.name domain search

Put a real identity on a .name domain

Generate ideas, check an exact name or research a shortlist—all scoped to .name.

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About this extension

What is .name?

.name is a restricted generic extension sponsored by VeriSign Information Services, Inc. It is designed around personal names, making it more identity-led than a standard business namespace.

Type
Restricted generic top-level domain

Restricted generic TLD intended for personal names and identities.

Reported snapshot
191K

30 Apr 2026 · ICANN name registry transaction report (202604)

Registration context
191K

30 Apr 2026 · Restricted generic TLD intended for personal names and identities.

The short answer

Is .name a good domain extension?

Choose .name when the person—not a product category—is the durable brand. A professional may still prefer .pro or a country domain if those signals matter more to clients.

Choose .name when

  • Personal websites and portfolios
  • Family or identity projects
  • Personal email and publishing

Consider another extension when

  • You are building a company-first brand
  • The exact personal name is difficult to spell internationally

Research brief

The .name facts that change the decision

This page separates registry policy, public market evidence and registrar pricing. A sample is labeled as a sample; a rule is labeled as a rule; and a checkout quote is never presented as a registry statistic.

Registry operator

VeriSign Information Services, Inc.

The IANA delegation record identifies the sponsoring organisation for this extension.

IANA .name delegation record

Registry path

.name → registry → web address

Policy checked
.name → registry → web addressThe registry sets the namespace policy; the registrar confirms the final availability, price and registration terms.name.nameregistryweb address

The registry sets the namespace policy; the registrar confirms the final availability, price and registration terms.

Market pulse

How .name is moving

Registry totals show the scale and direction of the namespace. They do not predict the value of an individual domain; the change below is calculated from dated registry snapshots.

Year-over-year growth

−3.4%

Registration base compared with the matching reported period one year earlier · 30 Apr 2026

Reported base change

−7.0K

change in the reported base between dated snapshots

.name reported registrations

191K

Dated source record

  1. Earlier198K
  2. Latest191K

The page labels the published dataset exactly as reported. It does not invent a global registration total where the registry has not released a comparable series.

ICANN name registry transaction report (202604)

Familiar in the wild

Who uses .name?

These are recognizable examples, not endorsements or traffic rankings. The useful pattern is how broadly the extension works across industries.

Registry reference

nic.name

Official extension reference

Personal publishing

john.name

Identity-first example

Availability without guesswork

How to find a strong available .name

Treat availability as the start of the decision, not the finish. A usable name also needs to be easy to communicate, defensible and fairly priced.

  1. 01

    Start with a name that earns .name

    Check pronunciation and spelling across the markets where you work; a personal domain should be effortless to pass on verbally.

  2. 02

    Search the exact label first

    Keep the search scoped to this extension, then compare the exact label with closely related endings before accepting a spelling compromise.

  3. 03

    Check rights and pronunciation

    An available result is not trademark clearance. Say the name aloud, check local implications and review the registrar’s final eligibility rules.

Pricing explained

What does a .name domain cost?

The useful number is the full cost of ownership, not the largest promotional figure on a registrar banner.

Lowest verified row: $8.98 for year one

Renews from $9.98

This is the lowest verified provider row, not a recommendation. Compare every available registrar below; a provider gets a price row after its current quote is collected or approved in admin.

NamecheapPromoSource price table
Register$8.98Renew$9.98Transfer$8.98

Standard names only. Prices were source-checked on August 14, 2026; promotional rates, taxes, ICANN fees and premium-name pricing can change at checkout.

Compare the full .name ownership cost

Compare the exact registration and renewal terms; personal-name extensions can have different pricing for second-level formats.

Registration options

Where to register a .name

Compare the final registration, renewal and transfer terms. We prioritize the partner best aligned with this market, but the choice remains yours.

Bluehost is our preferred global partner; Namecheap and HostGator remain available as additional checkouts. Prices are shown only when the provider's current quote is verified, so a missing row never becomes a made-up number.

Some outbound links are affiliate links. FlashDomains may earn a commission without changing your price.

Namecheap

Affiliate

Register $8.98 · renew $9.98

Visit registrar

Bluehost

Affiliate

Our primary global registration partner for generic extensions.

Visit registrar

HostGator

A domain and hosting option; confirm the current renewal price at checkout.

Visit registrar

Domain.com

Search and register on Domain.com's official domain page; confirm current availability and terms there.

Visit registrar

Make the tradeoff visible

.name compared with common alternatives

Comparison of .name with alternative domain extensions
ExtensionRecognitionAvailabilityStrongest fitWatch for
.nameIdentity-ledOften strongIndividuals and portfoliosLess useful for company brands
.comVery highCrowdedBroad commercial and global brandsPremium or awkward remaining names
.orgHighOften betterMission-led and community workMay imply a public-interest purpose
AI naming tools

Use AI for ideas—not fake availability

Copy a focused prompt into your preferred AI assistant, then paste the names it finds into FlashDomains Bulk Search. Test the whole shortlist together—AI can explore language, but live registry and registrar signals confirm domains.

Test names in bulk

Generate .name name ideas

Suggest 20 .name variations for [person or family]. Keep them respectful, easy to spell and free from claims about identity, credentials or availability.

Score a shortlist for clarity

Score these possible .name names: [paste shortlist]. Assess pronunciation, spelling, category fit, unintended meanings and sentence flow. Do not claim availability, trademark clearance or monetary value. Return the strongest three with risks.

Create clean variations

The preferred label [name] is unavailable as a .name. Suggest concise variations that preserve its meaning and suit personal identity, portfolios and family pages. Reject forced spellings, hyphens and numbers. Do not claim availability.

These prompts help generate and evaluate .name ideas. They do not confirm domain availability, trademark status or price.

Direct answers

.name questions

Updated August 15, 2026. Time-sensitive prices and availability must be rechecked at the registrar.

What is a .name domain?

.name is a restricted generic extension sponsored by VeriSign Information Services, Inc. It is designed around personal names, making it more identity-led than a standard business namespace.

How much does a .name domain cost?

There is no universal retail price. Registrars set registration, renewal and transfer pricing, and some names are premium. Compare current rows for the exact name before checkout.

Is FlashDomains the .name registrar?

No. FlashDomains compares availability signals and routes registration actions to a registrar with the searched name filled in. The registrar confirms availability, price and eligibility at checkout.

Who is .name for?

.name is designed for personal names and identities. It can suit a portfolio or personal email, but a company may need a more business-oriented extension.

Continue exploring

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