“A Domain Name Is Born” But Never Grew Up; Reserved at Birth, Forgotten by Time

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Nearly two decades ago, my local newspaper at the time, Newsday, ran a front-page story in its Money & Careers section titled “A Domain Name Is Born.” The article spotlighted a fascinating emerging trend: forward-thinking parents reserving web addresses for their newborns – sometimes before the child was even born. I snapped a photo of the front cover back in 2007, struck by how the digital world was starting to influence even baby names. I grabbed my kids name and now that their grown, they’re really not interested in owning them.

At the time, the concept made waves. With domain names still widely available and the dot-com era fresh in everyone’s minds, owning FirstnameLastname.com seemed like a gift that could grow with the child. Whether for a future online portfolio, personal blog, or business venture, having a child’s domain name locked in felt like a head start in life – the 21st-century equivalent of a college savings bond.

But something interesting happened over the next decade: The trend never really took off.

Despite the early enthusiasm and media attention, registering domain names for babies never became mainstream – and today, it’s more of a niche practice – if that, than a modern parenting must.

So What Happened?

Here are a few key reasons the trend fizzled out:

• Social Media Took Over
  As platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok exploded, online identity shifted away from personal websites. For most people, having a handle or profile mattered more than owning a dot-com.
• Changing Priorities
  The average parent quickly realized that domain registration isn’t top of mind when you’re changing diapers and navigating sleepless nights. Even tech-savvy families found it hard to justify the long-term cost and if a developed website, the upkeep.
• The Name Game Got Complicated
  With evolving naming conventions – hyphenated last names, unique spellings, and creative baby names – the availability of a clean, brandable domain wasn’t always realistic.
• Perception of Value Shifted
  While domain names still hold tremendous value in branding and business, for personal use, their perceived importance has diminished – especially with the rise of no-code website builders and app-centric digital identities.

But Was It a Missed Opportunity?

Not entirely. Some parents did hold on to those domain names, and in a few cases, they’ve become valuable digital assets – either sentimentally or financially. It also laid the groundwork for today’s more mature understanding of digital presence, even if the execution evolved in a different direction.

And from the perspective of domain investors, it’s a reminder of an important truth: The public perception of domain names changes with time – but the core value of a strong, memorable, and brandable web address remains.

The Newsday article serves as a nostalgic snapshot of a moment when domains were seen as futuristic baby gifts. While the cultural momentum didn’t last, the core idea – protecting digital identity early – is more relevant than ever in today’s online world.

So maybe “A Domain Name Is Born” was less a trend… and more a time capsule. A reminder of how far we’ve come, and how the domain space continues to evolve in unexpected ways.

John Colascione

About The Author: John Colascione is Chief Executive Officer of SEARCHEN NETWORKS®. He specializes in Website Monetization, is a Google AdWords Certified Professional, authored a how-to book called ”Mastering Your Website‘, and is a key player in several online businesses.