Domain name guide

How to find the best domain name

Your domain name is the address people type, share and remember. This guide shows how to find the best domain name for your website, what makes a name strong, the mistakes to avoid, and how to check and register it.

Jump to the stepsCheck a domain

5 chapters, a checklist and a step-by-step method

Why your domain name matters

Your domain is more than a web address. It goes on your email, business cards, ads and social profiles, and it is often the first thing people see of your brand in search results.

A clear name makes people more likely to click, remember and come back by typing it. It does not decide your rankings on its own, but it supports everything else you do to be found.

Key points

  • Easy to remember means more direct visits
  • A clean name looks trustworthy in search results and email
  • It appears on all your marketing, so changing it later is costly

How long a domain name should be

Shorter is better, as long as the name stays clear. Aim for roughly 6 to 15 characters and one to three words. Short names are easier to type on a phone, fit on a logo, and leave less room for typos.

Very short names are mostly taken, so do not chase three letters. A slightly longer name that is easy to say beats a short one nobody can spell.

Key points

  • 6–15 characters and 1–3 words is a good target
  • Clear beats short when you have to choose

Keywords in a domain name

An exact-match keyword domain is not needed to rank. A word that hints at what you do, such as a city or a service, can help people understand the site at a glance, but a brandable name is easier to own and grow.

Use a keyword only when it reads naturally. If adding it makes the name long or awkward, leave it out.

Key points

  • Keywords are optional; clarity is not
  • Brandable names are easier to trademark and stand out with

Choosing the extension

.com is still the extension most people type by default, so it is the safest choice for a business. A .com costs €8.45 for the first year and €11.48 to renew.

If the .com is taken, a country extension suits a local audience, and topic extensions such as .shop or .io can fit a niche. Check the renewal price as well as the first year: 464 extensions renew above their first-year price.

Key points

  • .com first for most businesses
  • Country extensions for a local audience
  • Compare renewal prices, not only the first year
Compare extensions and prices

Protecting your name

Before you register, search the name and trademark databases in your markets. A name close to an existing brand can be taken from you in a domain name dispute.

Once your name matters, register the main extensions and common misspellings and point them to your site. Turn on WHOIS privacy where the registry allows it, and register for several years (up to 10) so the name cannot lapse by accident.

Key points

  • Check trademarks before you buy
  • Register key extensions and typos
  • Use WHOIS privacy and a multi-year term
How domain privacy works

Checklist

Do and avoid.

Run your shortlist through these before you register.

Do

  • Keep it short and brandable

    Easy to remember and to fit on a logo.

    brightloaf.com
  • Use simple words

    If people cannot spell it, they cannot find it.

    greenfield.com
  • Add a keyword only if it fits

    A hint of what you do, without making it long.

    oslobikes.com
  • Start with .com

    Then a country or topic extension if it is taken.

    yourbrand.com

Avoid

  • Hyphens and numbers

    People forget the hyphen or mix up "4" and "for".

    best-4-u-shop.com
  • Double letters

    They invite typos and look like a mistake.

    bakking.com
  • Long phrases

    Hard to type, remember and say.

    thebestcheapflowersonline.com
  • Other brands' names

    A trademark in your domain can cost you the domain.

    brandname-deals.com

Step by step

Find and register your domain in 5 steps.

  1. 1

    Brainstorm

    Write down 10 to 20 words about your brand, product, audience and place, then combine them in pairs.

    Mix brand words with words that describe what you do.

  2. 2

    Shortlist

    Keep the short, clear names. Drop any with hyphens, numbers, double letters or odd spellings.

  3. 3

    Say it aloud

    Read each name to someone once. If they can type it correctly without help, it passes.

    Also check the name is free on the social networks you use.

  4. 4

    Check availability

    Search your favourites across extensions and compare the first-year and renewal price. Good names go quickly, so check early.

    Taken? Try another extension or a short add-on word.

  5. 5

    Register and protect it

    Register for 1 to 10 years, turn on WHOIS privacy, and add the key extensions and typos if your brand needs them.

Check a domainCheck a whole shortlist

Tools

Domain name idea and availability tools

Generate ideas, then check what is free to register.

Keep reading

Related domain guides

FAQ

Questions about finding the best domain name

How do I find the best domain name for my website?

Brainstorm words for your brand, shortlist the short and clear ones, say them aloud, then check which extensions are free. Choose the name that is easiest to remember, spell and type.

Should I include keywords in my domain name?

Only if it reads naturally. Exact-match keywords are not needed to rank; a clear, brandable name matters more.

Which domain extension should I use?

.com for most businesses. If it is taken, a country extension for a local audience or a topic extension for a niche. See the extension comparison.

How long should my domain name be?

About 6 to 15 characters and one to three words, as long as it stays clear.

Can I use numbers or hyphens in my domain?

You can, but it is better not to. People forget hyphens and mix up numbers and words, which sends visitors elsewhere.

How can I check if a domain is available?

Search it in our domain search, which shows every free extension with its first-year and renewal price. For a list of names, use bulk domain search.

Should I register several domains or variations?

If your brand matters, yes: the main extensions for your market and common typos, all pointing to your main site.

What if the domain I want is taken?

Try another extension or add a short word such as "get" or "hq". You can check its expiry date with WHOIS lookup and backorder it in case it lapses.

Found your name? Register it before someone else does.

.com from €8.45 the first year, with free WHOIS privacy where the registry allows it.

Register a domainNeed help choosing?