Maryland Code, CORPORATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS 1-502

Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.

(a) (1) The name of a corporation must include one of the following words or an abbreviation of one of the following words:

(i) “Company”, if it is not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”;

(ii) “Corporation”;

(iii) “Incorporated”; or

(iv) “Limited”.

(2) If a corporation is a benefit corporation, the name of the benefit corporation must include:

(i) The words “benefit corporation”;

(ii) “Benefit Corp.”;

(iii) The words “benefit company”, if not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”; or

(iv) “Benefit Co.”, if not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”.

(b) (1) The name of a limited liability company must include:

(i) The words “limited liability company”;

(ii) “L.L.C.”;

(iii) “LLC”;

(iv) “L.C.”; or

(v) “LC”.

(2) If a limited liability company is a benefit limited liability company, the name of the benefit limited liability company must include:

(i) The words “benefit limited liability company”;

(ii) “Benefit L.L.C.”;

(iii) “Benefit LLC”;

(iv) “Benefit L.C.”; or

(v) “Benefit LC”.

(1) The words “limited liability partnership”;

(2) “L.L.P.”; or

(3) “LLP”.

(d) The name of a limited partnership must include:

(1) The words “limited partnership”;

(2) “L.P.”; or

(3) “LP”.

(e) The name of a limited liability limited partnership must include:

(1) The words “limited liability limited partnership”;

(2) “L.L.L.P.”; or

(3) “LLLP”.

(f) (1) The corporate name of a professional corporation must include:

(i) The word “chartered”;

(ii) The abbreviation “chtd.”;

(iii) The words “professional association”;

(iv) The abbreviation “P.A.”;

(v) The words “professional corporation”; or

(vi) The abbreviation “P.C.”.

(2) A professional corporation need not use any word specified under paragraph (1) of this subsection if:

(i) The corporation has registered the name to be used in the manner provided in § 1-406 of this title; and

(ii) The name is the same as its corporate name except for the allowable omissions.