ICANN Approves Verisign Proposal to Terminate .name Third-Level Domains

Termination of .name Third-Level Domains

On July 28, 2026, ICANN approved a proposal from Verisign to terminate all third-level domains under the .name top-level domain. This decision, proposed by Verisign on April 15, 2026, aims to simplify administration. The termination is scheduled to take effect in February 2027.

Impact on Existing Registrations

The termination affects approximately 22,000 existing third-level .name registrations. For affected users, this means the loss of associated websites, email addresses, and any services hosted on these domains, even if registrations were paid for years in advance. The author's personal domain, registered for nearly 25 years, is among those impacted.

Distinction of .name Domains

Unlike some other third-level domains often associated with resellers, .name was specifically designed as a third-level operation from its inception. Registrations like xxx.yyy.name were directly managed through registrars with full WHOIS records, similar to established structures like *.ny.us or *.co.uk. The author notes that .name was originally managed by Global Name Registry, which Verisign later acquired.

Security Implications

A significant concern is the potential for security vulnerabilities once these third-level domains are terminated. The now-vacant second-level domains, such as fraser.name, will become available for registration. If a malicious actor registers a second-level domain, they could potentially recreate and control previously existing third-level domains, leading to account hijacking, unauthorized code commits, and control over IoT devices linked to those addresses.