Hi everyone! I’ve been thinking about filling out the ‘name’ slot on my profile, but I’m not sure that I want to share my actual name on here. I’m happy leaving it blank, butI know that a lot of Berries use a ‘screen name’ that isn’t their actual name and I’m curious:
How did you choose your screen name, if you have one?
If you have a screen name, does it feel like you? As in, do you relate to it? (One reason I’m not sure about this approach is that I don’t know how I would feel about heartfelt comments saying “What a lovely combo, [not my name].” It seems like it might be weird.)
Do you prefer to think about other users with an actual human name, or do you just think of them as their username even if they have a name filled in?
I’ve had in my description that people can call me [name_m]Kit[/name_m] (not realizing that there was an actual spot for that) but I just put [name_m]Kit[/name_m] in the name spot on my profile. So I have one now.
Because it’s not been in the right spot, no one really calls me [name_m]Kit[/name_m], and it has nothing to do with my real name, so I imagine it’d be strange at first to be called that. However, [name_m]Kit[/name_m] is a tribute to my father, whom I’m very close to, so it is meaningful to me, and I feel like I’d get used to it pretty quickly.
I mostly think of other users by their usernames, just because there are so many of them, and their usernames are what I first knew them as. However, there are a few users whom I recognize by their names, and they’re usually the ones who are very active in the community. I don’t really have a preference either way, I just call people what’s most convenient to me.
I did put a lot of thought into choosing [name_m]Kit[/name_m], because I didn’t want to use a name I’d want to use on a future child, but I didn’t want to use some random name, so I would recommend putting some thought into a meaningful name, and I wish you luck.
I did notice and have actually been thinking of you as [name_m]Kit[/name_m], I just have a weird hangup around actually calling strangers by their first names. (Just wanted you to know that someone had seen it.) Thanks for your thoughts!
I chose my screen name because it has somewhat similar energy/qualities to my real name. It’s also a name I love and could see using on a child, but it doesn’t work with my last name.
It felt weird when I first started using it, but [name_f]Bea[/name_f] has been my name on here for years now and has become like a natural extension of me. I now identify with [name_f]Bea[/name_f] when I see it in real life too!
There’s no reason to add a name on here if you don’t wish to, but it can be a fun form of expression, especially for us namenerds
My screen name is a name that is “related” to my real name, but through wordplay, if that makes sense? [name_m]Like[/name_m] starting with the first letter and ending with the same letter (not really).
Honestly when I first picked my screen name it felt super disconnected to me and also I wasn’t sure if I liked it on my list or as my name. But it’s really become an extension of me as a previous poster said and now I almost identify with my screen name. (it’s also become my go to name to protect my privacy, as my real name is highly uncommon )
I usually think of users as their usernames unless they’re really active/I’ve used their name in conversation on here. I feel like every user starts out as their username for me but if I get to “know” them I start thinking of them as their name.
I usually use names that are related to my actual names! I find that using names with a connection to my own helps me feel a little more connected and “authentic” than if I used a completely unrelated name. I’ve also used Hallie as a nickname from my username!
As for connecting other users with their screen names, it really depends on the user and how well I know them or how active they are!
I think it depends on a) how well I know the user, have I been seeing them around the forums consistently for a long time? b) how catchy their username is If it’s especially catchy, I will think of them as that even after having learnt their screen name! Or if it’s quite long/complicated I may think of them by their name instead even if I haven’t seen them around for very long
I used to have my real name but changed it to match my username. It’s not that my irl name is a secret, but I just wanted it to be slightly less accessible to all and sundry especially as I’ve also mentioned my irl surname a few times (honestly I would probably be more cautious about privacy from the start if I was joining today but I was a little blasé about it at first because I just came here to ask a few specific baby name questions and didn’t expect to stay forever!!)
@persephonescrown, thanks for your thoughts! I definitely want to err on the side of caution when it comes to my information. Also, slightly off-topic but I’ve always thought it was so clever how you incorporated your name into your username!
My screen name is somewhat similar to my real name in some ways, so I do identify with it (but I’ve also had it for multiple years, so that helps ). I wanted something familiar but uncommon that I felt like suited me and wasn’t already used by another regular [name_f]Berry[/name_f] (even if I did want to I wouldn’t start using my IRL name on here, because it’s the name used by a prominent other user! [name_m]Not[/name_m] really an issue, just a personal preference for me).
On other sites I’ve also used a name that reflects the pronunciation of my first name initial (think “Bee” if my initial was B, or “Jay” for J).
I’ve been [name_f]Wanda[/name_f] long before I put my actual name in my profile as well. I’m not sure if that should really count though, since it derives from my username (or vice versa if you want). It would honestly feel a little weird if people called me [name_f]Susanne[/name_f] on here, [name_f]Wanda[/name_f] feels much more correct. If I know people’s real life names I think of them as that, but there are maybe 3 or 4 Berries whose names I know that are not also their screen name or part of their username. Sometimes I’m not even sure if what I know Berries as is their legal name or chosen specifically for Nameberry.
My name is [name_f]Edie[/name_f], and [name_f]Edie[/name_f] [name_f]Bee[/name_f] is something my fiancé started calling me years ago, when we first got together at 16, and still calls me today. It’s usually my go to username, when it’s available!
My screen name/username holds great personal significance for me (the first name of my patron saint- the Latin form, a favorite subject in school- and the last name of the protagonist in one of my favorite books, Pride and Prejudice. I changed the spelling to better suit my own preferences, Bennet seemed so incomplete! I also wanted to distance it from Mary Bennet ) I feel that it explains my personality well, wrapping many of my favorite things in one- Faith, academics, and literature, as well as quite a few family connections- so I do feel quite connected to it and also enjoy the glamor of using a character name lol.
I wouldn’t say I really think of the other users here by their screen names, more so their usernames, but if I’ve known them long enough, it is always in the back of my mind when reading their posts, if that makes sense?
It’s unrelated to my given name, so it feels private but still personal.
)
If it’s especially catchy, I will think of them as that even after having learnt their screen name! Or if it’s quite long/complicated I may think of them by their name instead even if I haven’t seen them around for very long
