How to Create an Origninal Screen Name

Some of us like our names, and some of us don’t.
One of unique features of spending time in cyberspace is that writers are able to chose our own screen names.

So, if you don’t like your given name, here’s your chance to pick one that you DO like. Read on for some cool tips on choosing a screen name that fits you well.

When choosing a screen name, there are two main rules you should keep in mind:

1. Remain anonymous. Using information that reveals your identity, such as your given name, geographical location, school, or birth date, goes against the rules of internet safety.
2. Make it as creative as you want, but if you blush at the idea of explaining it to your parents, teachers, or boy/girlfriend, then your screen name is probably beyond the bounds of good taste.

How to create a really cool screen name:

Use “found” words:

Grab a dictionary, newspaper, or magazine. Scan the pages to pick 20 random words. For example, I found these random words in the dictionary:

licorice, razor, pizza, spirit, trick, vertical, green, karma, wail, caterpillar, thumb, king, twist

Then, put two words together:

licoricepizza, karmathumb, verticalwail, razorspirit, kingpizza

The possibilities are endless.

Get literary:

Look in an English text book for a glossary of literary terms. Find a word you like, and incorporate it into your name.

For example, if you like the word “irony”, you could join it with one of the random words found in the dictionary, and create the screen name: ironic_twist.

Get mythological: 

Find a book on mythology and pick a name that includes a mythological character that you like.

I, for example, love the character “Cassandra” in Greek myth. You remember her, right? So, I could add a word to Cassandra and make the screen name: pinkcassandra. Or, I could adapt it to create other screen names: blindcassandra or Cassandra_jazz.

Whatever you decide, make sure it is a name you’ll be comfortable using for a long time.

The helpful hints that you see below are adapted from Sam’s Archive:

Make your screen name original

Do a quick Google search for your prospective nickname. If you have a lot of hits, then your chosen name is not unique.

Use at least 8 characters. Avoid underscores, periods, hyphens, or other miscellaneous punctuation like exclamation marks, which some communities allow and others don’t. Ideally, stick with your standard lower-case alphabet and the ten digits.

Choosing a long-term nickname

Avoid references to current events or things you like now, but are likely to change, such as bands, videogames, videogame characters, video game consoles and sports teams. Don’t put a year, and avoid your nickname from looking foolish down the road. Call yourself “gothchick” and you may regret it on the day you decide you’re no longer a goth.

(Thanks, Sam’s Archive, for these tips.)

So, there you have it.

I look forward to seeing what creative, cool screen name you choose!