ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) accredits registrars. To view a list of accredited domain registrars, click here.
When you register a domain, you must give the registrar a list of name servers. Name servers are provided by your host and tell the domain where to point to. They are usually in the following formats: NS1.DREAMHOST.COM, NS2.DREAMHOST.COM (where DREAMHOST is the name of the host). If you don’t have a host yet, your domain will automatically be parked (which means it just sits there waiting, as in a parking lot).