Picking a domain name for your new business, product or service is often the most challenging part of launching an enterprise. After all, you want a website that is easy to remember, does not have too long a name and will stand out among the crowd of websites on similar topics. The process of picking a name is complicated by the fact that so many domain names have already been taken.
If you want to hand register a domain name (i.e. not buy a domain name from a marketplace), this list of useful tools and websites.
Ajax Whois: This website allows you to type a domain name and see its availability instantly.
Blungr: To use this simple domain name generator, type one or two keywords, choose settings and get the results, including domain name availability.
Bust a Name: After you enter relevant keywords, this tool will try every combination and tell you which domain names are available.
Cool Name Ideas: Three name generators in one — one for naming businesses, one for naming blogs, and one for naming your products and apps.
DomainHole.com: This site’s tools include expired domain search, a name spinner, instant availability check and a name generator. Interviewed by DomainSherpa: “How to Find The Perfect Domain Name for Your Business – with Brad Pineau“.
DomainInferno/: Sift through recently expired, pronounceable domain names. Currently supporting .com, .net, .org and .us top-level domains.
Domai.nr: This tool finds domain names and short URLs. You can instantly check availability and register for all top-level domains. An iPhone app is also available.
Domains Bot: This website provides a name spinner, allowing you to find domain names similar the one you enter. It also allows you to buy available and suggested domain names at third-party aftermarkets.
DomainFinder: This web application will help you find domain name hacks from a suggested word.
DomainNameSoup.com: This website helps with selecting a domain name through its searchable database and name generator.
Domain Puzzler: Four modes for name spinning. Try the “magic” tab for sparkly goodness.
Domain Tools: This tool uses its “name-spinning” semantic domain name technology to suggest up to 100 domain names.
DomainTyper: This tool allows you to type in a domain name and find alternative suggestions and domain name hacks. It also has an iPhone app (https://domaintyper.com/iPhone).
Domize: As soon as you start typing a domain name, a domain name search engine begins looking up its availability. Domize provides a secure search environment, and suggests other, available names similar to your initial request.
Dot-o-mator: Enter a word (or words), choose some endings (or enter your own), then click to combine them. If you see a name you like, you can check its availability or save it to your scratchboard. Also provides a Web 2.0 name generator.
Impossibility!: You provide a keyword and this tool combines it with a selected list of nouns, verbs and adjectives. It then presents the resulting list of unregistered .com domain names.
Instant Domain Search: Ajaxy-search checks availability for .com, .net, .org, .biz, .mobi and .co.
Lean Domain Search: Free, simple, user-friendly way to find great available domain names; pay option exists with more suggestions. Discussed in Developing Software As a Service for Recurring Monthly Income – With Matt Mazur interview.
Nameboy: This website will generate domain names based on the primary or secondary keywords you enter, and gives you the option to allow hyphens and/or rhyming.
NameMesh: Uses synonyms, antonyms, related words and intelligence to help you find and identify unique domain names. It also has options for SEO, branding, phonetic and much more. Definitely worth a try.
NameStall: Generates thousands of keyword rich names for your websites or businesses using your preferred word groups, prefixes or suffixes and you can select your word group, prefix or suffix from more than 180 word groups. Automatically recommends and suggests thousands of amazing and magnificent two words, three words as well as brand able names in five different domain name categories or types.
NameStation: This website includes domain name search tools, a random domain name generator, social naming contests and niche keyword research.
NameThingy: This website helps you create and generate random blog, website and domain names through its keyword generator.
NameVine: Scans .com and .us, as well as major social media handles. Then it suggests alternative domain names that are available.
NXdom: This website provides an interactive search engine for available short domain names. You can search by prefix and suffix, and sort the results by length, readability and popularity.
Panabee: Simple way to search for domain names, app names and company names.
Randomainer: This website provides a domain name research tool that creates phonetic word variations and checks available domain names.
Snapitnow: This website allows you to type in some keywords, select some options (e.g., flip-flop keywords, .com only, etc.) and generate domain name options.
Stuck Domains: This website allows searching of domain names that have recently expired or dropped, with search options like “.com,” “6-letter” and “exclude hyphen.”
Wordoid: A webapp that helps you invent a made-up name that looks nice, contains a word provided by you (optional) and sounds natural in English, Spanish, French, Italian or German.
Missing a tool? Suggest it in the comments below or email our editorial team.
[Image credit: Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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