Greetings everyone,
I am facing difficulties trying to register a domain that includes a Modern Greek symbol in its name, as most registrars seem to reject such requests. I have come across a list of supported domains on the internet which can be found at: https://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/238/35/do-you-support-idn-domains-and-emoticons
My attempts to register the domain in zones like .io, .uk etc. have also been unsuccessful even after encoding the name into Punycode.
I was wondering if there is any reliable source of information that could guide me through the process of registering such domains, detailing which domains actually support this and outlining the proper steps for submission.
What is the reason for allowing character mixing in domains? Can you explain how domain conversions are processed within browsers?
However, the issue is much more extensive than that. In fact, there exists an entire character block referred to as "Latin Extended-A" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Extended-A , which can seemingly be mixed with Latin characters in Internationalized Domain Names (IDN).
To convert characters for IDN, make use of Punicode converters, such as URL Decoder/Encoder or Punycode converter. This method can help alleviate some of these issues.
You can find more information on Punycode by visiting https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Punycode, and you can access useful converters by visiting http://meyerweb.com/eric/tools/dencoder/ and https://www.punycoder.com/.
It's not uncommon for registrars to have restrictions on certain characters or symbols in domain names due to technical and security reasons.
When dealing with internationalized domain names (IDNs) that include non-ASCII characters, it's important to work with registrars that fully support IDNs. While some generic top-level domains (gTLDs) and country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) have started to adopt support for IDNs, not all of them do. This can result in failed attempts to register such domains, even when encoding the name into Punycode.
To navigate this challenge, I recommend consulting a reliable source such as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) or the official websites of specific domain registries. These sources often provide detailed information about which TLDs support IDNs and the specific requirements for registration.
In addition, it's crucial to verify the compatibility of the Modern Greek symbol with the intended TLD before proceeding with the registration process. Some TLDs may have specific guidelines or restrictions regarding the use of certain characters, so thorough research is essential.
When submitting a domain registration request, ensure that you follow the proper steps outlined by the registrar and provide accurate Punycode representation of the domain name if required. By adhering to the guidelines provided by reputable sources and registrars, you can increase the likelihood of successfully registering a domain with Modern Greek symbols.
The problem isn't just Punycode conversion—it's that registries enforce different IDN tables, and registrars often lack robust validation or support for non-Latin scripts. Many registrars' frontends reject Unicode domains outright or silently fail because their backend EPP clients haven't been updated.
To navigate this mess, use the official IANA Root Zone Database to identify TLDs with IDN support, then cross-reference with ICANN's IDN Implementation Reports. For Greek characters, .gr is your safest bet. If you're stuck with .io or .uk, you'll likely hit a wall.