The End of a Personal Domain Era

.name Termination

Based on Hacker News Discussion

1762 Points

02

Understanding .name

A top-level domain designed for individuals

What Was .name?

Launched in 2001 as one of the first gTLDs specifically designed for personal use. It allowed individuals to register domains like firstname.lastname.name, creating a personalized web presence.

A domain space meant for everyone

The Journey of .name

2001

Launch

.name gTLD introduced for personal domains

2007

Acquisition

Verisign acquired .name registry

2025

Delegation

Registry transitioned to Identity Digital

2026

Termination

ICANN approves termination of .name

05

The End of .name

ICANN's decision to retire the gTLD

1762

Hacker News points discussing the termination

A significant community response to the domain's retirement

Key Implications

01

Domain Holders Affected Existing .name domains will need to transition to alternative gTLDs
02

No New Registrations The registry stopped accepting new domain registrations
03

Historical Significance One of the earliest personal-focused gTLDs now discontinued
04

Lessons Learned Challenges in sustaining niche TLDs in competitive markets

Thank You

The story of .name reflects the evolving landscape of internet infrastructure

https://neil.fraser.name/news/2026/09/03/