# How do I find a domain hack for my own name?

> Domain hack ideas for 15 endings: bons.ai, rad.io, fi.sh, ne.ws. Real words, how they read, and each registry's rules. No KYC, paid in crypto.

- URL: https://pearlcay.com/domain-hack-ideas/
- Last updated: 2026-11-02
- Publisher: Pearlcay (https://pearlcay.com)

Real English words that end with the letters of each extension we sell, how each one reads as a hack, and the registry rule to check before you register.

**Quick answer — How do I find a domain hack for my own name?**

A domain hack is a web address where the dot splits a word: bonsai becomes bons.ai, radio becomes rad.io. To find one for your name, look for a word or name that ends in an extension's letters, then search it. On 2 November 2026, **Pearlcay** sells 15 such endings, paid in crypto with no KYC: a .sh costs $50.49/year and a .io $35.99/year.

## Which ending finishes which words?

One row per extension we sell. Prices are per year, first year and renewal. Each rules link opens the page of that extension.

*The 15 endings Pearlcay sells, by how many real English words end with their letters.*

| Ending | Finishes words ending in | Real words listed | First year | Renewal | Rules |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| .ai | -ai | 7 | $86.99/year | $86.99/year | [.ai rules](https://pearlcay.com/ai-domain/ "What is a .ai domain, and who can register one?") |
| .io | -io | 11 | $35.99/year | $62.99/year | [.io rules](https://pearlcay.com/io-domain/ "What is a .io domain, and what about the Chagos question?") |
| .gg | -gg | 2 | $57.99/year | $57.99/year | [.gg rules](https://pearlcay.com/gg-domain/ "What is a .gg domain, and who can register one?") |
| .sh | -sh | 12 | $50.49/year | $50.49/year | [.sh rules](https://pearlcay.com/sh-domain/ "What is a .sh domain, and who can register one?") |
| .so | -so | 8 | $62.99/year | $62.99/year | [.so rules](https://pearlcay.com/so-domain/ "What is a .so domain, and can anyone outside Somalia register one?") |
| .co | -co | 11 | $33.99/year | $33.99/year | [.co rules](https://pearlcay.com/co-domain/ "What does .co stand for, and who can register it?") |
| .me | -me | 12 | $18.99/year | $18.99/year | [.me rules](https://pearlcay.com/me-domain/ "What is a .me domain, and is it only for personal sites?") |
| .tv | -tv | None: read as TV | $28.49/year | $28.49/year | [.tv rules](https://pearlcay.com/tv-domain/ "What is a .tv domain, and what does Tuvalu get from it?") |
| .cc | -cc | None: read as CC | $37.99/year | $37.99/year | [.cc rules](https://pearlcay.com/cc-domain/ "What is a .cc domain, and who runs it?") |
| .vc | -vc | None: read as VC | $29.49/year | $29.49/year | [.vc rules](https://pearlcay.com/vc-domain/ "What is a .vc domain, and is it only for venture capital?") |
| .ac | -ac | 10 | $50.49/year | $50.49/year | [.ac rules](https://pearlcay.com/ac-domain/ "What is a .ac domain, and is it only for universities?") |
| .fm | -fm | None: read as FM | $95.49/year | $95.49/year | [.fm rules](https://pearlcay.com/fm-domain/ "What is a .fm domain, and is it only for radio?") |
| .ws | -ws | 12 | $25.99/year | $25.99/year | [.ws rules](https://pearlcay.com/ws-domain/ "What is a .ws domain, and does it stand for website?") |
| .pw | -pw | None: read as PW | $20.49/year | $20.49/year | [.pw rules](https://pearlcay.com/pw-domain/ "What is a .pw domain, and what does it stand for?") |
| .la | -la | 12 | $31.49/year | $31.49/year | [.la rules](https://pearlcay.com/la-domain/ "What is a .la domain: Laos or Los Angeles?") |

Prices of 2 November 2026. A .ai is billed 2 years at a time. The .cc price includes Domain protection, which .cc requires.

## How do I turn a word into a domain hack?

Five steps, the same for every ending.

1. **Pick a word.** It must end with the letters of an ending we sell: -ai, -io, -sh, -co, -me and the others in the table.
2. **Cut it before those letters.** Put the dot there: fish becomes fi.sh, radio becomes rad.io.
3. **Read it aloud and type it.** If a listener types the full word plus .com, the hack costs you visitors.
4. **Search the whole name.** Dictionary words are often taken, and some are registry premiums. [Why some names cost more](https://pearlcay.com/registry-premium-domains/ "Why do some .ai, .io or .gg names cost more?").
5. **Read the ending's rules.** Each ending has its own registry, term and privacy rule.

The term comes from the way an address reads across the dot. Wikipedia defines a domain hack as a name that suggests a word by joining adjacent levels of the domain. The [domain hacks guide](https://pearlcay.com/domain-hacks/ "What is a domain hack?") has famous examples, with sources, and the risks. On some endings, such as .me and .ws, stems of one or two letters can be reserved or priced as premiums, so the tables flag them.

## Which words end in -ai or -io?

These two endings suit tech names. Both are islands: .ai belongs to Anguilla and .io to the Chagos Islands.

### Which 7 words make a .ai hack?

A .ai costs $86.99/year and is sold 2 years at a time, so the first order is $173.98. Short and dictionary names are often taken. Read [why .ai takes 2 years](https://pearlcay.com/ai-domain-two-year-minimum/ "Why is a .ai domain sold for at least 2 years?") and the [.ai page](https://pearlcay.com/ai-domain/ "What is a .ai domain, and who can register one?").

| Word | Domain hack | Why it works |
| --- | --- | --- |
| bonsai | bons.ai | A small, patient tree with AI built in |
| samurai | samur.ai | A protective, precise name for security or agent tools |
| banzai | banz.ai | A loud, upbeat name for a launch |
| lanai | lan.ai | A Hawaiian porch: travel, home or wellness tools |
| chai | ch.ai | Two letters before the dot, so likely a premium |
| Thai | th.ai | Food and travel names; two-letter stem, likely a premium |
| shanghai | shangh.ai | A long stem; the word is also a verb |

### Which 11 words make a .io hack?

A .io costs $35.99/year the first year and $62.99/year at renewal. For .io the search reads 'confirmed at order', so the registry confirms a name only when you order. The Chagos question is covered in [retired country codes](https://pearlcay.com/retired-country-code-domains/ "What happens when a country code domain is retired?"). Rules: [.io page](https://pearlcay.com/io-domain/ "What is a .io domain, and what about the Chagos question?").

| Word | Domain hack | Why it works |
| --- | --- | --- |
| radio | rad.io | Audio, streaming and signal tools |
| studio | stud.io | Creative, design and video tools |
| audio | aud.io | Sound, podcast and music tools |
| patio | pat.io | Home, garden and outdoor services |
| ratio | rat.io | Finance, analytics and comparison tools |
| portfolio | portfol.io | Showcase sites for work and investments |
| scenario | scenar.io | Planning, testing and simulation tools |
| folio | fol.io | Documents, collections and archives |
| curio | cur.io | Curiosity, collectibles and discovery |
| trio | tr.io | Teams of three; two-letter stem, likely a premium |
| brio | br.io | A lively brand; two-letter stem, likely a premium |

## Which words end in -sh, -so, -co or -me?

Four endings with many common words. Developers read .sh as 'shell', and .me suits personal sites.

### Which 12 words make a .sh hack?

A .sh costs $50.49/year a year, the same at renewal. Names under .co.sh and similar are for Saint Helena residents. Privacy is not confirmed for .sh. Rules: [.sh page](https://pearlcay.com/sh-domain/ "What is a .sh domain, and who can register one?").

| Word | Domain hack | Why it works |
| --- | --- | --- |
| fish | fi.sh | Food, aquariums and fishing; two-letter stem |
| wish | wi.sh | Gift lists and apps; two-letter stem |
| flash | fla.sh | Speed, photos, limited offers |
| dash | da.sh | Dashboards and speed; also the name of a shell |
| fresh | fre.sh | Food, cleaning and fast releases |
| push | pu.sh | Notifications and deploy tools; two-letter stem |
| cash | ca.sh | Payments and finance; two-letter stem |
| hash | ha.sh | Checksums and security tools; two-letter stem |
| bash | ba.sh | Developers know Bash as a shell; two-letter stem |
| splash | spla.sh | Landing pages, water brands |
| brush | bru.sh | Design and art tools |
| finish | fini.sh | Task and checklist apps |

### Which 8 words make a .so hack?

A .so costs $62.99/year a year. Sources disagree on whether the registry expects a link to Somalia, and it disallows adult and gambling content. Read the [.so page](https://pearlcay.com/so-domain/ "What is a .so domain, and can anyone outside Somalia register one?") before you order.

| Word | Domain hack | Why it works |
| --- | --- | --- |
| also | al.so | Reads as the word 'also'; two-letter stem |
| torso | tor.so | Fitness and body-care brands |
| espresso | espres.so | Coffee shops and fast tools |
| peso | pe.so | Money and currency tools; two-letter stem |
| lasso | las.so | Selection, capture and rope |
| calypso | calyp.so | Music and Caribbean brands |
| proviso | provi.so | Contracts and legal tools |
| basso | bas.so | Music; a low voice or instrument |

### Which 11 words make a .co hack?

A .co costs $33.99/year a year, the same at renewal. Names such as .gov.co are reserved, and short names can be registry premiums. Rules: [.co page](https://pearlcay.com/co-domain/ "What does .co stand for, and who can register it?").

| Word | Domain hack | Why it works |
| --- | --- | --- |
| taco | ta.co | Food and local services; two-letter stem |
| disco | dis.co | Music and events |
| tobacco | tobac.co | A long stem, for a heritage brand |
| fresco | fres.co | Art, food and outdoor dining |
| alfresco | alfres.co | Outdoor events and venues |
| fiasco | fias.co | Humor and failure-testing tools |
| bronco | bron.co | Sports, outdoor and vehicle brands |
| stucco | stuc.co | Building and design trades |
| flamenco | flamen.co | Dance, music and travel |
| rococo | roco.co | Art, design and interiors |
| sirocco | siroc.co | Weather, wind and travel brands |

### Which 12 words make a .me hack?

A .me costs $18.99/year a year, the same at renewal. Two-letter and some other names are registry premiums, and third-level names such as .co.me are for Montenegrin citizens and companies. Rules: [.me page](https://pearlcay.com/me-domain/ "What is a .me domain, and is it only for personal sites?").

| Word | Domain hack | Why it works |
| --- | --- | --- |
| home | ho.me | Property and smart-home brands; two-letter stem |
| game | ga.me | Games and playful apps; two-letter stem |
| name | na.me | Identity and naming tools; two-letter stem |
| lifetime | lifeti.me | Subscriptions and memorial sites |
| welcome | welco.me | Onboarding pages and hospitality |
| income | inco.me | Finance and freelancer tools |
| theme | the.me | Design and template sites |
| frame | fra.me | Photo, design and web-builder tools |
| flame | fla.me | Cooking, heat and spark brands |
| scheme | sche.me | Plans, diagrams and loyalty programs |
| volume | volu.me | Audio, storage and marketplaces |
| enzyme | enzy.me | Science and nutrition brands |

## Which words end in -ac, -la or -ws?

Three endings that finish plenty of words: -ac for words like zodiac, -la for foods and animals, and -ws for plurals.

### Which 10 words make a .ac hack?

A .ac costs $50.49/year a year. People often read .ac as 'academic'. Our data for .ac is only partly verified, so read the [.ac page](https://pearlcay.com/ac-domain/ "What is a .ac domain, and is it only for universities?") before you rely on a privacy rule.

| Word | Domain hack | Why it works |
| --- | --- | --- |
| lilac | lil.ac | Flowers, color and beauty brands |
| zodiac | zodi.ac | Astrology and horoscope sites |
| almanac | alman.ac | Reference and data sites |
| maniac | mani.ac | Fitness and gaming communities |
| cardiac | cardi.ac | Health and heart-care tools |
| insomniac | insomni.ac | Night owls, sleep tracking, music |
| bivouac | bivou.ac | Camping and outdoor gear |
| cognac | cogn.ac | Spirits and luxury brands |
| tarmac | tarm.ac | Roads, travel and racing |
| sumac | sum.ac | Cooking and spice brands |

### Which 12 words make a .la hack?

A .la costs $31.49/year a year. Some names are registry premiums, and the content rules are unclear in the sources we checked. Many read .la as 'LA'. Rules: [.la page](https://pearlcay.com/la-domain/ "What is a .la domain: Laos or Los Angeles?").

| Word | Domain hack | Why it works |
| --- | --- | --- |
| villa | vil.la | Rentals and holiday homes |
| vanilla | vanil.la | Plain, simple software and food |
| gorilla | goril.la | Strong, bold brands |
| gala | ga.la | Events and ticketing; two-letter stem |
| cola | co.la | Drinks; two-letter stem |
| koala | koa.la | Friendly apps and travel in Australia |
| tequila | tequi.la | Bars and spirits |
| tortilla | tortil.la | Food brands and recipes |
| umbrella | umbrel.la | Insurance and group tools |
| formula | formu.la | Spreadsheets, science and racing |
| nebula | nebu.la | Space, media and data tools |
| gondola | gondo.la | Travel and Venice brands |

### Which 12 words make a .ws hack?

A .ws costs $25.99/year a year, the same at renewal. Names of one to three characters are reserved or sold as premiums, and the registry may refuse offensive names. Rules: [.ws page](https://pearlcay.com/ws-domain/ "What is a .ws domain, and does it stand for website?").

| Word | Domain hack | Why it works |
| --- | --- | --- |
| news | ne.ws | Media and updates; two-letter stem |
| views | vie.ws | Analytics, opinion and photography |
| shows | sho.ws | Events, podcasts and TV guides |
| laws | la.ws | Legal information; two-letter stem |
| jaws | ja.ws | Bold or accessibility brands; two-letter stem |
| claws | cla.ws | Pets and playful brands |
| brews | bre.ws | Coffee, beer and tea |
| crews | cre.ws | Teams, film and sailing groups |
| flows | flo.ws | Workflow and automation tools |
| blows | blo.ws | Humor and wind-related brands |
| reviews | revie.ws | Ratings and feedback sites |
| interviews | intervie.ws | Hiring and media tools |

## Which endings have few or no English words to finish?

Few or no common English words end in -gg, -tv, -fm, -cc, -vc or -pw. For these, the ending carries the meaning. The stem is a plain word, and you read the ending as GG, TV, FM, CC, VC or PW. These are patterns, not hacks of one word. Plain dictionary words are often taken, so use the tables to see the pattern and then search your own stem.

### Which 2 words make a .gg hack?

A .gg costs $57.99/year a year, one year at a time. No WHOIS privacy service exists for .gg, so details can appear in public lookups. The registry can refuse an application. Our registration time: usually within minutes of the top-up being credited; a few island registries (.gg among them) can take up to a day to confirm a new name. For .gg the search reads 'confirmed at order'. Rules: [.gg page](https://pearlcay.com/gg-domain/ "What is a .gg domain, and who can register one?").

| Word | Domain hack | Why it works |
| --- | --- | --- |
| egg | e.gg | A one-letter stem, likely reserved or a premium |
| yegg | ye.gg | An old slang word for a safecracker; two-letter stem |

### How does .gg read as 'good game'?

Gamers read .gg as 'good game'. The stem is a plain gaming word.

| Stem | Name | How it reads |
| --- | --- | --- |
| guild | guild.gg | A guild, good game |
| clan | clan.gg | A clan site |
| raid | raid.gg | Raid schedules and loot |
| loot | loot.gg | Drops and trading |
| arena | arena.gg | Matches and tournaments |
| squad | squad.gg | Team finders |

### How does .tv read as television?

A .tv costs $28.49/year a year, the same at renewal. Anyone can register one. Rules: [.tv page](https://pearlcay.com/tv-domain/ "What is a .tv domain, and what does Tuvalu get from it?").

| Stem | Name | How it reads |
| --- | --- | --- |
| live | live.tv | Live TV |
| news | news.tv | A news channel |
| sport | sport.tv | A sports channel |
| kids | kids.tv | Children's video |
| retro | retro.tv | Classic shows |
| indie | indie.tv | Independent creators |

### How does .fm read as FM radio?

A .fm costs $95.49/year a year. Premium names exist and cost more. Pearlcay does not promise free WHOIS privacy on .fm. Rules: [.fm page](https://pearlcay.com/fm-domain/ "What is a .fm domain, and is it only for radio?").

| Stem | Name | How it reads |
| --- | --- | --- |
| jazz | jazz.fm | A jazz station |
| chill | chill.fm | Relaxing playlists |
| talk | talk.fm | Talk radio and podcasts |
| retro | retro.fm | Old hits |
| night | night.fm | Late-night shows |
| focus | focus.fm | Music for work |

### How does .vc read as venture capital?

A .vc costs $29.49/year a year. Investors read it as 'venture capital'. Rules: [.vc page](https://pearlcay.com/vc-domain/ "What is a .vc domain, and is it only for venture capital?").

| Stem | Name | How it reads |
| --- | --- | --- |
| seed | seed.vc | A seed fund |
| angel | angel.vc | Angel investors |
| early | early.vc | Early-stage funds |
| growth | growth.vc | Growth funds |
| pitch | pitch.vc | Pitch events |
| founder | founder.vc | Founder-led funds |

### How does .pw read as password?

A .pw costs $20.49/year a year. People often read it as 'password'. Rules: [.pw page](https://pearlcay.com/pw-domain/ "What is a .pw domain, and what does it stand for?").

| Stem | Name | How it reads |
| --- | --- | --- |
| vault | vault.pw | A password vault |
| secure | secure.pw | Secure login tools |
| keys | keys.pw | Key and secret managers |
| safe | safe.pw | A safe for credentials |
| lock | lock.pw | Lock and unlock tools |
| open | open.pw | Open-source password tools |

### How does .cc read as CC?

A .cc costs $37.99/year a year, and the price includes Domain protection, which .cc requires. It reads as 'carbon copy' in email. Rules: [.cc page](https://pearlcay.com/cc-domain/ "What is a .cc domain, and who runs it?").

| Stem | Name | How it reads |
| --- | --- | --- |
| mail | mail.cc | Email tools |
| loop | loop.cc | Keep me in the loop |
| memo | memo.cc | Notes and team updates |
| inbox | inbox.cc | Inbox tools |
| team | team.cc | Team messaging |
| notes | notes.cc | Shared notes |

## What should I check before I register a domain hack?

Four checks take five minutes.

- **Search the whole name.** Every name in this guide is an idea, not a result. Some are taken. For .io and .gg the search reads 'confirmed at order'. If a name cannot be registered, if a domain cannot be registered (taken in the meantime, refused by the registry), the full amount goes back to your balance.
- **Read the term and the renewal price.** A .ai is sold 2 years at a time, and a .io renews at $62.99/year. According to Pearlcay's price check of 2 November 2026, Namecheap renews the four endings with the most words in this guide (-sh, -me, -la and -ws) 27% to 225% above its first-year price. The [pricing page](https://pearlcay.com/pricing/ "How much does a short domain cost per year?") prints the first year and the renewal side by side.
- **Check the ending's rule.** A .so, .sh and .gg each have a rule that can surprise you. Open the page of the extension.
- **Do not build on someone else's brand.** A hack that spells a trademark can lose a UDRP case. Pick a word that is yours.

## Search your domain hack

Type the full name, such as bons.ai or fi.sh.

Search a domain name: https://pearlcay.com/app/domains/?q=bons.ai

Popular extensions: .ai ($86.99), .io ($35.99), .sh ($50.49), .co ($33.99), .me ($18.99), .ws ($25.99)

## Domain hack ideas: questions

### How do I make a domain hack from my brand name?

Check that your name ends with the letters of an ending we sell, such as -io, -sh, -co or -me. Put the dot before those letters, read it aloud, then search the whole name. The five steps above cover the rest.

### Which ending finishes the most words?

In this guide, -sh, -me, -la and -ws each list 12 real words, and -io and -co list 11. The ending -ws suits plurals such as news and views, and -me suits personal sites.

### Can I be sure a domain hack is free?

No. Search the name. For .io and .gg the result reads 'confirmed at order', and the registry confirms it only when you order. if a domain cannot be registered (taken in the meantime, refused by the registry), the full amount goes back to your balance.

### Do short domain hacks cost more?

Often. On .me, .ws, .fm and .la, short or chosen names can be registry premiums that cost more than the listed price. [Why some names cost more](https://pearlcay.com/registry-premium-domains/ "Why do some .ai, .io or .gg names cost more?") explains how to check.

### Is a domain hack a good name for a business?

It is a trade-off. A hack is short and memorable, but visitors may type the plain word plus .com. Register the plain word too, if you can. The [domain hacks guide](https://pearlcay.com/domain-hacks/ "What is a domain hack?") lists the risks.

**Find your hack** A .sh at $50.49/year, a .io at $35.99/year, a .ai at $86.99/year. No ID, paid in crypto. [Search a domain](https://pearlcay.com/app/domains/?lang=en) · [All extensions](https://pearlcay.com/extensions/ "Short domain extensions")

## Sources

1. [Domain hack (definition)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_hack) — Wikipedia (checked 2026-11-02)
2. [RFC 1591: Domain Name System Structure and Delegation (March 1994)](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc1591) — RFC Editor (checked 2026-11-02)
3. [yegg (English noun: safecracker)](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/yegg) — Wiktionary (checked 2026-11-02)
4. [.so domain names (eligibility, content rules)](https://www.gandi.net/en/domain/tld/so) — Gandi (checked 2026-11-02)
5. [.gg domain names (terms)](https://www.gandi.net/en/domain/tld/gg) — Gandi (checked 2026-11-02)
6. [Domain name regulations for .gg (registry may refuse an application)](https://safenames.net/domain-names/domain-name-regulations/GG) — Safenames (checked 2026-11-02)
7. [.ws domain names (name length, premiums)](https://www.gandi.net/en/domain/tld/ws) — Gandi (checked 2026-11-02)
8. [.la domain names (premium names)](https://www.gandi.net/en/domain/tld/la) — Gandi (checked 2026-11-02)
9. [.sh (second-level and third-level rules)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.sh) — Wikipedia (checked 2026-11-02)
10. [.me (second-level and third-level rules)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.me) — Wikipedia (checked 2026-11-02)
11. [.CO registry (restricted names under .gov.co)](https://registry.co/) — .CO Internet registry (checked 2026-11-02)
12. [.fm domain names (premium names)](https://www.gandi.net/en/domain/tld/fm) — Gandi (checked 2026-11-02)

---

Pearlcay: Pearlcay registers short country-code domains, most of them island extensions: .ai (Anguilla), .io (Chagos Islands), .gg (Guernsey), .sh (Saint Helena), .tv (Tuvalu) and ten more, paid in crypto with no KYC: no ID, only one verified email per domain. It is run by DomaineGoat LLC, a company registered in Panama; domains are registered through its ICANN-accredited registrar partner. A .ai costs $86.99/year, sold for at least 2 years.