A Quick Guide on How to Make a Username

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Creative ways to generate your screen name
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Your username is your online identity. Whether you’re posting on forums, editing a wiki, playing games, or doing any other online activity that involves interacting with others, your username will be the first thing other people see. Coming up with a unique, descriptive, and memorable username can take time, but it can also be fun! This wikiHow guide will cover some basic tips on how to create your username on your mobile device or computer.

How Do You Create a Username

  • Design a creative username manually by combining your interests and the website’s topic.
  • If this is a username that other users will see, get creative to represent your online self.
  • If you just need a quick username, try an online username generator website.
Section 1 of 2:

Try an Automatic Username Generator

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  1. If you're stumped on choosing the right username, a username generator is the perfect choice. Some username generators are more general and can be used to create login names for any site or service. Others allow you to create themed usernames, such as fantasy or sci-fi related fictional names.
  2. Most username generators allow you to change the length and included characters in the “Customize" section. You may also be able to enter a word that you want to include in your username, or type a few words to describe the type of username you want.
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  3. Depending on the username generator, you'll either see one username suggestion or an entire list.
    • Repeat this generation process until you get a username that you like.
    • If the generator you're using has a Copy button, you can click it to copy your new username to your clipboard. This makes it easy to paste it into the account sign-up screen.
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Section 2 of 2:

Create a Unique Username Manually

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  1. It’s important to protect your personal information when creating a username for a website, app, or game. Here are a few things you can do to protect your privacy:
    • Stay anonymous . Avoid using any personally identifiable information when creating your username, such as your last name, birthdate, school, address, or social security number.
    • Don’t include any part of your password in your username.
    • Create a unique username for every website. This can help prevent tracking of your activity across multiple sites.
    • Read our general guide to internet safety for more info.
  2. If you’re creating an account for a forum with a specific topic (e.g., car discussion), you may want your username to reflect that topic (e.g., “honda_civic_30”). If it’s a more general website (e.g., Reddit ), you can choose a more broad topic or personal interest.
  3. This can help you get the general feeling for the website and what usernames there tend to look like. You can strike a balance between a username that’s similar to others’ while also making it unique.
  4. For example, you could reference a quote from your favorite book, band, celebrity, song, or character from a movie. You could also reference your hobby or a sport!
  5. For example, if you like fixing up old cars, base your username around your favorite car manufacturer or model.
  6. This will help make your name more unique and increase the chances that it won't be taken.
    • Including some adjectives can increase the uniqueness of your username. You could put a color or descriptor before your username. For example, “the_quick_orange_cat” or "EmoChihuahua."
  7. You can swap out words for their synonyms if your first idea has already been taken. This is a great way to keep the original meaning of your username.
  8. If you’re going to be typing in your username into a login screen on a regular basis, you’ll appreciate a shorter name! Shorten long words (e.g., turn "Mississippi" to "Miss" or "Missi") and try to keep the username easy to type.
  9. Most websites won’t let you use a space in your username, but many will let you use the “_” underscore character to mimic a space. You can also use certain numbers to replace letters, such as “7” instead of “T” or “3” instead of “E”. This is known as “ leet speak ”, and is typically found in online video gaming circles.
    • Periods are often used to separate words in usernames as well.
    • Don’t use your birth year at the end of your username, especially if you are a minor, as it makes it very easy to identify how old you are.
  10. If you’re having trouble choosing a username, write down all of the ones you’ve thought of so far. This can help you compare names and combine existing ideas into something new.
    • Don’t stress about it too much. Many websites allow you to change your username after making your account. Check the website’s username guidelines first!
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  • Question
    How do create a password
    Kyle Smith
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
    Kyle Smith
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Expert Answer
    Creating a password is usually done during the account creation process. Some websites require your password to have certain attributes (e.g. length, special characters, numbers). You can make a password manually by typing in a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. Or, you can use a password generator like Google Chrome’s password manager.
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  • Question
    Can i make a new user name when i already forgot my user name?
    Kyle Smith
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
    Kyle Smith
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Expert Answer
    Some websites have a button that says “Forgot your username?” on the account login screen. Click this button to recover your account. Then, you may be able to choose a new username using the account settings on the website.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Help me pick and submit a user name for me that you think no one has or one that will work
    Kyle Smith
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
    Kyle Smith
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Expert Answer
    Choosing a username that no one has picked yet can be tough, but there are a few things you can try! Adding more adjectives to the username makes it less likely that someone has already used that specific combination of words. Or, add numbers to the end of the username to increase the chances of it being unique.
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    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • If you’re changing an existing username, see our how-to guides for Spotify, Minecraft , and YouTube .
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      • Write your username down somewhere near your computer, so as not to forget it. Make a note of which website the username is for, especially if you have multiple names for different sites. Alternatively, use a password manager to keep track of your usernames.
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      • In general, the more unique the username, the more likely you'll be able to use it for various websites, and the less you'll have to remember. On the other hand, if you make it too specific with personal information, your privacy may become an issue.
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      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Don't put your age or birthdate in your username. It will give your age away online and potentially increase the risk you get scammed or hacked.
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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To create a good username, start by considering how you want to be perceived by others at first glance, since your username is the first thing people see when they interact with you online. It's also important to tailor your username based on whether you're using the service professionally or personally. If you want to stay anonymous, be sure to choose something that doesn't contain any identifiable information, like your first or last name and birth date. Shorter is usually better, so try to avoid long usernames that will be difficult to remember or a nuisance to type out when you're logging in. For tips on using symbols and spaces in a username, read on!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Okole Philip

        Sep 26, 2016

        "I believe that from now on my username will be accepted by everybody without any problem. I hope that the name will ..." more
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