How to choose a great domain name
- Pass the radio test. Say it out loud once. If someone could type it after hearing it, it works. Avoid words with several spellings (four, for, 4).
- Keep it short. Names under 12 letters are easier to remember and type on a phone. Every brand score in the tool rewards short, easy-to-say names.
- Make it ownable. Invented and compound names (Spotify, Mailchimp) are easier to trademark and less likely to clash with an existing business than plain descriptive words.
- Skip hyphens and numbers unless you have to; people forget them.
- Check the handles too. Matching Instagram, TikTok and X usernames make you easier to find.
.com or another extension?
.com is still the one people type by default, so take it if it’s free and fits your budget. If it’s taken, a clear name on another extension beats an awkward .com:
| Extension | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| .com | Any business or brand | The default people type; most short words are taken. |
| .io, .ai, .dev, .app | Tech products, startups, AI tools | .io and .ai cost more per year. .dev and .app only load over HTTPS, which every modern host supports. |
| .co | Startups and companies | Short and familiar, but people sometimes type .com by mistake. |
| .shop, .store | Online shops | Tell visitors straight away that you sell things. |
| .org | Charities, communities, open projects | Anyone can register one. |
| Country (.uk, .ca, .de, .in, .pk…) | Businesses serving one country | Some, like .ca, .us and .eu, need you to live or trade there. |
What a domain really costs
The first-year price is often a discount; the renewal price is what you pay every year after. Our results show both. As of October 2026, the registry and ICANN fees for a .com add up to about $10.46 a year, and they rise from time to time, so a .com renewal far above $11–12 is mostly the registrar’s markup. Some names are premium: the registry charges more for them, and the registrar shows that price at checkout.
How we check availability
For each name we ask the registry that runs the extension, using RDAP, the official replacement for WHOIS. If the registry has no record, the name isn’t registered. A few registries (such as .co and .de) don’t offer a public lookup; for those we check DNS instead and mark the result “probably free”, so confirm it at the registrar. Results are cached for a short time, so a name registered minutes ago can still show as free.
Before you register
- Search the name with “trademark” and your industry, and check your country’s trademark office (USPTO in the US).
- Make sure no nearby business uses a similar name.
- Grab the matching social handles with the username generator.
- Turn on auto-renew and keep the domain in an account you control.
Name ideas are suggestions, not legal advice. Availability can change at any moment until you complete a registration.
Related generators
- Domain Name Generator: Brandable names with live availability and prices.
- Business Name Generator: Company, shop and brand name ideas.
- Username Generator: Cool, cute, aesthetic and gamer usernames.
Questions people ask
What does “probably free” mean?
A few registries, such as .co and .de, don’t offer a public lookup. For those we check DNS: if no website or email uses the name it is probably free, but confirm it at the registrar.
The domain is taken. What now?
Try another extension, add a short word (get, try, hq), or use a similar name from the suggestions. You can also see who registered it in ICANN’s lookup and ask whether they’d sell.
Why does a free domain cost more at checkout?
Some names are premium: the registry sets a higher price for them. Registrars show that price before you pay.
Formula checked October 2026 · How we calculate