Great Usernames are Usually Puns or Plays on Words
As someone who has been an online dating coach since 2003, I’d venture to guess that I’ve not only seen more usernames than just about anyone on the planet, but I’ve written more of them as well.
Why do I think that usernames make a difference, when everyone knows that it’s all about the profile and photo?
Because when you’re dating online, which is an extremely competitive medium, you need every advantage you can get.
A great username is a differentiator – a unique brand name – something that completely sets you apart from every other person on a dating site. And when your ideal partner is scrolling through hundreds of names – Sally102, JenNYC1, LawyerGal – a great username can be the very reason that someone contacts you.
Most people take one of two wrong tacks when coming up with an online dating username:
1) Putting ZERO thought into it: Bill10247, ClaireT, AllyCat
2) Putting minimal thought into it, using a literal description: TallDoctor, GorgeousGoddess, Fun2BeAround
The problem with these efforts, of course, is not that they’re “bad”, but rather that they’re BORING. There’s nothing unique, memorable or distinguishing. There’s nothing that evokes a smile. And so the names fall flat. And you become convinced that usernames don’t matter.
They do if you are clever about it.
In my opinion, a username should be a pun or a play on words. Something familiar-sounding, with a twist.
WineNot – for the wine aficinado
LadyGoGo – for the world traveler
BachToBach – for the classical music enthusiast
TenderLegal – for the soft-hearted lawyer
See the common thread? All of them are plays off of real names, idioms or catchphrases, which is why they evoke smiles from readers.
One of my favorite usernames was TheGooseWhisperer, written for a client named Bobbi in 2005. Bobbi had a farm with geese in the yard and instead of using TheHorseWhisperer, which was way too overdone, we changed one word to great effect. Dozens of people commented on it.
One of them turned out to be her future husband.
So if you’re wondering how to come up with a clever name that gets attention, and attracts a like-minded person with a great sense of humor, I have an exercise that can help you come up with usernames just like the ones I mention above.
It’s in Volume 2 of my Finding the One Online audio series, and is the cherry on top of your new online dating experience. In Finding the One Online, I give you 7 hours of audio, a 180 page transcript, a 35 page workbook – and tips on everything from choosing the right site, to writing a compelling online dating profile, to taking the right photos, to flirting effectively via email so that every single person will want to meet you in person.
What’s the most memorable username you’ve ever seen on a dating site? I’m quite sure our readers are not going to copy them for their own personal usage. Right, readers?
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17 Comments »Filed Under Online Dating
Karl R 1
The most memorable (in a good way) were aBlondMoment, Polyglotapus, and Toe_Tap_N.
My username combines my first name and a nearby street. The street name carries connotations (like Soho in NYC), and it reflects the sort of person I am, the type of interests I have, etc.
If I get back into online dating, I’ll probably try to come up with something more clever.
Usually I’ll steer clear of someone’s name for the same reason I’ll steer clear of their profile … it reflects that we have wildly different interests. I also tend to steer clear of ones that include their astrological sign. I don’t believe in astrology. In those cases, I might not avoid them just based on what’s in their profile.
happygirl 2
Anything that has the word fun in it or a sexual innuendo. Also user names that sound somewhat sad like they have not gotten over someone I try to steer clear of.
benh57 3
A username would probably not make me more likely to contact a woman.
It might make me less likely though, if it is something sexual. For that matter, overly revealing photos make me less likely to contact a woman on a site. Not that i’m a prude at all, but that does say something about someone’s personality, i think which is not attractive.
But, perhaps i’m different from most guys.
Paul 4
I just hate it when people give no thought to their names and the body of the profile and pictures. It says something about them I think, and that is they really haven’t given much thought to what they’re doing and/or really don’t care all that much.So many cliches like “I’m sensitive, funny, can dress up or down, like long walks on the beach” that sort of thing that takes no imagination. I learned a lot just by going on things like this that are free (sorry Evan). If someone, especially a female, has sexual inuendos in their profile, wow, that says a lot…I can see it from some dumb dude, but a woman? What kind of person does she think she’ll attract? I think you’ll get out of it about as much as you put into it. Mine was kinda corny…”007type”. Real creative!
Cilla 5
Like the others, I try to avoid anything that’s too blatantly sexual, as well as men who claim to be great kissers (usually that means they’re not), and men who claim to be picky (if his moniker advertises it, you know he’ll never find anyone good enough). I also avoid references to hobbies I’m not interested in (e.g. football, video games, etc.).
And what about the ones that damn themselves with faint praise? “AllRightGuyFred4U,” “GoodEnoughToDate,” “OKMan,” “AverageGuy418,” etc.
And the crazies: “DoneWithIncarcerationReadyToDate,” “BipolarBob,” and “DoingBetterOnMeds.”
Or the ones who only identify with their roles as ex-husbands or parents: “GreatDad123,” “MyKidsComeFirst,” “ThirdTimesACharm,” or “NotLookingForMyExWife.”
The other thing I hate is guys who use their full names as their user names. Is that so women can look them up in the phone book and bypass the dating site?
My screen name involves a literary character, so it piques the interest of people who read, and has several layers of symbolism that seem to intrigue erudite men. It gives them a way to start an online conversation, but it’s not so ivory tower that no one gets it.
Jennifer 6
@Cilla #5- your examples of screen names gave me a good laugh this afternoon!
minnesota nice 7
worst one I’ve seen so far: “MILFhunter”
Really? How many ladies are gonna respond to an email from that guy? Hahaha
I blocked him after several attempts to contact me. Didn’t even look at his photo.
Dana 8
Some usernames seem to prove that many of us can’t see the log in our own eye.
Needy, Defensive, Entitled and Sexual. (I don’t even think there’s any tags with 69 in them that haven’t been used!)
Dana 9
But any intriguing name that can start a conversation? Pure gold!
Troy 10
What you think of those
ITripleDogDareYou
UcanQuote_me
lower_case_sensitive
Rach 11
I liked this one:
S(he) be(lie)ve(d)
I thought it was clever although it doesn’t have anything to do with dating!
Evan Marc Katz 12
Yeah. He Lied is going to attract tons of men.
Carla 13
The worst ones I’ve come across was 8incheslength and comengetmebabes – hotsexymale – I thought YUK YUK YUK! Any username that says boredman or dave123 just sends me to sleep! I don’t know, it’s difficult isn’t it. Some men are just so dumb and yes the ones who write in their real names, really imaginative! It’s a tough one. My best username so far is hastobedone which is a play on words HAS TO BE DONE OR HAS TO BED ONE. Both great for a dating site! My username at present on a dating site is thatusernamecannotbeused !
=) 14
@ Rach. I personally loved S(he) Be(lie)ev(d). I am doing a website all about a womans broken heart and I was looking for a user name to fit the topic and ran across that one and It completely BLEW ME AWAY ! – so thank you .
Candy 15
A good one is “All the way to the elbow”.
Usually gets a positive reaction
slimm 16
“MILFhunter” LOL! that’s a good one! good one for a laugh… ah man thats funny
Maddie 17
I find this one quite funny;
D(id)she(do)fh(er)
P.s; Dof is a term used in rp//roleplay, meaning two people fight and the loser leaves the chatroom.