Email Name Generator That Lets You Pick the Subdomain Too
An email name generator gives you a random name before the @ — and lets you replace it with any name you like. Here that works on every domain. On wildcard domains you get a second choice as well: the word in front of the domain. Two names you make up, one working inbox. This page shows how to choose good names, which characters are allowed, and what wildcard domains can and can't do.
@ on any domain. Pick a domain marked with ✱ and you can also change the first word of the domain — for example anna@shop.example.xyz instead of anna@zq7.example.xyz. Each combination is a separate mailbox.Generated name or your own
When you open the email generator, it suggests a random name. That's the quickest option and the hardest for anyone to guess. You can also type your own name over it — useful when you want an address you'll recognise later or need to read out loud.
| Random name | Your own name | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | ready instantly | a few seconds of typing |
| Chance someone else uses it | very low | higher for common words |
| Easy to remember | no | yes |
| Good for | one-off codes and downloads | sign-ups you'll come back to |
Rules for a valid name
- Letters, digits, dots (
.), hyphens (-) and underscores (_). - Up to 25 characters.
- Don't start or end with a dot, hyphen or underscore, and don't put two of them in a row.
Anything else is dropped as you type, so the address you see is always the address that works.
Naming ideas that pay off later
- Name it after the site:
forum-anna@…,shop2@…. When a message arrives, you know which sign-up it belongs to — the idea behind a separate address for every website. - Add a short suffix of your own:
anna.k7@…keeps the name readable but much less likely to be opened by someone else. - Avoid the obvious:
test,admin,infoare typed by many people. On a public mailbox that means sharing it.
Wildcard domains: choose the subdomain as well
In the list of domains, wildcard domains are shown in a different colour. On a computer, hovering over one shows a short explanation. Pick one, and a star (✱) appears under your address with a line like this:
example.xyz receives mail tooIt means the domain you picked, say zq7.example.xyz, is just one of endless names that work. Swap zq7 for any word — shop.example.xyz, news.example.xyz — and the address still receives mail.
| You choose | Address you get |
|---|---|
name anna, subdomain zq7 | anna@ |
name anna, subdomain shop | anna@ |
name order, subdomain parcel | order@ |
Each of these is a separate mailbox: mail for anna@zq7.example.xyz never shows up in anna@shop.example.xyz.
How to type your own subdomain
- Pick one of the coloured domains from the list.
- In the domain field, replace the first word (
zq7in our example) with a word of your own. - Leave the rest unchanged. If the star line still shows under the address, the new address is covered.
Wildcard domains are rare, so the list usually mixes in only one or two. Reload the page to see others. If you'd rather not see them, turn off the Wildcard domains switch in the settings.
Why two names are better than one
- Your inbox is much harder to stumble on. On a shared domain, popular names get opened by many people. With a subdomain of your own in the address, the chance that someone types exactly the same address drops sharply.
- A new address in a second. If a site says an address is already registered, change the subdomain and you have a fresh one on the same domain.
- Sorting without effort. Use the subdomain for the site (
me@forum.example.xyz,me@store.example.xyz) and keep the name the same everywhere.
How a wildcard domain works
Every domain tells the internet where its mail should go. That instruction is called an MX record, and it lives in the domain's DNS settings. Usually it is set for one exact name: mail for example.xyz goes to a particular server.
DNS also allows a record named with an asterisk: *.example.xyz. It covers every name under the domain that doesn't have a record of its own. When the owner points that record at the email generator, mail for zq7.example.xyz, shop.example.xyz and any other made-up subdomain comes here. That's why they all work, and why the star is the symbol.
* as the name and the same value. Where to enter it: How to add an MX record. Afterwards, Check your domain tells you whether mail for a test subdomain reaches us.Things to keep in mind
- It's still a public mailbox. A subdomain makes an address harder to guess, not private. Anyone who types the same address can open it. Use it for codes, confirmations and newsletters, never for an account you can't afford to lose.
- The owner can switch it off. The wildcard record belongs to whoever owns the domain. If they remove it, made-up subdomains stop receiving mail and the star disappears. An address that works today isn't guaranteed to work next month.
- Keep it short. Some sign-up forms reject addresses with many levels, like
me@a.b.c.example.xyz. One short subdomain is the safest choice. - Domain-name rules apply to the subdomain. Letters, digits and hyphens; no hyphen at the start or end; up to 63 characters per part.
- Receive only. This site doesn't send mail, so a wildcard address is an inbox for sign-ups and notifications, not an address to write from.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose any name before the @?
Yes, on every domain: letters, digits, dots, hyphens and underscores, up to 25 characters. The generator's random name is only a suggestion.
What does the ✱ next to my address mean?
The domain is a wildcard domain: besides the name, you can change the first word of the domain and still receive mail.
Are anna@shop.example.xyz and anna@news.example.xyz the same inbox?
No. Every combination of name and subdomain is its own mailbox.
Will a site accept a wildcard address more readily?
Not necessarily. A form sees an ordinary address. What changes is how hard your inbox is to find, not how sites treat it.
Why did the star disappear from a domain I used?
Its owner removed the wildcard record. Made-up subdomains on it no longer receive mail — pick another domain marked with ✱.