.name TLD to end third-level domain registrations

The .name top-level domain (TLD) will no longer support new third-level domain registrations after a policy change approved by ICANN. The decision, formalized in a registry request submitted on 15 April 2026, targets the discontinuation of formats such as john.smith.name while allowing existing second-level registrations like smith.name to continue unchanged. No timeline for the phase-out has been specified beyond the policy’s approval date in August 2026, leaving operators and registrants uncertain about enforcement deadlines or grandfathering provisions for active third-level domains.

What happened

ICANN’s Registry Services Evaluation Process (RSEP) approved a request from the .name registry to eliminate third-level domain registrations. The policy does not affect second-level domains under .name, which will remain available for registration and renewal. The request was filed in mid-April 2026, and ICANN’s approval was documented in a consensus policy published on 31 August 2026. No public announcement has clarified whether existing third-level domains will be forcibly deleted, migrated, or allowed to expire naturally.

What we don’t know yet

Sources do not specify when the policy will take effect or how it will be enforced. There is no information on whether registrars will receive advance notice, what grandfathering measures—if any—will apply to active third-level domains, or whether registrants will be offered migration paths to second-level equivalents. The registry has not disclosed whether the change is driven by technical constraints, declining usage, or cost considerations. Operators relying on third-level .name domains should monitor ICANN and registry communications for updates on implementation timelines and transition policies.