.ie Personal Domain Name FAQs .ie Personal Domain Names FAQs

Questions and answers relating to new Personal Domain Names starting 31st October 2007

Under the Personal Domain Name (PDN) category, what types of .ie domain names can registrants apply for?

An applicant named ‘John Paul Smith’ can register the following alternatives:

•   Johnsmith.ie        [first name / surname]
•   Johnpaulsmith.ie        [first name / middlename / surname]
•   John-smith.ie       [first name / hyphen / surname]
•   John-paul-smith.ie       [first name / hyphen / middlename / hyphen / surname]
•   Johnpsmith.ie                 [first name / middle initial / surname]
•   John-p-smith.ie       [first name / hyphen / middle initial / hyphen / surname]
•   Jsmith.ie           [first initial / surname]
•   Jpsmith.ie           [first initial / middle initial / surname]
•   Jp-smith.ie           [first initial / middle initial / hyphen / surname]
•   J-smith.ie           [first initial / hyphen / surname]
•   J-p-smith.ie           [first initial / hyphen / middle initial / hyphen / surname]
•   Paulsmith.ie           [middlename / surname]
•   Paul-smith.ie       [middlename / hyphen / surname]
•   Psmith.ie           [middle initial / surname]
•   P-smith.ie           [middle initial / hyphen / surname]

What documentation are required to authenticate a registrant’s claim to the domain name?

To obtain a Personal Domain Name (PDN), applicants will need to supply any one of the following documents. The name in the document supplied must match exactly the domain name applied for e.g. a document showing Mr. John Smith is not acceptable if the domain name required is johnnysmith.ie

Irish applicants:-
•    Irish passport
•    Irish driver's licence
•    Irish revenue / social welfare document showing PPS number
•    Irish birth certificate
•    Irish marriage certificate
•    Irish utility bill (e.g.: NTL, Chorus, SKY / ESB, Airtricity / Bord Gais / Eircom / Vodafone, O2, Meteor, Three - bill pay phones only).
Northern Ireland applicants:-
•    UK driver's licence with Northern Ireland address.
•    HM Revenue & Customs / Northern Ireland Social Security Agency document showing National Insurance number
•    Northern Ireland birth certificate
•    Northern Ireland marriage certificate
•    Northern Ireland utility bill (e.g.: NTL, Chorus, SKY, UTV Internet / NIE, Airtricity / British Gas / BT / Vodafone, O2, 3, T-Mobile, Orange, BT - bill pay phones only).

Can applicants under the Personal Domain Name (PDN) category register nicknames or add words to their name?

No, under the Personal Domain Name (PDN) category applicants will only be able to register the pre-defined variations of their name, and it must match exactly the name which appears on the documentation provided to support their application.

Can an individual register more than one Personal Domain Name (PDN)?

Yes, individuals are permitted to register any number of personal domain names provided they satisfy the necessary requirements for registration.

What signs, symbols or numbers can be used in a Personal Domain Name (PDN)?

Only hyphens are permitted in domain names. It is NOT possible to register a domain name with an apostrophe such as johno’brien.ie.

Is it possible to register a second level domain name, e.g. johnsmith.name.ie?

No, second level domain names will not be available for registration. Dot-ie domain name are only available at the top-level.

What if there are many applications for the same .ie name?

The registry will only accept applications from the first applicant. Where the domain already exists, or where an application has already been received the registry will not accept applications from the second or later applicants. Applications will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis after the launch date and names cannot be reserved or booked in advance. Applications will be electronically time-stamped for future inspection or verification if required. Applicants will have 30 calendar days to provide the required documentation. After this time the application will lapse, and will be deleted from the system.

Applicants who were not first in the queue may refer to the registry's whois lookup service (www.iedr.ie) to see if the domain name required subsequently becomes available.

Why would individuals be interested in registering a personal domain name?

A domain name is an address on the Internet. However, having a dot-ie extension at the end tells the world that the person is located in Ireland, or has a connection to Ireland. Hence there is an element of individualisation or personalisation in having a local Internet address, rather than an anonymous .com address. Individuals may be interested in:

having a personal Internet address or personal web site
having a personalised e-mail address
having a personal blog presence on the Internet
protecting their name on the Internet
preserving their name for children or grandchildren
simply exploiting the novelty value of the name.

2007-09-17

.ie Personal Domain Name FAQs