What to do when your domain name is taken?
✨ Why it happens so often
Finding the perfect name for your project, validating it with your team or users... then discovering that the domain is already taken: it's one of the most common scenarios for founders. It's not a failure, it's almost a rite of passage.
The good news? It means your idea probably has potential. If someone else thought of the same name, it means it evokes something universal, clear, or powerful. And most importantly, there are many ways to bounce back without starting from scratch or losing your initial vision.
✅ 5 concrete solutions when your domain is taken
1. Use another extension
If the .com is taken, explore alternatives:
- .io, .co, .ai, .app (for tech startups)
- .dev, .xyz, or even geographic or industry-specific extensions
→ Domainr lets you quickly visualize all available options around a name.
2. Add a contextual keyword
Rather than abandoning your name, you can enrich it:
- helloprismo.com instead of prismo.com
- usekinetix.io instead of kinetix.io
- join, get, try, go, or even hq are widely used and well-received
3. Try negotiating
It's sometimes possible to contact the domain owner through a whois lookup or a registrar like GoDaddy. Some domains are inactive, bought years ago, and could be sold.
→ For serious transactions, use a secure platform like Sedo or Afternic.
4. Wait for expiration
Some domains expire every day. On Expireddomains.net, you can track names similar to yours and set up alerts.
5. Slightly rethink your name
Sometimes, it's an opportunity to refine, simplify, or make your brand name more distinctive. A small adjustment can change everything — and make you stand out more.
→ Use Domain-Finder.ai to quickly explore available variations from your initial name.
💬 Should you buy a reserved name?
Not necessarily.
A good name isn't one that costs $15,000 on a marketplace, but one that you master, embody, and bring to life.
However, if the name is at the heart of your brand (and you have the budget), it might be worth securing the domain, especially in .com.
But be careful:
- Don't pay without going through a secure platform
- Always check that no trademark is registered for this name (→ USPTO, WIPO)
🔒 How to secure your name before making it public
Before announcing anything publicly:
- Buy the domain immediately (including important variations)
- Check social media with Namecheckr
- Do a quick trademark search ( USPTO
- or WIPO
- )
- Test your name with your audience (→ our dedicated article)
A name revealed too early, without protection, can be taken or registered by others. Be proactive.
🔗 Useful links & resources
- 🌐 Domainr – to check all extensions around a keyword
- 📈 Whois.com – to check domain ownership and expiration information
- 🔍 ICANN Lookup – official and free tool for domain information lookup
- 💼 Sedo – domain buying platform
- 🔍 USPTO – trademark verification (USA)
- 🌍 WIPO – international trademark database
- 🧪 Testing a name with your audience –
🧾 Conclusion: it's not the end of the world (quite the opposite)
You may have lost a domain name... but you gain an opportunity: to explore further, clarify your identity, and truly stand out.
A name doesn't need to be "exactly what you had in mind" to work. It needs to reflect you, be available, and most importantly, be launched, shared, embodied.
