Short domain letter checker
Score any short domain name on the things domain investors actually look at: what type of name it is, how long it is, and how good its letters are. Every point is shown, so you can see exactly why a name scored the way it did.
Check a short name
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How the score works
The score starts from the type of name, the biggest driver of value for short domains, then adds or subtracts points for length, letters and patterns. The rules come from the same tiers used in our three-letter and four-letter domain guides.
Starting points by type
| Type | Starting points | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Word or well-known abbreviation | 85 | Real words (CAT, ZOOM) and widely used abbreviations (SEO, IBM). |
| Pronounceable | 65 | Can be said as a word: TAVO, ZUPR, LUMI. |
| Acronym with common letters | 55 | 2 or 3 letters, all common, like CPA or BMS. |
| Numbers only | 60 | All digits, like 888 or 2025. |
| Chips (no vowels, no V) | 50 | Like BKZ or PCHT. Historically popular with buyers in China. |
| Random letters | 35 | Has a vowel or V but isn't sayable, like QAXJ. |
| Letters and numbers mixed | 25 | Like A1B or 4KQ. The hardest to sell. |
Adjustments
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Length | 2 characters +12, 3 +6, 4 0, 5 −10 |
| Letters (letter names only) | +2 for each common letter (A B C D E F G H I L M N P R S T W), −4 for each of Q V X Z; capped from −10 to +8 |
| First letter (non-pronounceable names of 2 to 4 letters) | +3 if it's a common starting letter, −3 for Q V X Z |
| Numbers | +3 for each 8, −3 for each 4, −5 if it starts with 0 |
| Repeats | +12 if every character is the same (AAA, 888), +4 for AABB, ABAB, ABBA or ABA patterns |
A name counts as pronounceable when it has a vowel (Y counts after the first letter), never has three consonants or three vowels in a row, and any two consonants side by side are a pair that occurs in English, like ST, BL or NK. Words come from a list of about 5,000 common English words and abbreviations of 2 to 5 letters.
What the score doesn't know
- The ending. The same letters are worth far more as .com than as most other endings. The score is about the letters only.
- Meaning to a buyer. An acronym can be worth a lot if many businesses share it (like a common company initials), and a word can be worth little if it's offensive or tied to a trademark.
- The market. Prices move. For real numbers, look up comparable sales on NameBio and read what is my domain worth?
Thinking of buying a short name to hold? Run the costs through the domain investment calculator, or browse our short .ai and .io names for sale.
Questions
What makes a short domain valuable?
Its type first: real words and well-known abbreviations sell for the most, then pronounceable names, then strong acronyms and chips, with random letters at the bottom. Shorter is better, and common letters beat rare ones like Q, X, Z and V.
What are chips domains?
Short names with no vowels and no V, like BKZ or PCHT. They were popular with buyers in China, where V isn't used in pinyin and vowel-free strings read as initials.
Why do 8s and 4s matter in number domains?
In Chinese, 8 sounds like the word for prosperity and 4 sounds like the word for death, so number names full of 8s tend to be wanted and names with 4s less so.
Is this score a price?
No. It ranks letter quality using published rules. Prices depend on the ending, the market and real comparable sales, so check NameBio before you buy or sell.