Why do some countries describe limited liability corporations as “anonymous” or “nameless”?

Question

French: SA = societé anonyme
Spanish: SA = sociedad anónima
Dutch: NV = naamloze venootschap (naamloze = nameless)

What’s the rationale for the use of “anonymous” or “nameless” to describe this type of company?

Other countries use terms with a more understandable logic:
German: GmbH = Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (association with limited liability), or AG = Aktiengesellschaft (Aktien = shares)
Italian: SA = società per azioni (azioni = shares)
Swedish: AB = aktiebolag (aktie = shares)
UK: PLC = Public limited company

Thanks.

Answer 1

This is the idea behind incorporation - that

one is limited to losing only what one invests

in the company. Why incorporate? With no

incorporation the directors are 100% responsible

for company debts.



There also exist companies that

have N.L. (No Liability) as part of their

company title. These are most often mining

companies set up to acknowledge that extracting

wealth from the ground can be a crap shoot -

that all efforts will be made but one can

guarantee nothing.



Ever seen S.A. after Hispanic Companies? It

means Sociedad Anonymous (Nameless Society) -

ie when the COPS call, nobody is home!

call nobody is home.

Answer 2

Chaty is right.

Nameless because incorporation "conceals" partner from liability for corporation debts.



PS: two main kind of limited corporation exist in Italy:

S.p.A. (not "SA") = società per azioni

Srl = società a responsabilità limitata

Answer 3

All an LLC is is a partnership or business with limited liabilities. That means you are using only liable for what you invest or what you and others have agreed on.

Answer 4

I believe they are referring to the use of the company to shield the owners; thus the owners are anonymous and receive liability protection.