In this article, we look at the domain name trends that will dominate in 2024.
Domain name trends are constantly changing. Great for keeping things fresh on the Web, but it can make it hard to pick a domain name that’s going to keep your business relevant for longer than five minutes.
If you’ve spent a lot of time surfing the Net recently, you might’ve come across some pretty interesting web addresses. If you’ve seen .io or .ly in your address bar, for example, you may have found a website for a trendy, up-and-coming new business.
In this article, we’re going to look at some of the hottest trends when it comes to domain names, giving you everything you need to pick the perfect domain on your first attempt.
So, Why Do Domain Name Trends Matter?
Before we dive in, let’s cover the basics, so we all know what we’re talking about. ‘What is a domain name?’ we hear you ask. Well, in a nutshell, it’s a kind of address label for your website.
Computers are the kings at remembering long strings of numbers, so they use IP addresses to navigate the Web. Humans? Not so much. We tend to remember words better, and so domain names are a much better way for us to surf the Net.
Why is this important? Well, it means that your domain name is one of the key things in charge of directing users to your website.
Knowing what’s on trend in the world of domain names helps you stay ahead of the curve when it comes to your brand identity. Domain name trends are often about general changes in language and style around the world. If you’ve got a domain name that’s on trend, it can help your brand stay relevant.
A trendy moniker can even help browsers to find your website. Your domain name is one of the things a search engine uses to rank results, so choosing the right keywords or phrases can help push your website up to the top page.
15 Trending Domain Names and Crazes to Look Out For
Here are 15 hot domain name trends to be aware of in 2024.
1. Artificial intelligence for domain creation: it’s everywhere
From self-driving cars to the ethics of creating AI art, it feels like artificial intelligence is all over the news at the minute. Love it or hate it, there’s no getting away from the fact that AI is creeping into almost every area of our lives. Domain name creation is no exception.
You can use AI to spot trends and patterns in the registration and sale of domain names. This can help you stay on top of what’s hot and what’s not when it comes to naming trends.
AI algorithms can even analyse SEO factors and user preferences to help you secure a domain name that goes with your industry. This means evaluating user behaviour data to see what makes the most-visited domains appealing to them and what features help domain names rank higher in search results.
2. Voice-optimised domains are on the up
Voice search is pretty much what it sounds like: people using their words to search the Internet. It’s a practice that’s on the up, and as many as 50% of consumers in the US are now using it daily.
Stats like this mean it’s no surprise that brands are moving towards domain names optimised for voice search. In most cases, this means short and sweet monikers. It’s also a big deal to have domain names that are easy to pronounce.
Voice searches are often more conversational than text searches, so choose keywords keeping this in mind. For example, if you’re an Italian restaurant trying to boost your traffic, you might want to use ‘cheap pizza’ rather than ‘affordable Italian cuisine’ (even if that feels like you’re dumbing down your product a bit).
3. More businesses are using country code domains (ccTLDs)
ccTLDs (country code top-level domains) are country-specific domain names. Global businesses often use them to create a worldwide presence.
For example, Amazon uses ccTLDs to create local websites for the territories it operates in, such as amazon.co.uk in the UK.
Using ccTLDs helps brands to reach consumers where they are. Many shoppers will feel more comfortable buying from a site that has a local domain name, as it comes across as authentic and they feel they can trust it.
4. .com is still king of the castle, but geoTLDs are also becoming popular
.com is still the most popular type of domain around; as of December 2023, 46% of all top-level domains were .com. But, there’s another kid on the block getting attention.
Geographic top-level domains, or geoTLDs for short, are popular domain names used to link a website to a specific geographic location. For example, popular geoTLDs include .london, .toronto, and .berlin.
5. .eco and eco-related domains are moving up through the ranks
In 2024, shoppers care more about the environment than ever before and this matters when it comes to the products they buy. Between 2016 and 2021, there was a 71% increase in Internet searches for ‘sustainable goods’.
Many businesses wanting to jump on the bandwagon with this trend have started registering .eco domains as a way of showing they’re ‘green’.
6. New top-level domains are widespread
TLDs like .com, .co.uk, or .gov are commonplace, but there’s a huge range of other, lesser-known top level domains (TLDs) for you to choose from when building your website.
Many businesses are now turning more and more towards quirkier TLDs as they look for ways to make their brand stand out from the crowd.
.ing domains are one example. They can make virtually any web address seem more relevant (for example, imagine how great alwaysbak.ing would be as a domain name for an online bakery). Or, you could opt for a .cool domain for a quick and easy way to make your brand seem on-trend.
7. Short and memorable domain names: everyone wants one
Shorter domain names can really make your website stand out in a marketplace that’s, let’s face it, pretty crowded. A short, snappy moniker is easy to remember and will have users coming back to your site again and again.
The rise in popularity of domain suffixes like .ai and .io has a lot to do with the recent explosion of the short domain name industry trend.
8. Brandable domain names are becoming more common
Brandable domain names mean distinctive and memorable web addresses. Instead of just explaining what a company does, a brandable moniker is all about leaving a lasting impression.
And it works. Think about it: some of the most popular websites you can think of are words that don’t relate whatsoever to what the company does (Google and Amazon both spring to mind).
9. Creative, personalised domain names: the thing to have
Personalised domain names are another winning option for businesses looking to make a lasting impression, especially SMEs and sole traders.
A personalised domain name usually includes the name of the person who owns the business and maybe even a description of what they do. For example, vincentvgpainter.co.uk. They can help establish a personal brand, making a business feel more approachable.
10. Domain hacks: the newest industry craze
Have you always wanted people to look at your domain name and think, ‘Oh, that’s clever’? If you have, a domain hack is for you.
To pull it off, you need to use the domain extension alongside the rest of your domain name to create a word or phrase. For example, del.icio.us or exquisite.ly.
They may seem a little gimmicky, but you can’t deny that these names are fun and likely stick in your customer’s heads.
11. SEO-friendly domain names are still flavour of the month
SEO (search engine optimisation) still plays a massive role when business owners choose a domain name. It’s not surprising: an SEO-optimised domain name will push a website up the search rankings, leading to increased traffic and increased revenue.
Using industry-specific keywords, leaving out numbers and special characters, and using a great TLD like .com or .net are some of the best ways to keep your domain name SEO-friendly.
12. Domains related to Web3 are growing in popularity
The idea of Web3 may still be evolving, but there’s no denying that it’s already making waves right across the Internet. Concepts like decentralisation, open-source computing, and blockchain won’t be going anywhere any time soon, so we’re likely to see popular domain names like .crypto and .x to match on the rise.
13. .live is dominating the scene
If you’re looking for a way to make your domain seem more trendy, look no further than .live monikers. These are often used by content creators as a place to host their videos or podcasts.
As the global streaming market continues to grow, expect to see .live become more and more widespread.
14. Domain flipping is appealing to more people than ever
Domain flipping involves buying domain names to sell them on for a profit. It’s a surprisingly big business, with plenty of money to be made if you know when to buy and when to sell.
As trends continue to evolve, domain flippers will be paying close attention to try and capitalise on future trend domain names. As more of these are introduced, existing domain names could fall in value, making it a potentially risky business.
15. NFT domains: the word on everyone’s lips
NFT (non-fungible token) domains are domains based on blockchain technology. We won’t go too much into the specifics, as it can get pretty confusing, but long story short, they’re domains that can also function as a public cryptocurrency address.
This means that with an NFT domain, you can send and receive cryptocurrencies and tokens as payment. They’re also usually 100% user-owned and are bought with a one-off payment rather than on a rolling subscription.
They’re still seen as quite niche, however, and probably will be until Web3 becomes more prominent. That explains why NFT domains aren’t seeing much use by companies outside the cryptocurrency and NFT spaces.
Tightening GDPR Regulations is the Order of the Day
The bad news is there’s no sign of threats on the Internet disappearing any time soon. This means that security and privacy are two key concerns when it comes to domain names moving forward into 2024.
The global clampdown on domain impersonation
Domain impersonation is when hackers or other nasty pieces of work create domain names similar to well-known companies to make users think they’re on a decent website. Then, when they enter their credit card details or other personal information, it’s basically up for grabs.
The worst thing is that the growing number of new and different TLDs is making it harder and harder to spot impersonated domains. Brands were targeted by nearly 40 lookalike domains on average each month in the first half of 2023.
Automated systems and algorithms are being used more and more to analyse domain names for similarities to the actual websites of well-known brands. When they’re found, dubious domains can be blacklisted by browser vendors and security software providers.
SSL and TLS certificates are another powerful weapon in the fight against impersonated domains. Dodgy domains won’t have these certificates or the padlock symbol in the browser bar.
Transparency and privacy in the spotlight
It’s so important to use advanced security measures to keep browsing safe and private. Two-factor authentication, encryption, and anti-malware software can all help.
The privacy of domain owners also needs to be protected and their personal information must be kept safe from any unauthorised access.
Keep Up with the Latest Domain Name Trends and Developments Using the OnlyDomains Platform
The importance of domain name trends in 2024 can’t be overstated. Knowing what’s hot and what’s not could be the difference between success and failure for your business.
Now you know about all the latest domain name trends, the only thing left is to try and pick one to follow. Whichever trend you choose to jump on, OnlyDomains gives you a domain management solution that can help you build and host the perfect website.
Our drag-and-drop editor lets you build a great-looking website in no time. You’ll even be able to make sure you’re optimised for mobile, have an SSL certificate, and can take payments online.
Once you’re up and running, our massive knowledge base, live chat, and top phone support will help you keep your website running reliably and at top speed for years to come.
