuk Limited was actually only registered in June 2014.

Only last year ofcom criticised Nicole Somethingoranother from the X factor for using the word 'effing' and this week David Cameron says the effing Tories and no one bats an eye when it is shown on prime time BBC. Seems that offensive words can become less offensive, but maybe companies house hasn't caught up.

Cnut, perhaps, Cnuts less so. They are trying to be too clever and it doesn't work. That sort of thing always sounds great when you share it back and forth between a small group of friends connected to the business, but tend to fall flat when exposed to the wider world.

None of this matters. It is a poor name and companies house saying no is a blessing in disguise

As far as the level of offence caused by words go, it does indeed change. But whilst you will not find many who are offended by effing I feel companies house is more in touch with the public than you are regarding cunt and plays on the word. I think only Jeremy Hunt and Berk are publicly acceptable versions of it, and the latter only because people don't know that it is.

Today's BBC news brief:

"The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in conjunction with highly regarded research group Crazy Cnuts Limited, today released a groundbreaking new study on the effects of climate change on the mitigation of rises in sea level in the Thames Estuary..."

It may not be directly offensive but it's not in good taste

As a company with this name, you'd be limiting your revenue/donation options. Not for profit companies typically want to encourage volunteers and charity. Why not have the name for the organization less distasteful and more a name that clearly can be identified with researching rising sea levels. The average person has no idea what Cnut is, so that relationship isn't naturally known in the company name.

The name is the biggest advertisement a company will have.

FCUK YOU! ;)

Crazy Seanuts Limited. Done. You're welcome.

It's also a terrible idea to name a company dedicated to "mitigate rising sea levels" after a king who tried, and *failed*, to command the tides.

@Yaleunc - Perfect!

"How offended are you?"
Rounded to the nearest whole number? 3.

@ tendmote

Cnute's intention was to demonstrate his powers were limited as his closest followers were developing hero worship that disturbed him greatly. It was him saying I am no god, the tide will rise no matter what I do.

In the same way sea levels will rise no matter what we do, as they have done since the beginning of the end of the ice age. Cnut is quite fitting a reference. Or at least he would be if more people knew his story and wordplay that highlights the cunt and downplays the king was avoided.

Especially seeing as he's usually known as "Canute" and Cnut is a bastardised spelling of Knut. Canute or Knut would be fine, Cnut is just highlighting the similarity to Cunt for amusement.

Advise your nephew to try for "Crazzy Knuts" then, Manic.

The extra "z" is to show how crazy they are.

I believe one Sickle is worth five Knuts?

Thanks for the feedback guys. Most people don't get feedback on potential names as they try to register them first to prevent others from getting there first. As it happens Companies House rang today to discuss why they had refused it initially and asked us to make a case for keeping the name. I'll let you know their final decision and pass your comments about wisdom of the name onto my nephew.

I didn't notice the "cunt" suggestion until it was pointed out.

Out of interest, tendmote, how did you imagine it sounded when you read it?

I read it as a double entendre where Cnuts was supposed to be "nuts", i.e. like "crazy", with the additional King Canute reference.

The problem with this name is it:

1) Suggests Cnuts = nuts for a "crazy" joke
2) Suggests King Canute, who could not command the tides
3) Suggests "Cunt"

There are problems will all of these.

1) Cnuts nuts crazy isn't a good joke
2) If the company has something to do with sea levels rising, why is it advertising a legendary example of futility in this area with the King Canute thing
3) Cunt isn't a word you throw around if you want to be taken seriously

Anyway, the name is trying to do too many things at the same time, and it doesn't do any of them well at all.