---
id: "release-of-reserved-names"
kind: "glossary-term"
title: "release of reserved names"
language: "en"
category: "Registration life cycle"
updated: "2026-10-10T09:09:47Z"
canonical: "https://tldlog.com/glossary/release-of-reserved-names/"
translations:
  es: "https://tldlog.com/es/glosario/liberacion-nombres-reservados/"
  de: "https://tldlog.com/de/glossar/freigabe-reservierter-namen/"
  fr: "https://tldlog.com/fr/glossaire/liberation-noms-reserves/"
  it: "https://tldlog.com/it/glossario/rilascio-nomi-riservati/"
  pt-BR: "https://tldlog.com/pt/glossario/liberacao-nomes-reservados/"
  ru: "https://tldlog.com/ru/glossariy/osvobozhdenie-zarezervirovannykh-imen/"
  zh-Hans: "https://tldlog.com/zh/cihui/baoliu-mingcheng-shifang/"
---

# release of reserved names

The step in which a registry makes names it had held back available for registration. Some names reserved under the gTLD Registry Agreement can be released only with ICANN approval or a government's agreement. Two-character labels have been covered by general ICANN authorizations since 2014 and 2016, some with conditions. Registries often sell released names through auctions or at premium prices.

## related terms

- [reserved name](https://tldlog.com/glossary/reserved-name/)
- [Registry Agreement](https://tldlog.com/glossary/registry-agreement/)
- [premium domain](https://tldlog.com/glossary/premium-domain/)
- [registry operator](https://tldlog.com/glossary/registry-operator/)
- [GAC](https://tldlog.com/glossary/gac/)