Published: 17.10.2026
The .nu extension is the country-code domain of Niue, a small self-governing island state in the South Pacific that is linked to New Zealand. Its two letters make a very short address, and the same letters form an everyday word in several languages, including Swedish and Dutch, where nu means now. Type your idea into the availability form below this paragraph to see whether your name in .nu is still available.
Check if a .nu domain is available .nu Check
A short history
Niue received its national code when the country joined the global internet, in the early years of the network. Like other short national endings, .nu may appeal to people who want a brief address, and its letters carry a meaning in more than one language. For an up-to-date picture of how the zone is used, the registry's own information is the best place to look, rather than general impressions.
Who runs it
The zone is linked to Niue, and an operator named in the registry's published information manages the names and the rules. Registrars sell names to customers and forward the orders. Because conditions are set by the operator, read the current terms before you pay, instead of relying on what you have heard about the zone.
Rules in practice
- Holder conditions: the conditions for registering a .nu name are set by the zone, so look them up before you settle on a name.
- Contact data: holder details must be correct and may need to be confirmed by the registrar.
- Name format: the part before the dot uses letters, digits and hyphens, and the usual length limits apply.
- Renewal: keep the expiry date under control, because a lapsed name may be picked up by another party.
Reasons people pick a short ending
- Blogs, creative studios and portfolios that want a short address for their name.
- Businesses that want a name which is easy to type and easy to say aloud.
- Organisations with a real link to Niue, its community or its culture.
- Writers and designers who enjoy a name that plays with the meaning of the letters.
Strengths
- The name is very short, which helps when an address is read aloud on a podcast, in a talk or on a business card.
- In some languages the letters form a clear word, which can make a name memorable if the wording is well chosen.
- The ending ties the site to a specific island nation, which gives it a distinct identity.
Things to keep in mind
- Some people may read the ending as a word rather than a country code, so the surrounding name must make the meaning clear.
- Visitors may expect a .com or a local ending, so the site should explain its address in plain words.
- A name that looks like a word in one language can mean something else in another, so test it with native speakers.
- Terms and renewal conditions may change, so check them at each renewal.
Before you order
- Look up the name in .com before you commit, and check that matching handles are open.
- Say the full address out loud and ask a few people how they would spell it, to spot confusion early.
- Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC records before you use the address for e-mail.
- Publish a clear about page so that visitors know who runs the site.
- Turn on auto-renewal and keep the account recovery details up to date.
Frequently asked questions
Is .nu only for people connected with Niue? The code links the zone to Niue, but who may register a name depends on the zone's current conditions, so check them before you order.
Does a .nu name improve search results? Search engines weigh content, structure and links far more than the ending itself.
Does the ending matter if the letters are a word in another language? It can. The letters form an ordinary word in some languages, so think about how the full address reads to your audience.
