Do Domain Names Have to Be Unique?

When we talk about the uniqueness of domain names, we're actually referring to two different contexts: whether a domain name can be catchy and attractive, and whether there can be two identical domain names on the web. Let's explore these in detail.

Understanding 'Unique' Domain Names

By 'unique,' your question likely means two things—whether a domain name should be catchy or attractive, and whether there can be two domain names that are identical.

On the web, there can only be one unique domain name. It is a basic rule that repeats of domain names are not allowed on the internet. This ensures that there is no confusion and each website can have its own identity.

Selecting the Right Domain Name

Here are some general guidelines to follow when choosing a domain name:

Avoid the use of hyphens and numbers. Domain names with hyphens or numbers can be harder to remember and type correctly. Choose a domain name that best represents your website. It should convey your brand and what your website is about. Make it short and memorable. Short domain names are easier to remember and type. Use online domain name generators. There are numerous tools available that can help you generate creative and unique domain names. Go for .COM. While there are other domain extensions, .COM remains the most popular choice for business websites.

How Domain Names Work

Domain names are unique in a very specific sense. Here's how they work:

Unique Ownership: Domain names have unique owners. For instance, Google LLC registered the domain , which means no one else can register that same domain.

Domain name registrations are handled through a domain name registrar. If five people tried to register the domain at different registrars, their requests would all be funneled to a .com domain name registry, which would then decide who gets to own the domain.

Unique Public Resolution: Domain names are subject to unique public resolution by Public DNS servers. If you try to redirect public DNS records to your own DNS server, it won't work because public DNS servers will always route the domain to its registered owner's DNS servers. This is what happened when someone tried to redirect Google's main portal to a custom DNS server.

Unique Private Resolution: Domain names can be privately resolved within a local network, but this is not recommended for public domain names. This is why private DNS services like Pi-hole can blackhole known ad-server domains for users inside the network without affecting everyone else.

Businesses must also consider that a unique, 'kewl-unique' domain name is nice to have but not critical. The more critical aspect is ensuring your website is search engine optimized (SEO) to be easily discoverable. An SEO-optimized website is far more valuable than a catchy domain name that no one can find.

Conclusion

Domain names must be unique to avoid conflicts and ensure stability. However, the uniqueness of a domain name is not the only factor to consider when building a business online. SEO and user experience are also crucial elements to ensure your website is discoverable and engaging. Wisdom in your financial investments and strategic planning will go a long way in building a successful online presence.