# Help me pick a gmail address **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 15, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416 "2013-02-15T18:31:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/1 "2013-02-15T18:31:25Z")
As I work at an educational facility with awful IT support and an instable e-mail platform, I am considering a switch to gmail. Assume my last name is “Smith”, every first name/last name combination is taken (e.g, phungismith@, smithphungi@, phungi\_smith@, smith\_phungi@, etc) My goals are to keep some level of professionalism, and perhaps keep some form of branding for my institute (e.g., if this were Ohio State Univ, have OSU in the title) The two I came up with are: 1. [THEphungismith@gmail.com](mailto:THEphungismith@gmail.com) 2. [smithOSU@gmail.com](mailto:smithOSU@gmail.com) Thoughts, recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/2 "2013-02-15T18:34:35Z")
Tack “mail.” in front. Make it [mail.phungsmith@gmail.com](mailto:mail.phungsmith@gmail.com). ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/3 "2013-02-16T20:34:55Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Tack “mail.” in front. Make it [mail.phungsmith@gmail.com](mailto:mail.phungsmith@gmail.com). hadn’t thought of that angle… ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/4 "2013-02-17T01:01:26Z")
Is [XxXxBieberFan4evarXxXx@gmail.com](mailto:XxXxBieberFan4evarXxXx@gmail.com) taken? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/5 "2013-02-17T01:20:01Z")
I recommend trying it with dots. [First.MI.Last@gmail.com](mailto:First.MI.Last@gmail.com) or [PMS.First.Last@gmail.com](mailto:PMS.First.Last@gmail.com) [OSU.First.Last@gmail.com](mailto:OSU.First.Last@gmail.com) you should be able to come up with something! ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/6 "2013-02-17T01:36:22Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > I recommend trying it with dots. > > [First.MI.Last@gmail.com](mailto:First.MI.Last@gmail.com) > > or > > [PMS.First.Last@gmail.com](mailto:PMS.First.Last@gmail.com) > > [OSU.First.Last@gmail.com](mailto:OSU.First.Last@gmail.com) > > you should be able to come up with something! Google disregards dots, so [first.m.last@gmail.com](mailto:first.m.last@gmail.com) is the same address as [firstmlast@gmail.com](mailto:firstmlast@gmail.com). ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/7 "2013-02-17T01:53:32Z")
Can you work middle initials in there? [pXsmith@gmail.com](mailto:pXsmith@gmail.com) [phungi.X.smith@gmail.com](mailto:phungi.X.smith@gmail.com) ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/8 "2013-02-17T02:15:25Z")
> [@Eliahna](#): > > Google disregards dots, so [first.m.last@gmail.com](mailto:first.m.last@gmail.com) is the same address as [firstmlast@gmail.com](mailto:firstmlast@gmail.com). By golly you are right! I never knew ☹ Thanks for the info. ---
**Author:** ![the\_O](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@the\_O](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_O)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/9 "2013-02-17T04:47:41Z")
Underscores? [first\_last@gmail.com](mailto:first_last@gmail.com) ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/10 "2013-02-17T18:48:12Z")
Maybe add a city/state to the name? johndoemichigan@gmail dot com johndoedetroit@gmail dot com Or profession? johndoegraphicartist@gmail dot com johndoehistoryteacher@gmail dot com ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/11 "2013-02-17T19:05:37Z")
keep it simple…it is awkward to use underscores, or dots or (especially) the “mail.” prefix. Many people expect an email address to be in the standard format ( aSimpleWordorTwo at anotherWord dot com ) , and will make mistakes typing anything else. I like the idea of adding your profession like **Dmark** suggested. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/12 "2013-02-18T18:55:54Z")
Definitely stay away from underscores, a significant number of people can’t deal with them; they think they are spaces and/or don’t know how to type them on a keyboard. I’d suggest [psmithOSU@gmail.com](mailto:psmithOSU@gmail.com) ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/13 "2013-02-18T20:39:30Z")
Or [THEpsmithOSU@gmail.com](mailto:THEpsmithOSU@gmail.com) ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/14 "2013-02-18T21:00:44Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > keep it simple…it is awkward to use underscores, or dots or (especially) the “mail.” prefix. Gwuh? I realize people are confused by underscores (no idea why, but here we are), but dots are so ubiquitous that I can’t even think of a single time someone’s batted an eyelash. Hell, my last company (a really freaking huge one, at that) threw dots all over the place in employees’ e-mail addresses, and as much as I had to give my e-mail address over the phone, I’ve never had an issue with the dots. I’ve had to spell my last name over and over and OVER again, but the dots were good. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/15 "2013-02-18T21:14:03Z")
My first thought would be to work in the middle initial. Then two letters of the middle initial. Beyond that you may have to start numbering it. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/16 "2013-02-18T22:08:58Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > Is [XxXxBieberFan4evarXxXx@gmail.com](mailto:XxXxBieberFan4evarXxXx@gmail.com) taken? Yes. As are all of the ones with different numbers of X’s, using “Phan,” “foreva,” “4evs,” et cetera, and every conceivable misspelling or slang abbreviation of Bieber’s name-- Beiber, Beebs, Beebz, BBer, Bebier, and so forth. Trust me, I used a computer. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/17 "2013-02-19T04:51:31Z")
I was an early subscriber to Gmail, however instead of [firstname.lastname@gmail.com](mailto:firstname.lastname@gmail.com), I had to take [lastname.firstname@gmail.com](mailto:lastname.firstname@gmail.com). Some other dude with my name, living in Virginia has been invited to parties over the years. I wish he would have shown up! ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/18 "2013-02-19T04:59:37Z")
[officialphungismith@gmail.com](mailto:officialphungismith@gmail.com) ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-gmail-address/650416/19 "2013-02-19T21:28:44Z")
Just to echo what Eliahna mentioned upthread, gmail ignores all dots (so [xxxxx@gmail.com](mailto:xxxxx@gmail.com) is the exact same as [x.x.x.x.x@gmail.com](mailto:x.x.x.x.x@gmail.com)). It ignores capital letters as well ([xxxxx@gmail.com](mailto:xxxxx@gmail.com) = [X.x.X.x.X@gmail.com](mailto:X.x.X.x.X@gmail.com)). Why not just use a number at the end? What’s wrong with [phungismith214@gmail.com](mailto:phungismith214@gmail.com)? (Another gmail trick is that you can add “+anythingyouwant” at the end of the prefix. So [xxxxx@gmail.com](mailto:xxxxx@gmail.com) = [xxxxx+BurgerKing@gmail.com](mailto:xxxxx+BurgerKing@gmail.com) - handy if you need to sign up for something, but are suspicious they might send you spam for the rest of your life (and sell it to other spammers). You can then filter out any messages sent to [xxxxx+BurgerKing@gmail.com](mailto:xxxxx+BurgerKing@gmail.com).)