How to Choose a Good Domain Name: 10 Rules

Your domain name is your address and your brand. A good name is easy to remember, easy to type without errors, and keeps you out of legal trouble. Here are 10 concrete rules to choose well.

The 10 rules

1. Short: aim for under 15 characters. The shorter, the more memorable and easier to type.
2. Easy to say and spell: if you have to spell it out loud, it's too complicated.
3. No hyphens or numbers if possible: my-site-2 is hard to remember and looks less serious.
4. Avoid homophones and ambiguous double letters (e.g. express vs expres).
5. Pronounceable and "brandable": an invented but sonorous name (think "Stripe", "Notion") ages well.
6. Think light SEO: a keyword can help, but brand beats keyword-stuffing.
7. Check trademarks: don't pick a name close to an existing brand (legal risk).
8. Check social handles: ideally the same handle is free across platforms.
9. Pick the right extension: .com by default, your ccTLD for a local business (see our extensions guide).
10. Plan ahead: a too-niche name can limit growth. Leave room to evolve.

The perfect name is taken: what now?

• Change extension: .io, .co, your ccTLD instead of .com.
• Add a word: a verb (get, try, go), an industry, your city.
• Invent: tweak the spelling slightly to create a unique brand.
• Look at resale if the name is strategic (domain marketplaces).

DomaineScan automates all this: if your name is taken, it instantly proposes available alternatives (other extensions and variants) with their price.

The mistake not to make

Falling in love with a name before checking its availability, its price (premium?) and the absence of a trademark conflict. Verify first, get attached second.

In short

A good domain name is short, clear, brandable and legally safe. Check availability and real price before you commit, and keep alternatives handy — DomaineScan provides them live.