Look, I know what you’re thinking. “Gmail works perfectly fine. Why on earth would anyone pay for custom domain email addresses?” And you’re absolutely right. Gmail is free, reliable, and has more storage than I’ll ever use.

But here’s the thing: I code. I run marathons. I do triathlons. And somewhere between my 47th hackathon and my attempt at an Ironman, I had an epiphany that was either brilliant or completely absurd (still not sure which).

I need something like hello@yourname.dev for my open-source projects and hello@yourname.fit for race registrations.

Is this necessary? No.
Will Gmail’s filters and labels accomplish the same thing? Absolutely.
Did I do it anyway? You bet.

The Totally Rational Justification

Here’s my logic (and I’m using that term loosely):

  • When I email hackathon organizers or collaborate on open-source projects, I want them to immediately know I’m a developer. What better way than an email that literally ends in .dev?
  • When I register for marathons and triathlons, I want race directors to see my .fit email and think, “This person is serious about fitness.” (Narrator: He gets passed by 60-year-olds at every race.)

Plus, let’s be honest—there’s something deeply satisfying about having multiple professional email addresses that segment your life into neat little boxes. It’s like Marie Kondo-ing your inbox, except you’re spending money instead of getting rid of things.

For My Fellow Overthinking Perfectionists

If you’re reading this and nodding along thinking, “Yes, I too need unnecessarily specific email addresses for different aspects of my life,” then welcome, friend. We’re probably the same person. Here’s your step-by-step guide to joining me in this beautiful madness.

Prerequisites

You’ll need:

  • An iCloud account (most of us already have one)
  • iCloud+ subscription ($2.99/month for 200GB—you’re probably already paying for this)
  • About 20 minutes and a credit card
  • A sense of humor about yourself (essential)

Step 1: Buy Your Domains on Namecheap

First, head over to Namecheap and search for your desired domains.

For the coding identity:

  1. Search for yourname.dev
  2. .dev domains typically cost around $12-15/year
  3. Add it to your cart

For the fitness identity:

  1. Search for yourname.fit
  2. .fit domains run about $20-30/year
  3. Add it to your cart

Pro tips:

  • Don’t buy the extra privacy protection for email—you’re using these addresses anyway
  • Skip the hosting packages—you’re just doing email
  • Resist the urge to buy .ninja, .guru, or .unicorn while you’re there (you don’t need those, I promise)

Total damage: Around $30-40/year. That’s like… three fancy coffees a month. Or one DNF at a trail race because you forgot to bring enough nutrition.

Step 2: Configure DNS Settings on Namecheap

After purchasing, you need to tell Namecheap that iCloud will handle your email. Here’s how:

  1. Log into Namecheap and go to your Domain List
  2. Click “Manage” next to your domain
  3. Go to the “Advanced DNS” tab
  4. You’ll add these DNS records shortly, but first we need to set up iCloud

Don’t worry—we’ll come back to this. iCloud will tell us exactly what records to add.

Step 3: Add Custom Domain on iCloud

This is where the magic happens. Since you’re already paying $2.99/month for iCloud+, you get custom email domains included. Here’s the setup:

On Mac:

  1. Open System Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud
  2. Click Custom Email Domain
  3. Click the + button to add a new domain

On iPhone/iPad:

  1. Open Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud
  2. Tap Custom Email Domain
  3. Tap Add Domain

The Setup Process:

First, add your .dev domain:

  1. Enter yourname.dev
  2. iCloud will ask you to verify ownership
  3. It’ll show you specific DNS records to add—something like:
    • TXT record: v=spf1 include:icloud.com ~all
    • MX records: Point to Apple’s mail servers
    • CNAME records: For verification

Here’s the slightly annoying part:

  1. Switch back to Namecheap (keeping iCloud open in another tab)

  2. In Namecheap’s Advanced DNS section, add each record exactly as iCloud specifies:

    • For TXT records: Host is usually @, value is what iCloud provides
    • For MX records: Add priorities (usually 10 and 20) and values Apple provides
    • For CNAME: Copy exactly as shown

  3. Save changes on Namecheap

  4. Wait 10-15 minutes for DNS to propagate (grab a snack, do some stretches, question your life choices)

  5. Return to iCloud and click “Verify”

Then, repeat for your .fit domain:

The process is identical. Just add yourname.fit as a second custom domain in iCloud and follow the same DNS configuration steps.

Create Your Email Addresses:

Once verified, you can create email addresses:

  1. Click Create Email Address
  2. For .dev: Create hello@yourname.dev, projects@yourname.dev, etc.
  3. For .fit: Create hello@yourname.fit, races@yourname.fit, etc.

iCloud+ lets you create up to 3 custom email addresses per domain, plus unlimited email aliases. That’s 6 full addresses across both domains.

Step 4: Actually Use These Things

Now comes the fun part—actually putting your fancy new email addresses to work.

For Your .dev Address:

  • Update your GitHub profile email
  • Use it for hackathon registrations
  • Add it to your LinkedIn
  • Include it in your open-source project contributions
  • Use it when DMing other devs at meetups

Example email:

To: hackathon@sometech.dev
From: hello@yourname.dev
Subject: Excited to build something awesome!

Hey team,

Just registered for your hackathon next month. I'm working on an MCP 
server for [cool thing]. Would love to connect with others interested 
in AI agent security.

- Your Name

See? Instantly more credible. (Results may vary.)

For Your .fit Address:

  • Register for marathons and triathlons
  • Sign up for training groups
  • Subscribe to race newsletters
  • Join Strava clubs (if you’re into that)
  • Use it for race day communication

Example email:

To: registration@bigcitymarathon.com
From: hello@yourname.fit
Subject: Marathon Registration - Wave Placement Question

Hi,

I'm registered for the marathon (bib #4892). I'm targeting a sub-4 
finish. Should I start in wave B or C?

Thanks!
Your Name

Race directors will see that .fit and immediately assume you know what you’re doing. (They will be wrong, but that’s beside the point.)

The Mental Gymnastics: Why This Actually Makes Sense

Okay, real talk for a second. Beyond the novelty and the fun of it, there are some legitimate benefits:

Organization: When you see an email from yourname.dev, you instantly know it’s related to coding. When it’s from yourname.fit, it’s fitness-related. Your brain doesn’t have to do the mental sorting.

Professionalism: In the tech world, having a .dev email signals that you take your craft seriously. In the endurance sports world, having a .fit email shows you’re committed (even if you’re slowest in your age group—ask me how I know).

Separation of Concerns: When you’re debugging code at 2 AM, you don’t want marathon training plan updates cluttering your inbox. When you’re trying to figure out why your legs hurt, you don’t need pull request notifications.

Personal Branding: Like it or not, your email address is part of your personal brand. yourname@gmail.com is fine, but yourname.dev tells a story before you even hit send.

It’s Just Fun: Sometimes we do things because they’re cool and make us smile. This is one of those things.

Common Questions (aka Things I Googled at 1 AM)

Q: Can I forward everything to my Gmail?
A: Yes! You can set up forwarding in iCloud Mail settings. But then what’s the point? (There isn’t one. Do it anyway.)

Q: What if someone emails the wrong address?
A: Set up auto-forwarding or email aliases so both domains go to one inbox. Problem solved.

Q: Can I send emails FROM these addresses on my iPhone?
A: Absolutely. Once configured, they appear as sending options in Mail.app on all your Apple devices.

Q: Is this overkill?
A: 100% yes. That’s the beauty of it.

Q: What if I stop coding/running?
A: Then you have expensive email addresses that mock your abandoned hobbies. Just like that gym membership!

Q: Can I use other domain extensions?
A: Of course! .run, .bike, .tech, .ai—go wild. Just remember: each domain is another $10-30/year of commitment to the bit.

The Real Cost Analysis

Let’s break down what this actually costs:

  • iCloud+ 200GB: $2.99/month = $35.88/year (you’re probably already paying this)
  • .dev domain: ~$12-15/year
  • .fit domain: ~$20-30/year

Total new cost: $32-45/year for both domains

That’s less than:

  • One race entry fee
  • Two months of Strava Summit
  • Three takeout meals
  • A pair of running socks
  • A single hackathon t-shirt (if they actually charged for them)

Is it frivolous? Maybe. But I’ve spent more on domains I never used and race bibs I never picked up, so at least I’m getting something here.

Final Thoughts: Should You Actually Do This?

Here’s my honest assessment:

You should do this if:

  • You want to segment your digital identity
  • You attend hackathons or contribute to open-source regularly
  • You’re serious about your athletic pursuits (or want to feel serious)
  • You already have iCloud+ and want to use it fully
  • You enjoy small optimizations that make you smile
  • You’re reading this far in a blog post about email addresses (seriously, if you’re still here, you’re our people)

You probably shouldn’t do this if:

  • You’re fine with Gmail folders and labels
  • You find it hard to keep track of multiple email accounts
  • You’re trying to save money
  • You think this is ridiculous (it is, but some of us like ridiculous)

The Setup Checklist

Ready to join the club? Here’s your action plan:

  • Buy yourname.dev on Namecheap (~$12-15)
  • Buy yourname.fit on Namecheap (~$20-30)
  • Verify you have iCloud+ subscription
  • Add .dev domain to iCloud custom email
  • Configure DNS records on Namecheap for .dev
  • Wait for DNS propagation (10-15 min)
  • Verify .dev domain in iCloud
  • Create email addresses for .dev
  • Add .fit domain to iCloud custom email
  • Configure DNS records on Namecheap for .fit
  • Wait for DNS propagation (10-15 min)
  • Verify .fit domain in iCloud
  • Create email addresses for .fit
  • Update GitHub/LinkedIn with .dev email
  • Register for a race using .fit email
  • Feel irrationally proud of your email addresses
  • Tell your friends (who will not understand)

Conclusion: Welcome to the Club

If you’ve made it this far and you’re actually going to do this, congratulations. You’re officially part of a very specific club of people who think custom domain email addresses are worth $30/year and 20 minutes of DNS configuration.

Will it change your life? No.
Will it make you a better developer? Not even a little.
Will it make you faster at marathons? Definitely not.
Will it make you smile every time you see yourname.dev or yourname.fit in your inbox? Absolutely.

And sometimes, that’s enough.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a hackathon to register for and a long run to procrastinate on. But at least I’ll look professional doing both.

Got questions about the setup? Hit reply—I check both email addresses equally (which is to say, sporadically).

Want more unnecessarily detailed guides to things that don’t really matter? Subscribe to my totally normal and not-at-all-overthinking-everything newsletter.

P.S. - Yes, I know Gmail has aliases. Yes, I know filters exist. Yes, this is overkill. We’ve established this. Let us live.

P.P.S. - If you’re from Namecheap or Apple and want to sponsor this very niche content, my DMs are open. (They won’t, but a guy can dream.)