3 ms·
It was initially not possible, then later opened up, though a large collection of known surnames and personal names are reserved and cannot be registered as 2LD
by iminatx 1mo ago
It was initially not possible, then later opened up, though a large collection of known surnames and personal names are reserved and cannot be registered as 2LDs. As far as I know the list of reserved names is unavailable, but you can run a whois query on any one of them to see it is reserved. E.g. check whois baxter.name and you get a response saying, "Not available for second level registration. Third level registrations may be available on this shared name."
I have the .name zone file and can confirm that no records for baxter.name appear therein, so it is not reserved only because a 3LD registration has ever taken place, it is reserved proactively just in case someone with that surname might want to register a 3LD under it.