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Today's 10th Anniversary of Armenia's IDN Shows How Domains Can Become a Source of National Pride 

We posted an article Monday about worldwide domain registrations nearing the 400 million mark. That is an astounding number - one that will become a reality because people around the globe have discovered the countless ways domains can be used to create something long-lasting and meaningful that is accessible to anyone, anywhere with just the click of mouse. In many cases domains become a point of national pride - something we are seeing today as Armenian celebrates the 10th anniversary of .հայ  - the nation's native language IDN (internationalized domain name). 

ICANN approved the TLD on April 26, 2016 and it was launched for public use on May 5, 2016 by the administrator - Internet Society of Armenia (ISOC

Armenia), the organizatiuon that also oversees Armenia's .AM country code top level domain.

As noted in an article at ArmenianDomains.com,"The introduction of the .հայ domain was intended to encourage the visibility of online content and websites in the Armenian language and script, helping Armenian entities establish a unique online presence that mirrors their cultural and linguistic heritage. Many Armenian websites using the .AM ccTLD have also acquired their .հայ equivalent either to use as a separate website in the native language of Armenia or forward the domain to their .AM website."

More insight into  the impact that a native script TLD like .հայ came from a recent meeting of Armernian leaders devoted to growing the TLD's user base and drawing more attention to Armenian langiage content online. In that discussion, Kristina Hakobyan, Board Vice Chair of the Internet Society NGO, emphasized that Armenian, as one of the world’s oldest languages with its own distinct alphabet, deserves a strong presence in the global digital environment. She said, "Expanding opportunities for online communication in Armenian not only helps preserve national identity, but also addresses practical needs by improving internet accessibility for wider segments of society." 

Last year's 9th anniversary celebration of the the first registration in the Armenian-script .հայ included a festive flashmob featuring a performance by “Karin” Folk, Song and Dance Group. It was organized by Internet Society NGO – the manager of both .am and .հայ domains. 
(Photo courtesy of ISOC.AM)

With the 10th anniversary approaching, the March 2026 meeting was also scheduled with an eye on a Universal Acceptance Day event that was held soon after on March 31st in Yerevan. On that topic Kristina noted that Armenia’s participation in the global Universal Acceptance movement marked a significant milestone in this effort. The initiative seeks to guarantee that all languages and domain names are fully recognized and supported across the internet. Siranush Dvoyan, Chair of the Language Committee of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia, also took part and presented the Language Committee’s efforts to advance the digital transformation of Armenian, broaden the scope of Armenian-language content online and enhance its overall quality. She stressed the importance of effective collaboration between government institutions and professional organizations to expand the use of Armenian in the digital sphere. 

(Posted May 5, 2026)  


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