GitHub organization name checker and rules

A business claims its name as an organization, github.com/yourname, created from a personal account. Our check looks up that address, which a person or an organization can hold. How our checks work

CostFree
Name lengthUp to 39 characters
CharactersLetters, numbers, single hyphens
You needA personal account, age 13+
Holds the nameCreating the organization
Checked 25 Oct 2026, 07:01 UTCSources [1, 2, 3, 6, 8]

What can a GitHub organization name contain?

Letters, numbers and hyphens, up to 39 characters. GitHub's docs state these rules for usernames; organizations use the same github.com addresses, and our checker applies the same rules to both.

CharacterAllowed?Where
Letters a to zYesAnywhere
Numbers 0 to 9YesAnywhere
Hyphen (-)YesNot first or last, never two in a row
Anything elseNo

Sources [8, 9]

How do you create a GitHub organization?

In your personal account, open Settings, then Organizations, then New organization.

  1. Check the name above, with npm, PyPI and the .com.
  2. Sign in to your personal GitHub account. Organizations have no sign-in of their own.
  3. Open Settings, then Organizations, then New organization.
  4. Follow the prompts to name and create the organization.[1, 5]

How much does a GitHub organization cost?

Nothing on GitHub Free, which covers unlimited public and private repositories. Paid plans add features and charge per user.

PlanPriceAdds
Free$0Unlimited repositories, 2,000 CI/CD minutes a month
Team$4 per user a monthRequired reviewers, code owners, 3,000 minutes
EnterpriseFrom $21 per user a monthSAML single sign-on, audit log API, 50,000 minutes

Sources [3]

What should you know before you claim a GitHub name?

Names are first come, first served, and GitHub won't release one because it looks unused.

FactWhat it means
First come, first servedNames go to whoever claims them first, for active use
No squattingNames can't be reserved or held unused; GitHub may remove or rename such accounts
Inactive names stay putGitHub won't release a name because it looks unused
Renaming releases the nameYour old name becomes available to anyone, and profile links to it break
One free accountOne person or legal entity may keep only one free personal account

Sources [2, 4, 6]

What if someone already has your GitHub name?

GitHub reviews only trademark complaints for a claimed name. Holders of a registered trademark can report an account, and GitHub may release the name for their active use.

SituationWhat GitHub does
Clear intent to misleadSuspends the account
Confusing, without passing offLets the holder clear up the confusion
No trademarkNothing; pick a close version

Sources [2, 7]

Which platforms should you claim with GitHub?

npm, PyPI, X, the .com and the .dev.

Checks GitHub, npm, PyPI, X, the .com and the .dev in one search.

Sources (9)

  1. PrimaryGitHub Docs: Creating a new organization from scratch
  2. PrimaryGitHub Docs: GitHub Username Policy
  3. PrimaryGitHub: Pricing
  4. PrimaryGitHub Docs: Changing your GitHub username
  5. PrimaryGitHub Docs: About organizations
  6. PrimaryGitHub Terms of Service
  7. PrimaryGitHub Docs: GitHub Trademark Policy
  8. PrimaryGitHub Docs: Username considerations for external authentication
  9. PrimaryZero To 1000's platform catalog: GitHub rules from github.com/signup