Verisign to Delete .name Third-Level Domains After ICANN Approval

Verisign is discontinuing all third-level domain registrations for the .name top-level domain (TLD). The move, approved by ICANN, will result in the deletion of existing personal domains and a total block on new registrations.

The process began on April 15, 2026, when Verisign submitted a Registry Services Evaluation Process (RSEP) request to terminate the service. ICANN approved the request on May 7, 2026, and issued a formal notice of discontinuation on July 28, 2026. This action targets the specific architecture that allowed users to register domains such as user.surname.name, effectively wiping those addresses from the internet.

The Shift in Architecture

The .name TLD was originally launched by Global Name Registry as a third-level operation to facilitate personal branding. Verisign later acquired Global Name Registry and inherited this structure. In its RSEP request, Verisign argued that the discontinuation would "increase efficiency for the operation of the .name TLD."

Verisign justified the decision by citing "declining usage" and "limited registrar support." According to the company, the majority of the approximately 22,000 existing third-level registrations are currently not in use, making the maintenance of the legacy architecture an operational burden.

Digital Identity Risks

For users still relying on these domains, the impact extends beyond the loss of a website URL. Because these domains often serve as the foundation for email addresses and API endpoints, their deletion represents a total loss of digital identity.

Industry observers, including affected user Neil Fraser, have noted the severity of the disruption, with Fraser stating, "Basically, I disappear from the Internet." Beyond the immediate loss of access, there are significant security concerns. If these third-level domains are deleted but the corresponding second-level domains become available for registration, it could open the door for squatters to hijack identities or seize control of linked IoT devices.

What's Next

Affected users must now migrate their services to new domains to avoid a complete blackout of their digital presence. While the formal ICANN notice has been issued, users are monitoring the final implementation timeline to determine exactly when their domains will vanish.

The situation serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of domain ownership, particularly when registry operators change their technical architecture. The industry will be watching to see if other legacy TLD structures face similar "efficiency" purges in the coming years.