How to Register an ENS Name (Guide)

Currently, there are 2.5 million ENS names registered, in over 500,000 wallet addresses. Also, with the popularity of “SIWE”, more-and-more users want to set an ENS-name as their “primary” Web3 username.

So what is ENS, how do you find the right name, and then, how do you register your ENS Name? We will review in this beginner’s guide!

Learn more about Ethereum Name Service Domains in our ENS Domains 101 Beginner Guide.

What is an ENS Domain Name?

ENS, or the “Ethereum Name Service”, is a human-readable decentralized naming system, based on the Ethereum blockchain. It allows you to register a “name”, (just like a website domain, but with more use cases for Web3).

Without going into all of the use cases of ENS-protocol,
your ENS Name can do many things for you in Web3, including:

• An ENS-name is your Web3-username, which is automatically used when you connect your wallet, and “Sign-in With Ethereum”.
• ENS domain names are intended to make it easier for people to “send and receive cryptocurrency”, as your crypto-payment address.
• They also provide a more user-friendly way to access decentralized websites, and other online files and resources.

Currently, ENS domain names are used specifically for blockchain addresses. This differs from traditional Web2 domain names, which can only be used for limited purposes, including: “Web2 websites” and “Web2 email addresses”.

How Do You Find the Right ENS Domain Name for You?

The best ENS domain name for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences, including your culture and your interests.

However, without going into many of the best practices, there are a general tips that may help you choose the right ENS domain name for your needs:

1. Consider your target audience. When choosing an ENS domain name, it is important to consider your target audience.
   1. Are you building a personal brand?
   2. Do you have an existing business?
   3. What kind of people are you trying to reach?
   4. What are their needs and interests?
   5. Choose an ENS domain name that will be memorable and relevant to your target audience.
2. Keep it short and simple. ENS domain names can be up to 63 characters long,
   1. but shorter names are often easier to remember and type.
   2. Choose a name that is easy to remember and pronounce, and avoid using abbreviations or numbers.
3. Make it unique. There are millions of websites on the internet,
   1. so it is important to choose an ENS domain name that is unique and stands out from the crowd.
   2. Avoid using common words or phrases, and try to be creative with your name.

How Do You Register an ENS Domain Name?

ENS domain names can be purchased and registered through a variety of online services.

In this tutorial, we will be using the “Official ENS Website”.

Step 1

You will start off by going to the official ENS Website:

1. https://app.ens.domains (Main Web2 website.)
2. https://app.ens.eth.limo (Alt. “.eth.limo” website.)
3. https://app.ens.eth.link (Alt. “.eth.link” website.)

You will then “connect” your Crypto/Web3-wallet, (ie: MetaMask), to the ENS Website/App.

IMPORTANT: It is very important that you are on the correct website;
…And not a scammers-site, which may look like the official site.

Step 2

Search for a name you would like to register using the search bar shown below. 

(Note: If the name you want is taken, then please refer to our upcoming article, on “how to purchase names on the secondary market”.)

Step 3

Once you find an available name that you would like to register, then proceed to the next step by “clicking on the name”. 

Note, Pricing: There are price differences levels, depending on “the number of characters” that are in your ENS name.

The shorter the name, the more expensive it will be to maintain: 

• 3 characters – $640/year
• 4 characters – $160/year
• 5 characters – $5/year

Step 4

After finding & selecting the desired name, then you will select “Request To Register”.

NOTE, Name Registrations for “LESS than a year”:
You can choose to register your name for “a fraction of a year”, by “adding a decimal point before the whole number” if the “years field”.

NOTE, Name Registrations for “MORE than a year”:
You can choose to register your name for “multiple years”, which will protect your name from any future changes in price.
Also, by registering your name for multiple years at once, you are saving on the required gas costs, which would otherwise be needed each time you extend the name.

Step 5

Your Crypto/Web3-wallet (ie: MetaMask) will pop-up and you will select “Confirm”; and this will be “the First-of-Two” transactions, which required to register an ENS name.

This first-fee is a very small gas fee, (to prepare the smart contract for your name registration).

In this example below, the fee was as low as $0.55, and this fee will vary, depending on network congestion. It is always a good idea to register names when gas is low.

Here are some sites that allows you
to “Track Ethereum Gas” levels:

• https://txstreet.com/v/eth
• https://etherscan.io/gastracker

IMPORTANT: Again, it is very important that you are on the correct website,
And that you also check the website-data that displays in the wallet pop-up;
and not a scammers-site, which may only appear to look like the official site.

Step 6

You will then wait at least one (1) minute. This is required by the protocol/smart contract, to ensure another users has not tried to register the same name (within the past minute), and then this will protect you for a minute after your request initial transaction.

Step 7

Once the minute (60 seconds) is complete, you will then click on “Register”.

Step 8

Your wallet will then pop up again and we will confirm the last transaction, it is then only after this 2nd transaction that you know the name is officially yours.

IMPORTANT: Again, it is very important that you are on the correct website,
And that you also check the website-data that displays in the wallet pop-up;
and not a scammers-site, which may only appear to look like the official site.

Step 9

Congratulations!

You have secured an ENS name, and you will be able to manage it under the “My Account” tab, on the ENS app-website.

After you minted or own your ENS name, you can then change or delete old records, add new records, and be in control of your decentralized identity.

Conclusion

Remember that the blockchain is never anonymous, only semi-anonymous. Even without ENS names, nearly all data is trackable and traceable on the Blockchain ledger. With ENS names, it can add additional data points, and if you are aware of Blockchain security and Blockchain privacy, then ENS names will help you enhance your security across your Web3 journey!

There are many sites available to register ENS names,
and some of them offer additional features, such as bulk registration:

1. ENS.Vision
2. OpenSea.io
3. LooksRare.org
4. X2Y2.io
5. PreDomain.eth.limo