We’ve been covering topics such as how to design your site, and even how to code it, but before you do all that, you need to register a domain name. Here are 30+ tools to help you figure out a good name and register it. And if what you want isn’t available, you can always search the after-market for a name.
Domain Name Pickers
123finder.com – Enter keywords, set the maximum number of characters you want, and see what it comes up with.
BustAName.com – Enter words to see the possible remaining combinations and suggestions.
Domain-Generator.net – Gives tips and advice on how to pick a name, has a random generator and keyword checker.
Domain Name Generator – Tool over at webmaster-toolkit.com that allows you to enter a word or phrase and see what’s available.
Dot-O-Mator.com – Put in up to 15 each in the prefix and suffix columns and see what combinations are available.
Dyyo.com – Helps you find the few 4-letter domain names remaining.
Geek.name – Displays domain names that are unregistered as suggestions, offers a thesaurus for your keyword.
MakeWords.com – See randomly generated domain names and check out which are available. Pick other languages, search for keywords and more.
Nameboy.com – Enter two words and see what is out there and get suggestions.
SnapItNow.com – Enter words, choose category, define if you will allow hyphens and more.
Web 2.0 Name Generator – Generates random Web 2.0 “sounding†names and then lets you check availability.
Domain Registrars
DomainsNorthwest.com – A bit pricey at $10.95 a year, but a very straightforward site that’s easy to follow.
DomainSite.com – Offers registrations for $7.99 year with Google Apps thrown in.
Dotster.com – Known for easy account management.
Dynadot.com – ICANN accredited domain register at only $7.99 a year.
eNom.com – Offers a range of domain reseller tools.
Fabulous.com – Specializes in creating paring pages for all of your domain names.
GKG.net – Various prices depending on the extension.
GoDaddy.com – Probably the best known registrar in the market today. Has received some criticism in the past years, but it’s still quite cheap.
Melbourneit.com.au – An Australian domain registrar and also offers a name assisting tool.
Moniker.com – Offers registration along with buying and selling services.
Name.com – Domain registrations on the cheap side, with some extra services thrown in for free.
NameCheap.com – $9.29 a year per registration with lots of free services added in.
NetworkSolutions.com – One of the oldest companies in the domain name registration market, their prices are a bit high compared to others.
Rebel.com – Register domains and monitor your domains registered at other companies.
Register.com – Another one of the old school registrars that’s been around for ages.
SnapNames.com – Has domain auctions as well as registrations.
Triple.com – Offers reasonable registration rates with a free domain lock.
Tucows.com – Originally known for being a home of many freeware and shareware programs, now it also offers domain registrations.
Webmasters.com – Allows you to register .vu = Venture, .fm = Family, and .st = Site TLDs.
Webnames.ca – A Canadian registration service with free domain and email forwarding. (via)