Buzz
Your username is your online identity. Whether you're posting on forums, editing wiki articles, playing video games, or engaging in any activity that involves interaction with others, your username is the first thing people will notice. Others will make assumptions about you based on the name you choose, so pick wisely! Follow this guide and learn simple tips for creating a unique username that represents you.
Steps
Create a Username
Understand that your username represents you. Your username is the first thing people see when interacting with you online. Make sure you’re happy with it, as you’ll be seeing it frequently.
Create different usernames for different services. Various online platforms require different styles of usernames. If you're signing up for a professional website, you might need a different username than for a gaming forum where you frequently post.
- Consider dividing your internet usage into two categories: professional and personal hobbies. If so, you can use one username for all professional sites and another for all hobby-related platforms. This will make it easier to remember your usernames.
Stay anonymous. Avoid using any personally identifiable information when creating a username. This includes your first name, last name, or birthdate.
- Use a variation that’s easy for you to remember but hard for others to connect to your real name. For example, use a less common middle name or spell your name backward.
Don’t give up if your first username choice is rejected. Most standard usernames on major online services are already taken. If you’re joining an established community, it’s likely that your desired name is no longer available. Instead of settling for a suggested alternative, get creative!
Draw inspiration from your hobbies. For example, if you’re fascinated by Brazil, search online for names of flowers, warriors, or characters from Amazonian folklore. If you love restoring vintage cars, base your username on your favorite engine or car manufacturer.
Create a compound username. Combining your interests can help you craft a unique username. Merge two or more words together to form a username. This will make your name more distinctive and increase the chances of it being available.
Break language barriers. Explore words from other languages. While the username “Writer” might already be taken, its French equivalent “Ecrivain” could still be available. You could also use a word from a fictional language, such as Elvish or Klingon.
Keep your username concise. If you’ll be typing your username frequently, a short and simple name is ideal! Shorten long words (e.g., change Mississippo to Miss or Missi) and aim for a username that’s easy to type.
Use symbols to represent spaces and letters. Most websites won’t allow spaces in usernames, but many permit underscores (_) to mimic spaces. You can also replace letters with numbers, such as using “7” for “T” or “3” for “E.” This technique, known as “leet speak,” is popular in online gaming communities.
- Periods are also commonly used to separate words in usernames.
- Avoid adding your birth year at the end of your username, especially if you’re young, as it makes it easy for others to guess your age.
Try username generators. There are numerous online tools available that can generate unique usernames. These tools take your input and produce a list of randomly generated names for you to choose from. While this method isn’t as personal as creating your own, it’s effective when you’re struggling to come up with something original.
Tips
- Avoid making your username overly complicated or hard to remember, especially if you plan to share it with others (e.g., for adding friends).
- Some websites, like AIM, offer suggestions when you type in a few words, proposing 3-5 unique usernames. While these suggestions can be creative, avoid using them if you think you won’t remember them.
- Consider listing adjectives that describe you and incorporate them into your username.
- Most platforms require usernames to be between 6-14 characters long.
- Write your username down somewhere near your computer to avoid forgetting it. Create a note for each website and its corresponding username, especially if you have multiple usernames for different sites.
- You can also use your email as a username, but if it’s for professional purposes, avoid anything that sounds embarrassing.
- Generally, the more unique your username, the more likely you can use it across multiple platforms, reducing the need to remember multiple names. However, if your username is too personal, it could compromise your privacy.
Warnings
- Make sure to read Mytour’s Username Policy, but only if you’re creating an account for Mytour. Mytour’s user policies do not apply to other websites.
- Pay attention to the website’s requirements. Most guidelines state that “Usernames must not contain provocative or inappropriate language.”
