Can one rent or lease a domain name?

Essentially that’s what everyone is doing. I assume you mean “domain name” rather than URL?

I do, thanks @colliedog

If you are not the registered owner, then it is possible to rent, obviously by agreement with the owner.

The only trouble is if you build a successful site, you have no guarantees.

My advice, pick a unique available name and build your site. The domain is not as important as you think. Generic ones are probably out of your price range. Good luck with your project.

You can’t not rent/lease a domain name. No one owns it outright, forever. You have to renew every couple of years. If you don’t, it’s up for grabs.

@MrItty I did a search on “How to rent a domain name” and found dozens of listings. Are they fake?

@YARNLADY what’s making you think that? If you found a site for how to own a domain name, that would be fake.

@MrItty I read your answer completely backwards. Hubby says we have to pay everytime our registration comes up for renewal.

Domains are only owned for X amount of years, depending on how many years you ordered, so in a way I guess it could be called being rented. But people call it buying. ;)

@pjanaway That is how it works, even if your domain name is your own name, you only own exclusive use of it for the contracted length of time.