Username ideas
Memorable usernames built from real words, so you can say them out loud and spell them over the phone. Click one to copy it.
Free · runs in your browser · no signupClick any name to copy it. We cannot tell you whether it is already taken. Only the site you are signing up to knows that, so pick two or three favourites and try them there.
What makes a username you will not regret
A good username passes three tests. You can say it out loud without spelling it. You can give it to someone over the phone. And you would still be comfortable seeing it next to your comments in five years.
Two ordinary words tend to pass all three. Letter swaps like “l33t” or “xX” fail the first two and were never much fun to explain anyway.
What to leave out
- Your birth year, and your full name. Both are quietly useful to anyone trying to guess the answers to your security questions.
- Anything about where you live or work.
- Anything you would not want a future employer, client or in-law to read.
- Anything resembling your password. A username is meant to be public. A password never is.
The same name everywhere, or different ones?
Using one name everywhere makes you easy to recognise, which is exactly what you want for anything public, like a forum or a portfolio. The trade-off is that it also lets anyone link those accounts together.
So it is worth deciding which of your accounts you actually want connected. Use one recognisable name for the public ones, and give anything you would rather keep separate a name of its own.
One thing we cannot do
We cannot tell you whether a name is already taken. That information only exists inside each site’s own records, so only that site can answer it. Copy two or three favourites, then try them where you are signing up.
Common questions
What makes a good username?
Something you can say out loud, spell for someone over the phone, and would not mind being seen next to your comments in ten years. Two ordinary words work well. Letter swaps like "l33t" only make it harder to tell people.
Can you tell me if a name is taken?
No, and nobody outside that site can. Whether a name is free lives in the records of each site. Pick two or three you like here and try them where you want to sign up.
Should my username be private, like a password?
No. A username is meant to be seen, and that is fine. Just keep it unrelated to your password, and avoid putting your birth year or full name in it, since those help someone guess answers to security questions.
Can I use the same username everywhere?
You can, and many people do so others can recognise them. Just be aware it also lets anyone connect your accounts across sites. If you would rather keep something separate, give it its own name.