General rules for domain names

There are several general rules for domain name registrations. These rules are decided by the individual domain administrator, also known as the registry, and may vary depending on the domain extension.

Below are some of the most common rules and recommendations to keep in mind before registering a domain name.

Special characters in domain names

Domains with special characters such as æ, ø, å, ù, ö, ò are known as IDN domains.

These domains can work, but they may not always function properly across all systems. They can also be used for email, but not all email clients support special characters correctly.

Because of this, we generally do not recommend using special characters in domains intended for everyday business use.

Country code limitations

It is usually not possible to register domain names that combine country codes in certain ways, such as:

• dk.eu

• pk.se

These types of combinations may be blocked by the registry.

Very short domain names

Domain names with only 1–2 characters are often blocked and cannot be registered.

This may still be the case even if the domain appears to be available during a search.

Prohibited domain combinations

Some domain combinations are not allowed, even if they appear available.

Examples include:

• org.biz

• com.biz

These restrictions depend on the rules set by the relevant registry.

Hyphen usage

Domain names must not contain hyphens as the 3rd and 4th characters.

In general, we also recommend avoiding hyphens when possible, as they can make a domain harder to remember, say, and type correctly.

Avoid numbers and special characters

Numbers and special characters can be used in some domain names, but they often make the domain harder to remember and type.

For most businesses, a simple domain using letters is usually the best choice.

Related services and information

RockyNordic can help with domain registration, domain transfer, DNS setup, renewals, and general domain management.

If you are unsure which domain name or extension to choose, we can help you review the available options.

Other domain extensions

If you are looking for a specific domain extension that is not shown in our list, it does not necessarily mean that we cannot register it for you.

Our supplier can offer significantly more domain extensions than the ones listed on our website.

Prices and requirements may vary depending on the individual extension.

You are always welcome to contact us, and we will be happy to investigate the available options for registering your desired domain name with the exact domain extension you want.