# What is email permutation? Definition and examples · Leadraft

URL: https://leadraft.co/glossary/email-permutation
Summary: An email permutation is a guessed address built from a name and domain using common patterns, such as first@, first.last@ or flast@.

Glossary · Email & deliverability · Last updated October 31, 2026

# Email permutation

An email permutation is a guessed address built from a name and domain using common patterns, such as first@, first.last@ or flast@.

**Also called:** Email pattern guessing, Email permutator.

Given a person's name and a company domain, a permutator lists the likely formats: `jane@`, `jane.smith@`, `jsmith@`, `janes@`, `smith@` and so on. You then verify each to see which the mail server accepts.

Permutation works only where verification can tell the difference. On a domain that rejects unknown addresses, a `250` reply for `jane.smith@` and `550` for the others is a strong result. On a catch-all domain every guess is accepted, so verification proves nothing and the guess is the riskiest kind of address you can send to.

For local businesses, permutation is less useful than it sounds. Many small firms run on one shared inbox, many are catch-all, and the owner's name often isn't on the website. An address the business published itself on its contact page beats a guessed one almost every time.

If you do send to guessed addresses, keep them as their own segment, never mix them with published addresses, and stop at the first sign of elevated bounces.

## Example

For Jane Smith at `smithdental.com`, a permutator suggests `jane@`, `jane.smith@` and `jsmith@`. The server rejects two and accepts `jane@`, and it also rejects a random test address, so `jane@` is graded verified.

## In Leadraft

When a website shows no address, Leadraft may suggest a likely one from common patterns, only when the domain has a working mail server, and checks it like any other email. Its source is shown as a pattern guess.

## Sources

1.  1.[IETF, RFC 5321: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5321)
2.  2.[Leadraft, Verification methodology](https://leadraft.co/methodology/verification)

## Related terms

-   [Email finderAn email finder is a tool that finds email addresses for a business or person, from websites, databases or pattern guesses, usually with verification.](https://leadraft.co/glossary/email-finder)
-   [Catch-all emailA catch-all email is an address on a domain whose mail server accepts mail for any address, so a verifier can't confirm the mailbox really exists.](https://leadraft.co/glossary/catch-all-email)
-   [Email verificationEmail verification is checking whether an address can receive mail, using syntax, MX and SMTP tests, without sending a message to it.](https://leadraft.co/glossary/email-verification)
-   [MX recordAn MX record is a DNS record that names the mail servers accepting email for a domain, with a priority number for each server.](https://leadraft.co/glossary/mx-record)

## Further reading

-   [Free email permutator](https://leadraft.co/tools/email-permutator)
-   [Catch-all emails explained](https://leadraft.co/blog/catch-all-emails-explained)

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Last built: 2026-11-09