Geeky question

I have a friend who wants to have his own domain - he doesn't have dreams of becoming a master webhost or anything, he just wants his website to be www.hisownname.com instead of yahoo.com/hisname or whatever.

Can anyone recommend a good company through which to acquire one's own domain? Can anyone steer him away from BAD companies from which one should *not* attempt to acquire a domain?

Thanks in advance for any help!