How To Create A Website With Username And Password

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Your username is your identity online. 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. People will make assumptions about you based on the name you choose, so pick wisely! Follow this guide to learn some basic tips on creating your own username.

1

Know that your username represents you. Your username is going to be the first thing people see when they interact with you online. Make sure that you like your own username, because you'll be seeing it a lot.
2
Create different usernames for different services. Different places online may call for different styles of usernames. If you are registering for a professional website, you'll probably want to use a different username than the gaming forum that you regularly post on.
- You may want to break down your internet usage into two different categories: professional and personal interest. You can then use one username for all of your professional websites, and then use one username for all of your personal interest sites. This will make it easier for you to remember your usernames.
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3
Stay anonymous. Avoid using any personally identifiable information when creating your username. This includes your first or last name or your birthdate.
- Use a variation of your name that is easy for you to remember but difficult for others to associate with your name. Use your seldom-spoken middle name, for example, and spell it backwards.
4

Don't give up if your first username is declined. Most major online services will already have most standard names already taken. If you are joining an older community, there is a strong chance that the name you want will not be available. Instead of settling for whatever replacement they try to give you, get creative!
5

Tap into your interests. If you're passionate about Brazil, for example, search the net for the names of flowers, warriors, or folk tale characters from the Amazon. If you like fixing up old cars, base your username around your favorite engine or car manufacturer.
6

Create a compound username. Use a combination of your interests to help you create a unique username. Combine two or more different words together to create a single username. This will help make your name more unique, and increase the chances that you will be able to use it.
7

Cross the language barrier. Look up words in other languages. Maybe the username "Writer" wasn't available, but its French equivalent "Ecrivain" is. You could also use a word from a fantasy language, such as Elvish or Klingon.
8

Keep it short. If you're going to be typing in your username 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
Use symbols to simulate spaces and letters. Most websites won't let you use a space in your username, but many will let you use the "_" 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

Try a name generator. There are a variety of random name generators available online. These will take various inputs and return a list of randomly-generated names that you can choose from. While this is less personal than creating your own, they work well if you are banging your head against your keyboard trying to think of something original.

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Question

How do I use a username and password?

You use your username and password to log into whatever account you are creating them for. The username is what other people will see when contacting you. Your password is a secret word that only you know. It will keep other people from logging into your account and pretending to be you.
Question

What is the difference between a username and an e-mail address?

An e-mail address is a means of people to communicate with you through your mail client (Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc.). A username is specific to one website, and won't have the @ symbol (unless your e-mail address is used for your username, as is the case with some websites), just a short nickname to go by on the site.
Question

Can I change my username if I don't like it anymore?

It depends what website you created the username for. Some websites will let you do it for free, while others will charge you money. Some websites will not allow you to change your username at all.
Question

How do I create a password?

A strong password will be at least 8 characters, and use a combination of uppercase and lowercase characters, numbers, and special characters, such as @, !, and $.
Question

Can I use my name, or some variation of it, as a username?

Certainly. Many people will use their names, and variations of their names, especially when creating professional accounts for work. For example: jane.doe@email.com sounds much more professional than pink_ponies_4ever@email.com does.
Question

If I don't have a username, can I use my boyfriend's when using his computer?

As long as he knows about it and gives you permission, you could. But it's really not ideal, especially if you do things that spoil his reputation, like play a game badly, leave a silly update or buy something off eBay and fail to pay for it, etc. It'd be a lot better to get your own username and sign him out of sites, then sign yourself in properly. Always sign out when you're done if you're using someone else's computer, even someone you love, it's just common courtesy and safer.
Question

Can I use my mother's maiden name?

I would advise against using personal information, yours and others'. Someone could potentially use this information to hack your account or steal your identity.
Question

I don't have a username; how can I create one?

Your username can be a form of your name, such as your first name and your surname's initial. You can also choose just about anything else that's memorable and unique to you. If you haven't already made an account with a site, go to Create an Account and you should be able to create one. There will be a box to put your username and password.
Question

How do I create a username when applying online to a university?

Make it something simple and professional, ideally firstname.lastname if it's available and fits within the maximum number of characters; first initial and last name work well, too.
Question

Can I used my middle name backwards?

Yes, you can use your middle name backwards. That's smart and it will be easy to remember!

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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.
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.
Come up with a list of adjectives that describe you and find a way to incorporate them into your username.
Some websites like AIM will have a feature when you apply where you enter a few words and they will suggest 3-5 screen names for you. These will generally give you more original results however you shouldn't use it if you think you won't remember it.
For most sites, user names must be between 6-14 characters.
Don't make your username complicated or hard to remember, especially if you plan on sharing it with other people (e.g., being added to a buddy list).
You can also use the name as your email, but if it is for work, stay away from potentially embarrassing names.

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Be sure to read the wikiHow Username Policy, but only if you are creating a name for wikiHow. The wikiHow username policy does not apply to sites in general.
Pay attention to the requirements of the website. More than often the instructions will state "Username must not contain any suggestive or inappropriate language."

About This Article

Article SummaryX

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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