Roughly 80% of single-word baby names have a taken .com. Don't panic — there's a sensible playbook.
1. Check the variants first
Add a middle initial, swap a hyphen, try the family name suffix (firstnamelastname.com). One of those is almost always free, costs the same money, and looks more intentional than a .co fallback.
2. Look at .co, then .me, then .xyz
In that order. .co is the closest visual cousin to .com and the most trusted alternative. .me reads as personal. .xyz is cheap but often associated with throwaway projects — only use if it genuinely fits.
3. Check what the existing site is
Sometimes the .com is parked and the owner will sell it for $50. Sometimes it's a real business — in which case, walk away, don't fight a coincidence.
4. Buy the email first
If the .com is unwinnable, the Gmail or iCloud handle becomes more important. Lock that down before someone else has the same idea.
5. Set a watch
Domains expire. Roughly 15% of personal-name .coms are abandoned within five years of registration. Use a backorder service or a calendar reminder to check yearly. Many parents who couldn't get the .com at birth get it before the kid hits middle school.
What to avoid
- Don't pay broker fees over $500 for a single first name.
- Don't buy six TLDs as "insurance" — pick two at most.
- Don't register the .com in the child's name. You're the owner; transfer later.
Want help finding a still-available variant? Run the name in the checker — domain availability comes through in the same search.