# Domain Search King

> Full agent bundle. The homepage section was regenerated from source on 2026-10-22 with the search widget left out. The other sections are the markdown pages as baked that day. Each section keeps its own Canonical HTML line. Availability text is an editorial snapshot, not a live registration guarantee.


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# Free Domain Name Generator — Registry-Checked .com, .net

Canonical HTML: https://domainsearchking.com/

Availability: this text is an editorial snapshot, not a current registration guarantee. Use the [live domain checker](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) or [MCP](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) before treating a name as available. Registry errors mean unknown, not available.

Updated October 5, 2026

Enter a keyword or a short description. We generate .com names, **check each one against the registry** and show only those it reports available. Switch off .com only to add .net, .io, .co and .org.

## How this free domain name generator works

Type a keyword such as "candle", or a sentence about the business such as "late-night coffee roaster that ships beans". A keyword returns two kinds of names: blends that keep your word, like YourCoffeeWorks, and coined names written by AI naming styles. A sentence switches on AI mode, which writes names from the description. Many results are made-up words, and [invented names vs keyword domains](https://domainsearchking.com/invented-names-vs-keyword-domains) explains when that helps and when an exact keyword is worth more.

1.  The engine writes candidate names for your keyword or description.
2.  Each .com is looked up over RDAP, the protocol registries use to publish registration data. Verisign runs the .com and .net registries. A "not found" answer (HTTP 404) means no registration exists; a 200 answer means the name is registered.
3.  Registered names are dropped. If a lookup fails or is rate-limited, the name is marked unverified instead of available.
4.  With ".com only" switched off, the same names are also checked on .net, .io, .co and .org, so a free alternative appears when the .com is gone.
5.  Clicking a result runs a fresh lookup on the extension shown, right before you decide.

Popular keywords are answered from a cache so the first results load faster. Those names were checked when the cache was written, up to about 30 hours earlier. After showing them, the page rechecks them in the background and removes any that have since been registered. The full list of controls is on the [features page](https://domainsearchking.com/features), and the [Namelix alternative](https://domainsearchking.com/namelix-alternative) page compares this tool with Namelix.

## Example: a "coffee" search on 15 October 2026

On 2026-10-15 the cache entry for "coffee", written at 11:00 UTC, held 18 AI-written names and 63 keyword blends. At 23:24 UTC the same day we looked up the 18 AI names again on Verisign's .com RDAP server (rdap.verisign.com). All 18 still returned 404. The obvious dictionary names returned 200:

| Name | Kind | RDAP answer, 2026-10-15 23:24 UTC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| coffee.com | Exact keyword | 200, registered |
| coffeeshop.com | Keyword + noun | 200, registered |
| coffeehouse.com | Keyword + noun | 200, registered |
| brewhouse.com | Related word | 200, registered |
| emberoast.com | AI-written | 404, not found |
| tidebrew.com | AI-written | 404, not found |
| roastvine.com | AI-written | 404, not found |
| duskbean.com | AI-written | 404, not found |
| mochasong.com | AI-written | 404, not found |

Short dictionary .coms for common trades were registered years ago, which is why the useful results for a word like "coffee" are blends and coined names. Not every coined name is a good one: coffese and coffara, also in that batch, sit close enough to "coffee" that people may mistype them. This was one keyword rechecked once, 12 hours after caching, so read it as an illustration of the process and not as a success rate.

## Why AI chat tools suggest taken names

A chat model does not query the registry unless it is given a lookup tool, so a name that sounds unclaimed may have been registered for years. For the [AI Domain Hallucination Index](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index) we asked 10 models for available .com names in a run on 2026-09-01 and checked all 2,449 picks over RDAP. 30.5% were available and 69.5% were already taken. Results by model:

| Model | Picks checked | Available |
| --- | --- | --- |
| claude-sonnet-5 | 287 | 50.5% |
| claude-opus-4.8 | 287 | 46.0% |
| gpt-5.6-luna | 288 | 38.2% |
| deepseek-v4-pro | 291 | 32.6% |
| gemini-2.5-pro (small sample) | 41 | 31.7% |
| mistral-nemo | 168 | 31.0% |
| gemini-3-flash-preview | 288 | 22.9% |
| hermes-3-llama-3.1-70b | 247 | 21.9% |
| llama-3.1-8b-instruct | 270 | 21.1% |
| claude-haiku-4.5 | 282 | 8.2% |

Even the best model in that run handed back a taken name about half the time. Our MCP server uses the same naming engine as this page and checks names before returning them; in a June 2026 test, 75 of 76 names it returned (98.7%) were still available on recheck. That test measured MCP output only, and this page has not been tested separately. If a chatbot already gave you a list, [checking AI-suggested names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-suggested-domain-taken) shows how to run them through the registry.

## What "available" means on this page

An available result means the registry had no record of the name when it was checked. Three limits apply. First, the check is a snapshot and reserves nothing, so someone else can register the name a minute later; click the result to recheck it just before you buy. Second, a registrar can still refuse or reprice a name. Verisign charges registrars one wholesale fee for every new .com, so an unregistered .com normally sells at the registrar's standard rate (first-year promotions and renewal prices still vary by registrar), but some other extensions put premium prices on unregistered names, and a few names are reserved and cannot be registered at all. The price at checkout is the final answer. Third, availability says nothing about trademarks, so run a [domain trademark check](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-trademark-check) before you build a brand on a name.

RDAP is the lookup the registries themselves publish. Since 28 January 2025, ICANN has named RDAP the definitive source for generic top-level domain registration data in place of WHOIS ([ICANN announcement](https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-update-launching-rdap-sunsetting-whois-27-01-2025-en), fetched 15 October 2026), which is why this tool reads RDAP and not WHOIS. You can run the same lookup by hand; [how to check if a domain name is taken](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-check-if-a-domain-name-is-taken) walks through it.

## How do I pick a name from the list?

1.  Say the name to someone and ask them to type it. If they misspell it, people who hear it will land elsewhere.
2.  Sort by Shortest. Shorter names are easier to say, type and fit on a logo.
3.  Use Starts with, Contains or Ends with to keep your keyword in a fixed position.
4.  Save candidates with the heart, then click each one to recheck it before buying.
5.  Compare renewal prices as well as the first-year price. Register links are affiliate links, so check prices on your own too.

The [cheapest .com registrar comparison](https://domainsearchking.com/cheapest-com-domain-registrar) lists first-year and renewal prices side by side. If the .com you wanted is gone, read [.net vs .com](https://domainsearchking.com/net-vs-com) and [.io vs .com](https://domainsearchking.com/io-vs-com) before settling for another extension, or try the [options for a taken domain](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-taken). For naming rules beyond this list, see [how to choose a domain name](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-choose-a-domain-name).

## The same checks for AI agents

The [Domain Search King MCP server](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) exposes the naming and RDAP checks as tools, so an assistant such as Claude can propose names that were looked up before it shows them. Without an account, the server allows 10 tool calls per IP address per day. To look up a single name yourself, use [verify a domain](https://domainsearchking.com/verify); for calls from your own code, see the [domain availability API](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-availability-api).

## Free domain name generator FAQs

### What is Domain Search King?

A free domain name generator that looks up every suggested .com against the registry before showing it, so the list holds names the registry reported as unregistered at check time.

### Is this domain name generator free?

Yes, with no signup. AI naming is capped at 100 requests per IP address per day, and one search uses about 5, so the cap allows roughly 20 searches a day. Rechecking a result by clicking it uses a separate lookup endpoint and does not count toward the cap.

### How does the free generator check availability?

Every suggested name is checked against the registry via RDAP before it is shown, and names reported as taken are filtered out. For popular keywords, the first results can come from a check made up to about 30 hours earlier; the page rechecks those names in the background and drops any now reported as taken.

### How is this different from ChatGPT or other AI name generators?

Chat models write names from patterns in their training data and, without a lookup tool, never ask the registry. This page asks the registry about each name before you see it. Per-model results are in the table above and in the [AI Domain Hallucination Index](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index).

### Can a name shown as available be gone when I try to buy it?

Yes. A lookup is a snapshot, and anyone can register the name after it. Cached results can be up to about 30 hours old before the background recheck runs. Click the name to run a fresh lookup just before you open the registrar.

### Does it check .net and other extensions?

Results are .com by default. Switch off ".com only" and the same names are also checked on .net, .io, .co and .org. Lookups go through our RDAP proxy, with Verisign's own RDAP server as the fallback for .com and .net.

### What if my favorite name is already taken?

Search again with a one-sentence description instead of a single keyword; AI mode writes a different set of names from it. If you are attached to the exact name, [7 ways to work around a taken name](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-taken) covers prefixes, other extensions and buying from the current owner.

## Related tools & guides

[AI agency names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-agency-name-generator) [Shopify domain generator](https://domainsearchking.com/shopify-name-generator) [AI taken rescue](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-suggested-domain-taken) [Hallucination index](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index) [AI domain generator](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-domain-name-generator) [AI business names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-business-name-generator) [Namelix alternative](https://domainsearchking.com/namelix-alternative) [Domain taken?](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-taken) [Verify a domain](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) [Catchy domain name ideas](https://domainsearchking.com/catchy-domain-name-ideas) [Available one-word .coms](https://domainsearchking.com/available-one-word-domains) [Invented vs keyword names](https://domainsearchking.com/invented-names-vs-keyword-domains) [Auto repair names](https://domainsearchking.com/auto-repair-business-names) [How to choose a domain name](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-choose-a-domain-name) [How to check if a domain is taken](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-check-if-a-domain-name-is-taken) [MCP for agents](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) [Niche ideas](https://domainsearchking.com/ideas) [Features](https://domainsearchking.com/features) [About](https://domainsearchking.com/about) [Shopify name taken?](https://domainsearchking.com/is-shopify-store-name-taken)

-----

# About Domain Search King — Verified-Available Domains

Canonical HTML: https://domainsearchking.com/about

Availability: this text is an editorial snapshot, not a current registration guarantee. Use the [live domain checker](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) or [MCP](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) before treating a name as available. Registry errors mean unknown, not available.

About

A domain search tool and MCP server that checks registry availability instead of treating generated names as available.

## What Domain Search King is

Domain Search King is a free domain search tool and a [Model Context Protocol (MCP) server](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp). Describe your business on [the homepage](https://domainsearchking.com/) to generate .com names, or enable other supported extensions. Suggestions are filtered through registry availability checks. Cached results may appear first while they are rechecked; confirm availability and price before buying.

## The core promise: verified, not guessed

Generated names are ideas, not proof of availability. Our [AI Domain Hallucination Index](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index) records 2,449 checks across ten models on September 1, 2026: 30.5% were available. DSK adds registry checks to the naming process instead of asking you to trust an unchecked suggestion.

**Check freshness before buying.** The homepage keyword cache can be up to 30 hours old before a background recheck. Registry-proxy answers can be up to 10 minutes old for available names and 24 hours for taken names. Cached page snapshots retain their check time. No result reserves a domain.

## What backs the promise

Three things back the promise above, and all three are things you can check yourself rather than take our word for:

-   **Live RDAP registry checks.** New candidate domains pass registry checks; cached results have a separate freshness window. You can run the same check on any domain yourself with the free [domain verifier](https://domainsearchking.com/verify).
-   **The AI Domain Hallucination Index.** A published benchmark of how often popular AI models hallucinate domain availability, so the claim above is testable rather than asserted. It's also why we built a resource on [what to do when a domain you want is already taken](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-taken) — with real fallback options instead of another guess.
-   **A domain-authority and backlink webgraph.** A backlink and domain-authority graph used to assess domain quality alongside availability checks. Backlink signals do not guarantee rankings.

## Who it's for

Founders and indie hackers naming a new company, developers who want available-domain suggestions inside their own tools, and increasingly AI agents themselves. Domain Search King ships as [a remote MCP server](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp), so Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, or any MCP-compatible client can call a tool and get back names that are already registrable — instead of hallucinating a list and leaving a human to check each one by hand. Public tools have usage limits. Availability can change between a check and a registration attempt, so agents should preserve unknown/error results and avoid purchase guarantees.

## How we make money

Domain Search King is affiliate-only, and we'd rather say so plainly than bury it in a footer. When you click through to register a domain we found for you, the link goes to Namecheap through their affiliate program via Impact. If you register through that link, we may earn a commission — at no additional cost to you; the price you pay is the same either way. We don't accept payment to rank one candidate above another, and the availability check itself doesn't change based on where you'd ultimately register. There's no premium tier that unlocks "more accurate" results — the RDAP check behind every free search is the same check behind every paid registration link.

## Contact

Questions, a bug to report, or high-volume/commercial [MCP](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) access — reach us at [hello@domainsearchking.com](mailto:hello@domainsearchking.com).

### See it work

Search a name and watch the live checks run, or add the MCP to your AI agent.

[Search domains](https://domainsearchking.com/)[Add the MCP](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp)

## Related tools & guides

[Live search](https://domainsearchking.com/) [AI domain generator](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-domain-name-generator) [AI business names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-business-name-generator) [AI agency names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-agency-name-generator) [Shopify names](https://domainsearchking.com/shopify-name-generator) [Namelix alternative](https://domainsearchking.com/namelix-alternative) [AI taken rescue](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-suggested-domain-taken) [Domain taken?](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-taken) [Verify a domain](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) [Hallucination index](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index) [Catchy ideas](https://domainsearchking.com/catchy-domain-name-ideas) [One-word .coms](https://domainsearchking.com/available-one-word-domains) [How to choose](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-choose-a-domain-name) [How to check taken](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-check-if-a-domain-name-is-taken) [MCP for agents](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) [Niche ideas](https://domainsearchking.com/ideas) [Features](https://domainsearchking.com/features) [Shopify name taken?](https://domainsearchking.com/is-shopify-store-name-taken)

## Frequently asked questions

**What is Domain Search King?** A domain search tool and MCP server with registry availability checks. The homepage searches .com first; other supported extensions are optional. Results can be cached.

**Is it free?** Yes. Search, naming, and live checks are free. Register links are affiliate links.


-----

# Domain Search King Features — AI Naming, Live Availability

Canonical HTML: https://domainsearchking.com/features

Availability: this text is an editorial snapshot, not a current registration guarantee. Use the [live domain checker](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) or [MCP](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) before treating a name as available. Registry errors mean unknown, not available.

Features

Find registry-checked names and narrow down your shortlist. Search .com first; other supported extensions are available through the search controls and MCP tools.

## The core difference

✅

### Live availability — you only see registrable names

New suggestions pass registry availability checks. Saved results may appear while they are rechecked, and proxy answers can be cached. Confirm availability and price before buying. The [published historical DSK comparator reports 98.7% registrable](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index), but its sample size is absent from the public CSV. Raw model suggestions in the September 1, 2026 run ranged from 8.2% to 50.5% available. These figures are not a guarantee for a new search.

our moat

## Naming

🧠

### AI names shaped to your business

Describe what you do — "a late-night specialty coffee roaster" — and the AI generates brandable names that fit, then filters to only the available ones.

🎭

### Rotating expert lenses

Eight naming styles: Poet, Couturier, Street, Botanist, Chemist, Explorer, Mythologist and Zoologist. The first style matches your keyword, such as Couturier for skincare. “Give me more” rotates to the next style.

🔤

### Starts-with / contains / ends-with

Results grouped by structure so you can zero in on the shape you want — a strong prefix, a keyword in the middle, or a clean ending.

♥

### Save your favorites

Heart the names you like and keep them in one place as you explore — no copy-pasting into a notes app.

## When your first choice is taken

🌐

### Multi-TLD rescue

Toggle off ".com only" and we surface the same name on .io, .co, .net, and .org when the .com is gone — so a great name isn't a dead end. See [all 7 moves for when your first choice is taken](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-taken).

🏭

### Industry idea pages

Explore [294 industry generators](https://domainsearchking.com/ideas), including coffee shops, law firms, SaaS and bakeries. Of these, 100 are selected for the sitemap. Names are checked when a page is generated; cached pages can be older, so confirm with the registrar before buying.

## For developers & AI agents

🔌

### Free MCP server

Wire verified-available domains into Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, or any agent with one connector URL — no API key. [Set it up →](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp)

📊

### The Hallucination Index

Our published benchmark of how often AI models suggested already-taken domains in dated runs. [See the data →](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index)

## Find a name you can actually use

[Start searching](https://domainsearchking.com/) [Use the MCP](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp)

## Related tools & guides

[Live search](https://domainsearchking.com/) [AI domain generator](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-domain-name-generator) [AI business names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-business-name-generator) [AI agency names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-agency-name-generator) [Shopify names](https://domainsearchking.com/shopify-name-generator) [Namelix alternative](https://domainsearchking.com/namelix-alternative) [AI taken rescue](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-suggested-domain-taken) [Domain taken?](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-taken) [Verify a domain](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) [Hallucination index](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index) [Catchy ideas](https://domainsearchking.com/catchy-domain-name-ideas) [One-word .coms](https://domainsearchking.com/available-one-word-domains) [How to choose](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-choose-a-domain-name) [How to check taken](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-check-if-a-domain-name-is-taken) [MCP for agents](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) [Niche ideas](https://domainsearchking.com/ideas) [About](https://domainsearchking.com/about) [Shopify name taken?](https://domainsearchking.com/is-shopify-store-name-taken)

## Frequently asked questions

**What does Domain Search King actually check?** Registry availability through RDAP and, where needed, registry WHOIS. Results can be cached; a check does not reserve a name or establish its price.

**Is the MCP free?** Yes. The remote MCP at /api/mcp is free for public naming and availability tools.


-----

# Domain Search MCP — Live Availability for AI Agents

Canonical HTML: https://domainsearchking.com/mcp

Availability: this text is an editorial snapshot, not a current registration guarantee. Use the [live domain checker](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) or [MCP](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) before treating a name as available. Registry errors mean unknown, not available.

Remote MCP · Streamable HTTP

One URL. No API key for public tools. Generate .com names or check supported extensions through registry RDAP and WHOIS. Available proxy answers can be up to 10 minutes old; confirm at the registrar before buying.

`https://domainsearchking.com/api/mcp` 

[Add to Cursor](https://cursor.com/en/install-mcp?name=domain-search-king&config=eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2RvbWFpbnNlYXJjaGtpbmcuY29tL2FwaS9tY3AifQ==) Add to VS Code [Try in browser](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp#demo)

No API key Streamable HTTP 10 calls/day free RDAP, not WHOIS

Domain Search King is a remote MCP server for agents that need domain suggestions with registry checks. Endpoint: `https://domainsearchking.com/api/mcp`. Use `find_available_domains` for a business idea, `find_available_domains_by_pattern` for keyword patterns, or `check_domain` for one domain. Public search tools need no API key. Availability is time-sensitive; an inconclusive check is not an available result. Registrar price and trademark clearance are separate checks.

Our published historical benchmark reports 98.7% registrable results; its public CSV does not provide the comparator sample size. In our [Hallucination Index](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index) (2,449 live RDAP checks, 10 models), up to 92% of model-suggested “available” .coms were already taken.

Connect

## Install the way your client actually works.

JSON shapes still differ by host. Pick yours. Same endpoint everywhere.

```
claude mcp add --transport http domain-search-king https://domainsearchking.com/api/mcp
```

Then restart the session and ask it to name something. No OAuth. No env vars.

[One-click Cursor install](https://cursor.com/en/install-mcp?name=domain-search-king&config=eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2RvbWFpbnNlYXJjaGtpbmcuY29tL2FwaS9tY3AifQ==) · or paste into `~/.cursor/mcp.json`

```
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "domain-search-king": {
      "url": "https://domainsearchking.com/api/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

Command Palette → `MCP: Add Server` → HTTP, or this deeplink if Copilot Agent is on.

```
{
  "servers": {
    "domain-search-king": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://domainsearchking.com/api/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

Claude Desktop / claude.ai: **Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector**. Name it Domain Search King. URL:

```
https://domainsearchking.com/api/mcp
```

ChatGPT Developer Mode / connectors: add a remote MCP server with this URL. Same JSON-RPC as Claude.

```
https://domainsearchking.com/api/mcp
```

Grok chat: [grok.com/connectors](https://grok.com/connectors) → New Connector → Custom → paste the URL. Grok Build CLI:

```
grok mcp add --transport http domain-search-king https://domainsearchking.com/api/mcp

# xAI SDK / Responses API:
# tools=[mcp(server_url="https://domainsearchking.com/api/mcp")]
```

Remote HTTP only (this server already is). No API key on our side. Localhost URLs will be rejected — use this public URL.

DeepSeek, Llama, Qwen, etc. are models, not MCP clients. Wire the **host**: Open WebUI (Admin → Integrations → MCP Streamable HTTP), Continue, Cline, DeepSeek Harness, LibreChat. Same URL. OpenClaw: [ClawHub listing](https://clawhub.ai/johnsmalls22-rgb/skills/dsk-available-domains).

```
npx add-mcp https://domainsearchking.com/api/mcp --name domain-search-king

# OpenClaw / ClawHub (live):
clawhub install dsk-available-domains

# Any HTTP MCP client:
POST https://domainsearchking.com/api/mcp
Content-Type: application/json
```

Skill file: [/skill.md](https://domainsearchking.com/skill.md) · server card: [/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json](https://domainsearchking.com/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json)

Tools

## Three tools your agent can call

Paste a prompt into the agent after install. Never tell a human a name is free unless one of these returned it.

### find\_available\_domains

Brandable .coms from a keyword + optional description. Live RDAP before return. count 1–24.

“Find 8 available .coms for a late-night coffee roaster.”

### find\_available\_domains\_by\_pattern

Starts / ends / contains across TLDs. Default .com + .net. The sweep most domain MCPs skip.

“Every available .com and .net starting with bear.”

### check\_domain

One hostname: RDAP age/expiry, backlinks, toxic flags, Wayback, trademark links. No fake score.

“Is oakbear.net free at the registry, not WHOIS?”

Inspector

## Call it from this page.

Same JSON-RPC your agent posts. No signup. RDAP takes a few seconds.

Honest limits

## What this is not.

### Not a WHOIS wrapper

Availability uses registry RDAP and, where needed, registry WHOIS. Cached available answers can be up to 10 minutes old. A parked web page does not establish availability. Preserve unknown/error results if a check fails.

### Not a trademark search

Available ≠ clear to use. `check_domain` links trademark search; it does not grant a mark. The human still registers at a registrar.

### Not unlimited

Public tier: 10 tool calls/day per IP, no key. High-volume / embedded: hello@domainsearchking.com. Web search on the site is also free.

### Not a local npx install

Remote only: Streamable HTTP at `/api/mcp`. GET that URL for server info + tool names. POST for JSON-RPC.

FAQ

## Straight answers.

### How do I add this in 30 seconds?

Cursor or VS Code: buttons at the top. Claude Code: `claude mcp add --transport http domain-search-king https://domainsearchking.com/api/mcp`. Grok: [grok.com/connectors](https://grok.com/connectors) → Custom, or `grok mcp add --transport http domain-search-king https://domainsearchking.com/api/mcp`. Claude Desktop: Connectors → custom → that URL.

### Why not just ask Claude if the name is free?

Without a registry lookup, a generated name is not proof of availability. Our [dated benchmark](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index) found model availability from 8.2% to 50.5%. The historical DSK comparator reports 98.7% with no public sample size; it is not a guarantee for this MCP call.

### Which TLDs?

`find_available_domains` returns brandable .coms. Pattern search defaults to .com and .net, and can enumerate .org, .io, .co, .info.

### MCP or REST?

MCP for agents. REST if you own HTTP: `/api/names?q=` and `/api/check?domain=`. Same RDAP path.


-----

# Check Domain Availability — Free Live RDAP Lookup

Canonical HTML: https://domainsearchking.com/verify

Availability: this text is an editorial snapshot, not a current registration guarantee. Use the [live domain checker](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) or [MCP](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) before treating a name as available. Registry errors mean unknown, not available.

Free domain verifier

Paste a domain to check its registration status. AI tools can suggest names that are already taken: our [September 2026 benchmark](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index) found about 92% taken for the weakest model, not across all suggestions.

We request a registry check when you click. A lookup can be inconclusive, and it does not establish the registrar price. Register links are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

## What a domain availability result means

Domain Search King checks registration records through RDAP. [ICANN describes the RDAP protocol](https://www.icann.org/rdap) and registration-data lookup. The result has three possible states:

| Result | Meaning | Next step |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Registered | A registration record exists. | Choose an alternative or investigate the current owner. |
| Available | The supported registry checks indicate no registration; some extensions need additional confirmation. | Confirm purchasability and the actual price at a registrar. |
| Unknown | The registry lookup failed, the extension is unsupported, or confirmation was inconclusive. | Retry or check the registry and registrar directly. |

Registration status does not establish trademark clearance. A page snapshot or AI suggestion cannot reserve a domain. Recheck immediately before purchase.

## Why generated names need a registry check

A model can generate a plausible name without checking whether someone owns it. The [AI Domain Hallucination Index](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index) explains the dated experiment and its limits.

## FAQ

### Why do I need to double-check a domain an AI gave me?

A generated name without a registry lookup is not evidence of availability. The September 1, 2026 benchmark checked 2,449 suggestions across ten models: 30.5% were available overall. See the [AI Domain Hallucination Index](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index) for model rates and limitations.

### How does this check work?

We request a registration-status lookup when you check. The result may be registered, available or unknown. A lookup does not reserve the domain or establish the registrar price.

### What if the domain is taken?

We'll suggest real, currently-available alternatives built from the same keyword using our AI naming engine — verified live, not guessed. Or browse [the 7 moves that fix it](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-taken) for the full playbook.

## Related tools & guides

[AI taken rescue](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-suggested-domain-taken) [7 fixes when taken](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-taken) [Hallucination index](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index) [Live search](https://domainsearchking.com/) [AI domain generator](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-domain-name-generator) [AI business names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-business-name-generator) [AI agency names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-agency-name-generator) [Shopify names](https://domainsearchking.com/shopify-name-generator) [Namelix alternative](https://domainsearchking.com/namelix-alternative) [Catchy ideas](https://domainsearchking.com/catchy-domain-name-ideas) [One-word .coms](https://domainsearchking.com/available-one-word-domains) [How to choose](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-choose-a-domain-name) [How to check taken](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-check-if-a-domain-name-is-taken) [MCP for agents](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) [Niche ideas](https://domainsearchking.com/ideas) [Features](https://domainsearchking.com/features) [About](https://domainsearchking.com/about) [Shopify name taken?](https://domainsearchking.com/is-shopify-store-name-taken)


-----

# AI Domain Hallucination Index: 92% Taken

Canonical HTML: https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index

Availability: this text is an editorial snapshot, not a current registration guarantee. Use the [live domain checker](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) or [MCP](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) before treating a name as available. Registry errors mean unknown, not available.

A Domain Search King study · 2,449 live RDAP checks · run 2026-09-01

Reviewed by Domain Search King · September 2026 dataset · Copy reviewed October 20, 2026

We prompted leading models for “available” .com domain names, the exact thing a founder types, then checked every suggestion against the live registry. The names that sound free are the ones that sold years ago.

Live RDAP against the registry, the same check used in the study below. Do not brand a name until this returns available.

Results reflect registry checks when generated; confirm availability and price before buying · .com first · Register links may earn us a commission at no cost to you. [Learn more](https://domainsearchking.com/privacy)

Ask ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or DeepSeek for an available .com and you will get a confident list. Without a registry lookup, those suggestions are not evidence of availability. They predict a name that _sounds_ available. We measured how often that guess is wrong.

This page is the **AI Domain Hallucination Index**: 2,449 suggestions from 10 models, run on 2026-09-01, each checked live via RDAP against the authoritative .com registry. “Available” means the registry returned no active registration at check time. [Verify a name the AI just gave you](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index#verifybox), or [generate live-available .coms](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index#generator) with the same RDAP check. The [AI domain name generator](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-domain-name-generator) and [how to check if a domain is taken](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-check-if-a-domain-name-is-taken) use that check too.

**2,449** AI-suggested .coms checked live

**up to 92%** already registered on the leaderboard

**98.7%** historical DSK comparator; sample size unpublished

## The leaderboard

Each model was asked for hundreds of supposedly-available .com domains. The percentage is how many of those picks were free to register. Overall, **30.5%** of the 2,449 suggestions were actually available. The best model in this run, `anthropic/claude-sonnet-5`, still only managed 50.5%, roughly even odds. The weakest, `anthropic/claude-haiku-4.5`, was 8.2% (about 92% already taken). `n` is how many verified suggestions each model contributed; `google/gemini-2.5-pro` is shown for completeness but was rate-limited to a sample too small to rank.

| Model | Actually available | n |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Domain Search King our tool | 98.7% |  |
| anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 | 50.5% | 287 |
| anthropic/claude-opus-4.8 | 46% | 287 |
| openai/gpt-5.6-luna | 38.2% | 288 |
| deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro-0813 | 32.6% | 291 |
| google/gemini-2.5-pro low sample | 31.7% | 41 |
| mistralai/mistral-nemo | 31% | 168 |
| google/gemini-3-flash-preview | 22.9% | 288 |
| nousresearch/hermes-3-llama-3.1-70b | 21.9% | 247 |
| meta-llama/llama-3.1-8b-instruct | 21.1% | 270 |
| anthropic/claude-haiku-4.5 | 8.2% | 282 |

Raw leaderboard CSV: [ai-hallucination-index.csv](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index.csv) (CC BY 4.0). DeepSeek’s row is 32.6% available on the same method. [Full write-up](https://domainsearchking.com/why-deepseek-suggests-taken-domains).

### Paste the name the model gave you

Check it live, or generate names that pass the registry before they reach the screen.

[Verify a domain →](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index#verifybox) [Generate available names →](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index#generator)

## Where AI wastes your time most

The miss rate is not even. Across all 10 models, retail and professional-services names are the dead ends — online store, SaaS and consulting sit at the bottom, and they are the searches founders actually type. Trades and lifestyle niches do far better. The published Domain Search King comparator is 98.7%; the public CSV does not disclose its sample size or establish that rate for every niche.

| Business type | AI picks free to register |
| --- | --- |
| Online store | 10.6% |
| SaaS startup | 17.4% |
| Consulting firm | 19.0% |
| Restaurant | 21.8% |
| Law firm | 26.4% |
| Coffee shop | 39.0% |
| Yoga studio | 49.4% |
| Domain Search King | 98.7% |

## A separate historical spot-check, and the registration-date sample

An earlier July 2026 note reported 96 suggestions across 12 industries, all already taken. That historical claim is separate from the September experiment. The current public files do not include its original per-domain check log, so this page does not use it to calculate the September rates.

The separate registration-date download contains 20 of the oldest enriched observations selected from the September data. These examples illustrate older registrations, not the median age of all suggestions:

| Name the AI called “available” | Registered since |
| --- | --- |
| haven.com | 1993 |
| haven.com | 1993 |
| reprise.com | 1994 |
| comfort.com | 1995 |
| musclemania.com | 1996 |
| javajunction.com | 1997 |
| statutory.com | 1998 |

The September run includes registration years for 240 observations; their median year is 2018. The [20-row date download](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index-registration-dates.csv) selects older examples and is not a representative sample of that run. It does not establish a July median.

## Why this happens

A language model predicts the next plausible token. A short, brandable .com _sounds_ like a free name because those strings are common in training data: blog posts, old directories, “great name” lists. People have been using those names since the 1990s. A plausible name still needs a registry lookup; its sound does not establish availability.

The model was never connected to the registry. Instant Domain Search, a rival naming tool, said the same thing in 2024: “one limitation when using ChatGPT as an AI name generator is that it does not assess domains for availability.” Ahrefs found a cousin of the same bug on the open web: AI assistants send people to dead 404 pages 2.87× more often than Google, because they assert that a page exists without checking.

Availability and trademark clearance are two different searches. An AI-suggested name can also collide with a live mark the model never checked. Confirm both before you commit. We do not know of another registrar or namer (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Namelix, Looka) that publishes this hit rate. As far as we can find, this is the only live benchmark of it.

**Domain Search King filters new suggestions through registry checks.** The homepage searches .com first; other supported extensions are optional. Saved results and page snapshots can be cached. The 98.7% row is a reported historical comparator with no public sample size, not proof of the outcome of a new search. Use the [remote MCP](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) or [domain checker](https://domainsearchking.com/verify), then confirm with the registrar.

## What the AI domain benchmark does and does not show

The September 1, 2026 experiment checked **2,449 .com suggestions** across ten model rows. The [public model leaderboard](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index.csv) supplies each model’s sample size and reported availability percentage. The largest reported miss rate is about 92%; that is a model-specific result, not the overall miss rate or a promise about today’s models.

The Domain Search King comparator is reported as 98.7% in that CSV, but its sample-size field is blank. Readers cannot independently reproduce that comparator’s denominator from the public leaderboard. Treat it as a reported historical benchmark, not a guaranteed success rate for a new search or every niche. Models, prompts and registrations change.

A registration record found at check time means the suggestion was already registered. A registry error is inconclusive. The published aggregate percentages do not provide per-domain response timestamps or a full replication log. The separate [registration-date sample](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index-registration-dates.csv) illustrates older registered names; it is not the complete September experiment.

For an actual purchase decision, use the [live domain checker](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) or [MCP tools](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp), then confirm the registrar’s price and purchasability. Neither this benchmark nor a live registry lookup establishes trademark clearance.

## How we measured it

Each model received the same prompt: available .com names across dozens of business niches and naming styles (freeform, one-word, prefix/suffix). Every suggestion was checked live against the .com registry. Available means no active registration at check time.

The leaderboard reports 2,449 suggestions from a run stamped `2026-09-01`. Its public CSV supplies aggregate model counts and rounded rates, not a complete per-domain replication log. The reported July spot-check is separate and is not mixed into those rates. Reproduce it: ask any model for “available” .coms and check each at a registrar.

Raw data is free to reuse under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) with a link back: [leaderboard CSV](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index.csv) · [registration-year sample](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index-registration-dates.csv) · [per-industry CSV](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index-by-category.csv) · [per-TLD CSV](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index-by-tld.csv).

### Get names that pass the registry

Live-checked .coms for founders. MCP for agents. Already holding a taken name? Start with [the 7 moves that fix it](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-taken).

[Generate available names →](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index#generator) [Use the MCP](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp)

## FAQ

### Why do AI models suggest taken domains?

A language model predicts plausible names. It was never connected to the domain registry, so most names it calls “available” are already registered.

### How was availability measured?

Every suggested .com was checked live against the authoritative .com registry. “Available” means the registry returned no registration at check time. 2,449 suggestions were verified in the 2026-09-01 run.

### How long have the taken domains been registered?

In the September 1, 2026 run, registration years were collected for 240 observations, with a median of 2018. That enriched subset is separate from the 20 older examples in the download and from the reported July spot-check.

### What should I do with a name an AI just gave me?

[Verify it live](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index#verifybox) before you get attached to it. If it is taken, [generate alternatives](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index#generator) that have already passed RDAP, or follow the [AI-taken rescue](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-suggested-domain-taken) flow. Attackers also register the fake domains models invent for real brands. That is [phantom squatting](https://domainsearchking.com/phantom-squatting).

### Are the register links affiliate links?

Yes. Register links may earn Domain Search King a commission at no extra cost to you. Availability can change; register the same day. Trademark search is a separate check.

**Data & related**

-   [AI Domain Hallucination Index leaderboard (CSV, CC BY 4.0)](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index.csv)
-   [Registration-year sample (CSV, CC BY 4.0)](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index-registration-dates.csv)
-   [Why DeepSeek 4.0 keeps giving you taken domains](https://domainsearchking.com/why-deepseek-suggests-taken-domains)
-   [Live domain verifier](https://domainsearchking.com/verify)

## Related tools & guides

[AI taken rescue](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-suggested-domain-taken) [Verify tool](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) [Phantom squatting](https://domainsearchking.com/phantom-squatting) [DeepSeek taken domains](https://domainsearchking.com/why-deepseek-suggests-taken-domains) [GPT taken domains](https://domainsearchking.com/gpt-suggests-taken-domains) [Good AI domains taken](https://domainsearchking.com/good-ai-domain-names-taken) [Live search](https://domainsearchking.com/) [AI domain generator](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-domain-name-generator) [AI business names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-business-name-generator) [AI agency names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-agency-name-generator) [Shopify domain generator](https://domainsearchking.com/shopify-name-generator) [Namelix alternative](https://domainsearchking.com/namelix-alternative) [Domain taken?](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-taken) [Catchy ideas](https://domainsearchking.com/catchy-domain-name-ideas) [One-word .coms](https://domainsearchking.com/available-one-word-domains) [Invented vs keyword](https://domainsearchking.com/invented-names-vs-keyword-domains) [Auto repair names](https://domainsearchking.com/auto-repair-business-names) [How to choose](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-choose-a-domain-name)

Domain Search King checks availability via live RDAP against authoritative registries. Availability can change, so register chosen domains the same day. Register links are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.


-----

# How to Choose a Domain Name: 12 Checks + Live Lookup

Canonical HTML: https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-choose-a-domain-name

Availability: this text is an editorial snapshot, not a current registration guarantee. Use the [live domain checker](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) or [MCP](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) before treating a name as available. Registry errors mean unknown, not available.

The complete naming guide

Reviewed by the Domain Search King editorial team · Updated October 14, 2026

Choose a name people can remember and spell, check its current registration status, review possible brand conflicts, and compare registration and renewal costs. Use the [free live domain checker](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) before committing; an available name is not a trademark clearance or a guaranteed registrar price.

Last updated: October 14, 2026 · 15-minute read

**Quick checklist — 12 steps**

1.  Keep it short: aim for 6–14 characters maximum.
2.  Make it pronounceable and spellable the first time.
3.  Choose .com unless you have a strong reason not to.
4.  Pass the radio test: say it out loud, no spelling required.
5.  Avoid hyphens, numbers, and doubled letters.
6.  Pick a name that's easy to remember after one hearing.
7.  Make sure it's not trademarked by anyone in your space.
8.  Avoid a name that's too narrow for your future product set.
9.  Confirm the .com is actually available before you fall in love.
10.  Check that major social handles are free or close enough.
11.  Run a quick Google search for the name and look for conflicts.
12.  Register it the same day you decide — availability changes fast.

## How to choose and verify a domain name in five steps

1.  **Shortlist memorable names.** Say each name aloud and ask someone to spell it. Length is a practical preference, not a search-ranking guarantee.
2.  **Check registration status.** Paste the exact name into [the live checker](https://domainsearchking.com/verify). ICANN explains [RDAP registration-data lookups](https://www.icann.org/rdap); an inconclusive result stays unknown.
3.  **Review brand conflicts.** Search active brands and the [USPTO trademark database](https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/search). Database searches do not establish legal clearance.
4.  **Compare total costs.** Check renewal price, privacy, transfer conditions and any registry premium charge at the registrar, not only the introductory price.
5.  **Recheck before registering.** Registry status can change. A research page or AI answer is not a reservation.

## What to check before committing to a domain name

Your domain will appear in links, email addresses and spoken recommendations. Choose a name customers can recognize and enter correctly, then check its registration status, conflicts and total cost.

Three things have made domain selection harder:

1.  **The .com namespace is crowded.** [More than 160 million .com domains are registered globally](https://domainsearchking.com/how-many-com-domains-registered). Most single-word and two-word obvious names are gone.
2.  **AI-generated businesses launch faster.** [Check an AI suggestion before building a brand around it](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-model-name-trademark-risk). A plausible name may already belong to someone else.
3.  **Social handle competition is fiercer.** Check the social platforms you plan to use. An exact handle is convenient; a consistent modifier can also work.

Tools that show you live-verified-available names — not static lists that are usually already taken — have made it possible to find excellent options in minutes instead of days. [Domain Search King](https://domainsearchking.com/) is built specifically for this: every name it surfaces is RDAP-checked against the registry in real time.

### Domain length vs. brand risk

6–14 chars (target)

Low risk

15–20 chars

Moderate

20+ chars

High risk

Illustrative summary of the length guidance below — typing errors and memorability both degrade as length increases.

## How to evaluate each domain-name criterion

### 1\. Length: balance readability and meaning

Use the shortest name that still communicates the right idea. A readable two-word name can be easier to remember than a short string of unclear letters. Treat the length target as a preference, not a rule that guarantees sales or search rankings.

**Why length matters:** compare how easily someone can read, dictate and type each candidate. Length alone does not determine email deliverability. Avoid a name that needs repeated spelling instructions.

**The target:** 6–14 characters, two syllables or three at most. **Try it now:** type your niche into [Domain Search King](https://domainsearchking.com/) and sort by character count.

### 2\. Pronounceability and the Spell-It-Out Trap

If you have to say "that's E-X-A-M-P-L-E dot com, no hyphen, the number four" when telling someone your website, your domain has already failed. Pronounceability is a two-way test: hearing → typing (can they type it correctly without asking you to repeat it?) and reading → saying (can they read it aloud correctly the first time?).

**The fix:** say the name out loud to three different people without showing them the spelling. If they can type it correctly from hearing alone, it passes.

### 3\. Domain Extension: .com vs. Everything Else

| Situation | Extension to consider |
| --- | --- |
| AI / machine learning startup | `.ai` — genuinely descriptive, investors expect it |
| Developer tool, API, or SaaS | `.io` — the developer community has normalized it |
| International nonprofit | `.org` — instant trust for non-commercial entities |
| .com hopelessly unavailable | `.co` — works if the brand rationale is strong |

Read the full comparison: [.io vs .com for startups →](https://domainsearchking.com/io-vs-com)

### 4\. The Radio Test: The Fastest Filter for Bad Domain Names

Imagine your domain being read aloud on a radio ad. The announcer says it once. No URL graphic, no "spelled with a capital K." Can the listener type it correctly when they get home? Common failures: numbers (`4ever.com` — "four" or "for"?), hyphens (listeners have no idea whether there's a hyphen or a space), unusual spellings, and homophone pairs (`hair.com` vs `hare.com`).

### 5\. Avoid Hyphens and Numbers

**Hyphens:** a listener will type `besthyphencoffee.com` or guess wrong entirely; check both spellings, because customers may omit the hyphen. A hyphen alone does not determine spam classification.

**Numbers:** is `4` the digit or the word "four"? Numbers date a domain and break the radio test instantly.

### 6\. Memorability: The Name Has to Stick After One Hearing

Memorable domains share three features: **concrete imagery** (Amazon, Apple, Stripe, Slack all conjure an immediate mental picture), **rhythmic sound** (Asana, Canva, Figma — alternating consonants and vowels), and **unexpected contrast** (a word from one domain applied to another). Avoid portmanteaus of two generic words and keyword stuffing — both are technically descriptive and completely unmemorable.

### 7\. Trademark Checks: The Step Everyone Skips

Choosing a domain that infringes on an existing trademark can trigger a UDRP complaint that forces you to transfer the domain, or a federal infringement lawsuit. Check **[USPTO Trademark Search](https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/)** (tmsearch.uspto.gov), **EUIPO eSearch** if operating in Europe, and Google the name for active brands. [Prefer coined words (Zoho, Figma, Canva) over descriptive terms](https://domainsearchking.com/invented-names-vs-keyword-domains) — they're both more distinctive and more defensible as trademarks yourself.

### 8\. Future-Proofing: Don't Box Yourself In

Classic failure modes: geographic lock-in (`AustinWebDesign.com`), product lock-in (`CupcakeDelivery.com`), and trend lock-in (anything with "AI" risks sounding generic within two years). Imagine your company in ten years, three pivots in — does the name still fit?

### 9\. Availability Check: Before You Fall in Love

The most common mistake: spending two weeks workshopping a name, then discovering the .com is registered and parked by a squatter asking $15,000. Check availability _first_, generate a shortlist of ten or twenty names, run them all through an availability check simultaneously, then apply the other criteria only to the ones that are actually available.

**What RDAP verification means:** RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) is the modern successor to WHOIS. It queries the authoritative registry for each domain extension directly, returning current registration status — not a cached snapshot.

### 10\. Social Handle Parity

Ranked by desirability: exact match across all major platforms (rare for clean names), a consistent modifier across all platforms (`@yourNameHQ` everywhere — acceptable), or platform-by-platform variations (confusing, avoid).

### 11\. The Same-Day Registration Rule

Once a name passes every test above and is RDAP-verified available, register it **today**. [Squatters run automated tools that watch searches and register names](https://domainsearchking.com/phantom-squatting) within minutes of popular interest. The cost of registering a domain you don't use: $10–15/year. The cost of losing one you love to a squatter: potentially thousands of dollars.

### How to Pick a Business Domain When Everything Good Is Taken

Describe your business to an AI namer instead of keyword-matching — it finds angles a squatter never anticipated. Add a modifier prefix (get, go, hq, use). Browse [290+ niche idea pages](https://domainsearchking.com/ideas) for live-available names by industry. Or jump to a focused tool: [Shopify store names](https://domainsearchking.com/shopify-name-generator), [AI business names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-business-name-generator), [Namelix alternative](https://domainsearchking.com/namelix-alternative).

[Describe your business →](https://domainsearchking.com/) [AI business names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-business-name-generator)

## Domain Name Best Practices: A Consolidated Checklist

| Criterion | Pass condition |
| --- | --- |
| Length | 6–14 characters |
| Pronounceability | 3 strangers can type it from hearing alone |
| Extension | .com unless a specific reason argues otherwise |
| Radio test | No spelling, no hyphen callouts required |
| No hyphens/numbers | Zero |
| Memorability | Concrete imagery or pleasant phonetics |
| Trademark | Search for potential conflicts; a search is not legal clearance |
| Future scope | Works if your company pivots or expands |
| Availability | RDAP-verified right now, not from a cached list |
| Social handles | Exact or consistent modifier available |
| Action | Register same day |

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What makes a good domain name?

A good domain name is short (under 15 characters), pronounceable without spelling assistance, ends in .com for most businesses, passes the radio test, and contains no hyphens or numbers. Beyond mechanics, the best domain names carry concrete imagery or a pleasant phonetic rhythm. Every good domain name is also genuinely available — RDAP-verified against the live registry, not just probably available.

### How long should a domain name be?

Use 6–14 characters as a starting preference, then test readability and spelling. A longer descriptive name may work better than an unclear abbreviation. There is no universal length that guarantees brand value.

### Should I get a .com or .io for my startup?

For most businesses, get the .com. Choose the extension your audience recognizes and compare renewal costs and restrictions. An extension alone does not guarantee search rankings, investor interest or email deliverability.

### What if the .com I want is taken?

First, try a short modifier: add go, get, hq, use, or app as a prefix or suffix. Second, describe your business to an AI namer rather than keyword-matching. Third, check whether the taken domain is squatted — you can sometimes negotiate a purchase. See [what to do if it's taken](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-taken) for the full list.

### Do I need to check for trademarks before registering a domain?

Yes, always. A domain registration does not confer trademark rights. Run the name through USPTO Trademark Search, EUIPO eSearch for Europe, and a Google search for active brands using the name in your industry.

### How do I know if a domain name is actually available?

Check the registration record through RDAP, then confirm purchasability and price at your registrar. Domain Search King uses live registry checks; an error or unsupported extension is unknown, not proof of availability. Cached lists and search snippets can be stale.

### What is the radio test for domain names?

If your domain name were read aloud on a radio ad once, with no spelling assistance, could a listener type it correctly when they got home? Names requiring letter-by-letter spelling fail the test.

### Can I use numbers or hyphens in my domain?

Avoid both. Numbers create ambiguity between digit and word forms, break the radio test, and date your brand. Hyphens can create a second spelling customers must remember. Check the unhyphenated version too.

### Start Finding Your Domain Name Right Now

Describe your business, pick your style, and browse AI-generated .com names that are RDAP-verified available right now.

[Find your domain →](https://domainsearchking.com/) [.io vs .com comparison](https://domainsearchking.com/io-vs-com)

## Related tools & guides

[Live search](https://domainsearchking.com/) [AI domain generator](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-domain-name-generator) [AI business names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-business-name-generator) [AI agency names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-agency-name-generator) [Shopify names](https://domainsearchking.com/shopify-name-generator) [Namelix alternative](https://domainsearchking.com/namelix-alternative) [AI taken rescue](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-suggested-domain-taken) [Domain taken?](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-taken) [Verify a domain](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) [Hallucination index](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index) [Catchy ideas](https://domainsearchking.com/catchy-domain-name-ideas) [One-word .coms](https://domainsearchking.com/available-one-word-domains) [How to check taken](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-check-if-a-domain-name-is-taken) [MCP for agents](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) [Niche ideas](https://domainsearchking.com/ideas) [Features](https://domainsearchking.com/features) [About](https://domainsearchking.com/about) [Shopify name taken?](https://domainsearchking.com/is-shopify-store-name-taken)


-----

# How Many .com Domains Are Registered? Q2 2026

Canonical HTML: https://domainsearchking.com/how-many-com-domains-registered

Availability: this text is an editorial snapshot, not a current registration guarantee. Use the [live domain checker](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) or [MCP](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) before treating a name as available. Registry errors mean unknown, not available.

Domain statistics, 2026

Reviewed by the Domain Search King editorial team · Updated October 14, 2026

**166.6 million .com domains** were registered on June 30, 2026. That is the Q2 count from [Verisign’s July 23 report](https://investor.verisign.com/news-releases/news-release-details/dnibcom-reports-internet-has-4016-million-domain-name). Registration totals describe existing names; check any new idea against the registry before treating it as available.

## How many .com domains are registered?

As of **June 30, 2026**, the .com registration base was **166.6 million**. The authoritative source is [Verisign’s Q2 2026 Domain Name Industry Brief release](https://investor.verisign.com/news-releases/news-release-details/dnibcom-reports-internet-has-4016-million-domain-name), published July 23. It reports 12.5 million .net registrations and 401.6 million registrations across all extensions.

| Extension scope | Registered domains | Measurement date |
| --- | --- | --- |
| .com | 166.6 million | June 30, 2026 |
| .net | 12.5 million | June 30, 2026 |
| All extensions | 401.6 million | June 30, 2026 |

These are quarterly counts, not a live count of purchasable domains. They do not measure websites, unique owners, active businesses or premium registration prices. Later data may change the total.

## How many domains existed across every extension in Q1 2026?

Across every top-level domain combined — .com, .net, every country-code extension, every new gTLD like .ai or .app — the internet had **392.5 million registered domains** at the end of Q1 2026, up 1.4% quarter-over-quarter and 6.5% year-over-year ([Verisign DNIB](https://investor.verisign.com/news-releases/news-release-details/dnibcom-reports-internet-has-3925-million-domain-name)).

#### .com vs. the rest of the market (Q1 2026)

.com

163.6M

All TLDs

392.5M

.com represents roughly 42% of every registered domain on the internet.

New gTLDs (like .app and .shop) grew 31.3% year-over-year to 49.6 million registrations — nearly 8x .com/.net's growth rate. Country-code extensions (ccTLDs) now account for more than a third of all global registrations, growing 3.4% year-over-year ([SIDN Global Domain Report 2026](https://www.sidn.nl/en/news-and-blogs/global-domain-report-2026-stable-growth-in-the-domain-name-market)). .ai specifically [crossed 1 million registrations in January 2026](https://domainsearchking.com/good-ai-domain-names-taken), up 67% year-over-year ([Domain Name Wire](https://domainnamewire.com/2026/01/28/ai-namespace-hits-1-million-domain-names/)).

## Did .com registrations rise every year?

| Period | .com registrations | All-TLD total |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Q4 2014 | 115.6M | — |
| Q4 2016 | — | 329.3M |
| Q4 2019 | — | 362.3M |
| Q4 2020 (pandemic peak) | — | 366.3M |
| Q1 2023 (prior peak) | 161.6M | 354.0M |
| Q4 2023 (pullback) | 159.6M | 359.8M |
| Q1 2026 | 163.6M | 392.5M |
| Q2 2026 | **166.6M** | **401.6M** |

Registration grew steadily through the 2010s, surged during the 2020 pandemic e-commerce boom, then **plateaued and actually declined** from 2022 into 2023 as speculative registration cooled and renewal-driven churn caught up. It took until 2026 to exceed the 2023 peak — a rebound Verisign explicitly ties to AI-driven demand, not a smooth continuous climb (sourced from consecutive [Verisign DNIB releases](https://investor.verisign.com/news-releases/news-release-details/dnibcom-reports-internet-has-3598-million-domain-name)).

## Are short .com names still available?

If you're hoping for a short, clean .com: **100% of all 17,576 possible 3-letter .com combinations are registered**, and **100% of all 456,976 possible 4-letter combinations are registered** too. An estimated majority of those 4-letter names are held by speculators and available only on the resale aftermarket, not through direct registration ([WhoAPI](https://whoapi.com/blog/we-are-out-of-4-letter-com-domains/)). Five-letter .coms (11.88 million possible combinations) aren't fully exhausted, but most pronounceable, dictionary-adjacent combinations are long gone — what remains skews toward strings that don't read as real words.

-   3-letter .coms: 17,576 possible combinations, 100% registered.
-   4-letter .coms: 456,976 possible combinations, 100% registered. Most are resale inventory, not a fresh registration.
-   5-letter .coms: 11.88 million possible combinations. The set is not exhausted, and the pronounceable ones are mostly gone.

## How many .com domains become available each day?

Scarcity at the short end doesn't mean the overall pool is frozen. Roughly **60,000 to 85,000 .com/.net domains become available every day** through the registry's non-renewal drop process ([Nameslink drop-catching guide](https://www.nameslink.com/hugo/en/posts/2026-05-28-domain-drop-catching-guide/)). Verisign's own Q1 2026 renewal rate was **76.3%** ([Domain Name Wire](https://domainnamewire.com/2026/04/23/verisign-ups-guidance-reveals-first-year-renewal-rates/)) — meaning close to a quarter of domains in any given cohort don't renew each cycle, feeding a constant, quantifiable stream of newly-available names back into circulation.

## Is .com Even Still Required?

Here's the tension worth sitting with: .com just hit a new all-time high in raw registrations, and its _relative_ share of the domain market is shrinking at the same time. New gTLDs are growing roughly 8x faster than .com/.net combined, and ccTLDs already represent over a third of the global market. .com isn't disappearing — but "you need a .com to look credible" is becoming less of a technical requirement and more of a legacy assumption, especially in categories (AI, developer tools) where an alternative extension now reads as a deliberate signal rather than a compromise.

**A number worth ignoring:** you may see a circulating claim that "only 30% of domains renew after one year" — that figure traces back to a January 2020 study using a different methodology than Verisign's own blended renewal-rate reporting. Verisign's cited 76.3% Q1 2026 figure is a dated blended renewal measure, not a current live rate or a first-year cohort statistic.

## What This Means for Naming Your Business Today

Short, keyword-match .com names are functionally extinct — the 3- and 4-letter space has been fully claimed for years. The realistic paths left are: [a coined or invented brandable name](https://domainsearchking.com/invented-names-vs-keyword-domains) at any length, a longer descriptive name that's still open because nobody wanted the exact phrase, or accepting a strong alternative extension where it fits the category ([.ai for AI products](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-vs-com), [.io for dev tools](https://domainsearchking.com/io-vs-com)). An AI naming tool that checks live availability across a large candidate pool solves the practical problem this data describes — you're not going to stumble onto a clean short .com by guessing.

### Find a Name in the Remaining Pool

Describe your business and get AI-generated names, verified available live via RDAP — no wasted searches on names that were already gone.

[Search live →](https://domainsearchking.com/) [Browse available one-word .coms](https://domainsearchking.com/available-one-word-domains)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How many .com domains are registered in 2026?

166.6 million .com registrations as of June 30, 2026, according to Verisign’s Q2 2026 Domain Name Industry Brief release, published July 23.

### How many domains exist across all extensions?

401.6 million domains across all extensions at the end of Q2 2026, according to Verisign’s July 23 release.

### Are all short .com domains taken?

Yes for 3 and 4 letters — 100% of all possible combinations are registered. An estimated majority of 4-letter .coms are held by speculators and only available on the resale aftermarket.

### How many .com domains expire and become available?

Roughly 60,000-85,000 .com/.net domains become available daily through the registry's non-renewal drop process. Verisign's Q1 2026 renewal rate was 76.3%.

### Is .com still growing or is it being replaced by other extensions?

Both. .com's raw count hit a new all-time high in Q1 2026, but new gTLDs are growing about 8x faster, so .com's share of the total market is shrinking even as its absolute count rises.

## Related tools & guides

[Live search](https://domainsearchking.com/) [AI domain generator](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-domain-name-generator) [AI business names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-business-name-generator) [AI agency names](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-agency-name-generator) [Shopify names](https://domainsearchking.com/shopify-name-generator) [Namelix alternative](https://domainsearchking.com/namelix-alternative) [AI taken rescue](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-suggested-domain-taken) [Domain taken?](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-taken) [Verify a domain](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) [Hallucination index](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index) [Catchy ideas](https://domainsearchking.com/catchy-domain-name-ideas) [One-word .coms](https://domainsearchking.com/available-one-word-domains) [How to choose](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-choose-a-domain-name) [How to check taken](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-check-if-a-domain-name-is-taken) [MCP for agents](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) [Niche ideas](https://domainsearchking.com/ideas) [Features](https://domainsearchking.com/features) [About](https://domainsearchking.com/about)


-----

# Best Domain Search 2027: Names Checked First

Canonical HTML: https://domainsearchking.com/best-domain-search-2027

Availability: this text is an editorial snapshot, not a current registration guarantee. Use the [live domain checker](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) or [MCP](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) before treating a name as available. Registry errors mean unknown, not available.

Domain search

Updated October 22, 2026

The best domain search in 2027 checks the registry before it shows a name. On September 1, 2026 we RDAP-checked 2,449 .com names that 10 AI models had offered as available: 30.5% were free and 69.5% were already registered ([AI Domain Hallucination Index](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index)). The weakest model, claude-haiku-4.5, had 259 of 282 picks taken (91.8%). The best row, claude-sonnet-5, was still only 50.5% available (287 names).

## What the pages ranking for best domain search actually measure

On October 22, 2026 we read the pages that answer a best-domain-search query with a ranked list or a tool picker. [iTechGuides, The Best Domain Search Tools in 2026](https://www.itechguides.com/best/domain-search-tools/), says it was updated in October 2026 and ranks 34 tools from official pricing pages and product docs. Instant Domain Search is #1 of 34 with an editor score of 9.4. DomainDiscovery is #2 at 9.2. DomainKits is #3 at 9.0. The advertiser disclosure on that page says vendors can pay for top positions in the rankings. The Instant Domain Search card also offers a placement labeled "Sponsor this spot · #1 · $149/mo". The card does not say Instant Domain Search paid for that spot.

The same list still ranks Lean Domain Search at #23 with a score of 7.0, and describes it as a straightforward, free way to turn keywords into available domain ideas. We fetched leandomainsearch.com on October 15, 2026. The homepage returned HTTP 200 and contained no form and no input field. That check is written up on the [Lean Domain Search alternative](https://domainsearchking.com/vs-leandomainsearch) page. A 7.0 next to a tool with no search box is an editor score from a directory, measured on a different day from the homepage we fetched.

[Prospeo's Domain Search Tool Guide](https://prospeo.io/s/domain-search-tool) splits the phrase into jobs. For a name you can register, it points readers to Instant Domain Search and credits that tool with results in under 25 milliseconds and 800+ extensions. For an owner, it points readers to [ICANN Lookup](https://lookup.icann.org/). The article text had no publication date when we read it on October 22, 2026. The speed and extension figures are Prospeo's. This page does not adopt them.

[DomainToolBelt](https://domaintoolbelt.com/), read the same day, is a marketplace view: aftermarket listings, live auctions, and domains that had just dropped. The homepage states its own counts, including 200+ extensions and 10 million aftermarket listings, and it was showing auctions dated October 23, 2026 UTC. We did not audit those marketplaces or those counts. Shopping a name someone else is selling is a different job from checking whether the registry has a record.

A 9.4 is an editor's number on a page that also sells ranking positions. It is not a registry response, and it does not tell you whether the next name on your list is free.

## What a domain search has to do before it shows a name

A domain search has to ask the registry, then show the name with the time of that check. RDAP is the protocol registries use to publish registration records. A language model can write a plausible string without making that request. In the [September 1, 2026 study](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index), 10 models suggested 2,449 .com names they treated as available. 30.5% were free. 69.5% were already registered. claude-haiku-4.5 had 259 of 282 taken (91.8%). claude-sonnet-5, the best row, was 50.5% available on 287 names.

An open registration record and a trademark are different facts. A .com with no registry record can still match a registered brand. Use the [trademark check](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-trademark-check) for that second question. It is a screen for risk, and it is not legal advice.

A check also goes stale. On Domain Search King, popular keywords can be served from checks up to about 30 hours old, and someone else can register a name minutes after any check. Before you pay, recheck the exact string on the [verify page](https://domainsearchking.com/verify). The longer guide for a single name is [how to check if a domain name is taken](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-check-if-a-domain-name-is-taken).

## How Domain Search King checks a name

Type a keyword or a one-sentence description on the [homepage](https://domainsearchking.com/). Keyword search builds three shapes. The keyword plus a suffix gives names that start with your word. A prefix plus the keyword gives names that end with it. A prefix, the keyword, and a suffix gives names that contain it. Names longer than 25 characters are dropped before checking. The AI mode takes the sentence, proposes coined names, and runs the same registry check before display. The reason for that order is the September study: even the strongest model in the run was wrong about half the time.

Every candidate is checked by RDAP before it is shown. The page sends names in batches through our RDAP proxy and falls back to Verisign's public RDAP server for .com and .net if the proxy does not answer. The proxy keeps available answers for about 10 minutes and taken answers for about 24 hours. The ".com only" switch is on by default. Turn it off and the page also checks .io, .co, .net, and .org, then adds names whose .com is taken and one of those four is open.

The search is free and needs no account. The current cap is about 100 naming calls a day per IP address, and one homepage search uses about five, so plan on roughly 20 searches. Offices and phone networks that share one address share that allowance. Agents can call the same checks through the [MCP server](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp), which has a separate free tier of 10 tool calls a day. In a separate June 2026 test of 76 names that server returned, 75 were available on recheck (98.7%). That sample is small. The 2,449-name study is the one that shows why a chat transcript is a weak availability source. The product behavior is summarized on the [features](https://domainsearchking.com/features) page, and the model table is on the [good AI domain names](https://domainsearchking.com/good-ai-domain-names-taken) page.

Register buttons on the homepage open Namecheap through an affiliate link. We earn a commission if you buy there. The domain string is the same at any registrar, so you can copy the name and register it wherever you already have an account. The commission does not change which names the checker returns.

## Which tool fits which domain job

Pick the tool by the question you need answered. The scores in the roundups above are their editor scores. The registry figures in this table are from our September 1, 2026 study and from the two homepage fetches named in the first section.

| Job | Use this | What we checked |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Find a name and see if the .com is open | Domain Search King homepage | RDAP before display. September 1, 2026: 69.5% of 2,449 AI suggestions were taken |
| Check one exact name | Verify page | Live RDAP lookup for the string you paste |
| See which models suggest taken names | Hallucination Index | Same September 1, 2026 run, with a row per model |
| Starts-with, contains, or ends-with keywords | Homepage filters | Product behavior. Lean Domain Search had no search box on October 15, 2026 |
| Read a scored roundup of 34 tools | iTechGuides list, updated Oct 2026 | Read October 22, 2026. Editor scores. Paid top positions disclosed. Their TLD and bulk counts stayed theirs |
| Separate "can I register it" from "who owns it" | Prospeo guide: Instant Domain Search, then ICANN Lookup | Read October 22, 2026. Their under-25ms and 800+ extension lines stayed theirs |
| Buy a drop, an auction, or a listed aftermarket name | DomainToolBelt | Read October 22, 2026. Marketplace page. Counts and listings were not re-audited |

Use a registry check to decide whether you can register a name today. Use ICANN Lookup when you need the registration record. Use an aftermarket site when the name is for sale.

## Limits of this domain search

-   About 20 homepage searches a day per IP address, under the current 100-call cap.
-   Popular keywords can reuse a check up to about 30 hours old. Available cache is about 10 minutes. Taken cache is about 24 hours.
-   A result with no registration record is true for that moment. Recheck on the verify page before you pay.
-   Trademark clearance is a separate step.
-   Namecheap Register buttons are affiliate links. The commission is disclosed here and on the homepage.
-   This article does not retest other companies' speed claims, extension counts, or auction inventories.

Type one keyword. The homepage checks the registry before it shows the names.

[Search free, no account](https://domainsearchking.com/)

## FAQ

### What is the best domain search in 2027?

The best domain search in 2027 checks the registry before it shows a name. Domain Search King does that with RDAP. On September 1, 2026, 69.5% of 2,449 AI-suggested .com names were already registered, and claude-haiku-4.5 had 259 of 282 picks taken (91.8%).

### Why do AI name generators show taken domains?

A language model can write a plausible domain without asking the registry. In the September 1, 2026 study of 10 models, 30.5% of 2,449 suggestions were available and 69.5% were already registered. Domain Search King runs an RDAP check on each candidate before the name is shown.

### Is Domain Search King free?

Yes, with no account. The search has a daily cap per IP address: about 100 naming calls a day, and one homepage search uses about five, so plan on roughly 20 searches. The MCP server for AI agents has a separate free tier of 10 tool calls a day.

### Does available mean I can register the domain?

It means the registry had no registration record at the time of the check. Popular keywords can be served from checks up to about 30 hours old, and someone else can register the name minutes later. Recheck the exact name on the verify page before you pay. An open domain can still match a registered trademark.

### Do best-of lists test whether a domain search still works?

The lists we read on October 22, 2026 publish editor scores and feature tables. iTechGuides ranked 34 tools, put Instant Domain Search first at 9.4, and says vendors can pay for top positions. That list still describes Lean Domain Search as a free way to turn keywords into available domain ideas, at rank 23 with a score of 7.0. Our October 15, 2026 fetch of leandomainsearch.com returned HTTP 200 with no form and no input field. Speed figures and extension counts on those lists are theirs.

## Related tools and guides

[Live search](https://domainsearchking.com/) [Verify a domain](https://domainsearchking.com/verify) [Hallucination index](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-hallucination-index) [Lean Domain Search](https://domainsearchking.com/vs-leandomainsearch) [Features](https://domainsearchking.com/features) [MCP for agents](https://domainsearchking.com/mcp) [Trademark check](https://domainsearchking.com/domain-trademark-check) [How to check taken](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-check-if-a-domain-name-is-taken) [Good AI domains taken](https://domainsearchking.com/good-ai-domain-names-taken) [Namelix alternative](https://domainsearchking.com/namelix-alternative) [AI domain generator](https://domainsearchking.com/ai-domain-name-generator) [How to choose](https://domainsearchking.com/how-to-choose-a-domain-name) [Niche ideas](https://domainsearchking.com/ideas) [About](https://domainsearchking.com/about)