# How did you chose your username? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 19, 2000, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935 "2000-08-19T03:00:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/1 "2000-08-19T03:00:35Z")
I’ve been reading the discussions on best/worst usernames and the like, which made me wonder how respective dopers ended up setting on their nicks. So… how did you choose your username? My girlfriend calls me andygirl, and that’s good enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/2 "2000-08-19T03:31:13Z")
It’s been done, but I’ll take any opportunity to pad the ol’ post count. It’s from my favorite (series of) book. And I’m pretty good with a pistol. The one I use everywhere else is **Baker** , but it was already taken here. It’s my last name, and what all my friends call me. ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/3 "2000-08-19T03:44:44Z")
My mother was born and raised in Scotland, and my maternal grandparents lived across the street from us. I identify with my Scottish heritage more than my Finnish side (dad’s parents emigrated from Finland before he was born, so I am half Fin and half Scot) because gram and gramps were more intimately involved in my life. And, gram was rabidly Scottish, so I grew up **feeling** Scottish. My gramps had the nickname of Scotty. I chose to use the first part of that in homage to my Scottish heritage, and Gramps. My name is Cheri. So, I squished Scotti and Cheri together and came up with Scotticher. What can I say? I like it. Scotti ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/4 "2000-08-19T03:51:50Z")
My sn is based on my AIM sn, which is based on my e-mail address, which is based on a nickname I got at school, “Monster”. The -104 part is just because “Monster” isn’t exactly a unique name. ---
**Author:** ![Tark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@Tark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tark)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/5 "2000-08-19T03:52:52Z")
Mine date way back to 1976. I bought this new game called Dungeons & Dragons, and my first character was Tarkendar Evenstar. I’ve been Tark ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/6 "2000-08-19T03:54:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monster104 \* > \*\* The -104 part is just because “Monster” isn’t exactly a unique name. \*\* So, hon- Why did you choose 104? Is there some significance? Scotti ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/7 "2000-08-19T03:55:30Z")
It just sort of … came to me one night. Then I found out those **bastards** at Red Dwarf beat me to it. Oh, well. ---
**Author:** ![Zoing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecccb3/32.png) [@Zoing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoing)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/8 "2000-08-19T06:00:28Z")
I like “zoing”. Actually, I like “zoink” better but that’s not quite as aesthetically pleasing as zoing. ---
**Author:** ![silent\_rob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@silent\_rob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silent_rob)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/9 "2000-08-19T06:42:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Smeghead \* > \*\*It just sort of … came to me one night. Then I found out those **bastards** at Red Dwarf beat me to it. Oh, well. \*\* LOL Mine comes from me being a Kevin Smith fan and looking quite a bit like him as Silent Bob. Thus, silent\_rob was born (Rob because it’s my name, and in lower-case because I’m not that important). I’m also called it IRL sometimes, due to the irony. I quite the talker, since I like to make people laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zaphod_Beeblebrox)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/10 "2000-08-19T06:56:22Z")
I picked my name first and foremost to show my appreciation for the work of Douglas Adams. However, it goes beyond that. The name suits me well. I use it pretty much everywhere, including most of my e-mail addresses. Considering that I can’t stand my real name, I ought to get a legal name change. Of course, legal name changes are vain and stupid, but a change to “Zaphod Beeblebrox” would be silly enough to make up for that. I think at this point, if someone shouted “HEY ZAPH” from behind me, I would probably turn around. ---
**Author:** ![Mofo\_Rising](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mofo\_Rising](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mofo_Rising)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/11 "2000-08-19T08:00:52Z")
I came up with the name Mofo Rising for a label on a mixed tape I had just made. The tape, of course, included the song “L.A. Woman.” Mojo, Mofo, Mofo, Mojo. Well, I thought it was funny. It was about this same time I got myself a steady internet connection and I’ve been using the handle ever since. My enjoyment was slightly diminished when I found out some mix artist was using the name as well. Oh well, we travel in different circles anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/12 "2000-08-19T08:59:29Z")
I’ve done this before but I’ll do it again… Quite simply my Horoscope sign is Scorpio. Topaz is my birthstone (it is also supposed to bring peace and love or something like that) and Antares is a star in the constellation of Scorpio specifically Scorpio’s heart and is supposed to bring the bearer of the name courage and such… or strength of the heart. Also I liked the way they fit together and it was the name of one of my characters in role play. (She was a water elemental… uite appropriate when you realize Scorpio is the fixed water sign) ---
**Author:** ![MysterEcks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MysterEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysterEcks)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/13 "2000-08-19T09:44:20Z")
**MysterEcks** is my AIM screen name. “Ecks” is just an alternative spelling of _X._ The “Myster” part does dual duty, representing both _mister_ and _mystery._ Unfortunately, the second part is lost on a lot of people–I routinely get called “MisterEcks,” MisterX," and “Mr.X,” which kind of misses the point. On the other hand, it can be argued that misspelled publicity is better than no publicity at all. Or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/14 "2000-08-19T09:49:57Z")
It’s my REAL name. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/15 "2000-08-19T09:51:51Z")
Oh, mine was a really tricky one. I spent ages on it. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/16 "2000-08-19T12:05:34Z")
An old childhood nickname … I quess (I don’t remember myself) that when I was a little kid, I’d see a train and go ‘woot-woot’. Grew from there. I use it on the internet because it is rather unique. ---
**Author:** ![Gregor\_Samsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@Gregor\_Samsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregor_Samsa)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/17 "2000-08-19T13:27:14Z")
I work as a field administrator (aka paperwork guy) for a pipeline construction company in Canada. Hence, “Pipeliner.” My big concern with my username is that after I registered, I realized that there’s someone here with the name “Pipefitter.” I just hope there’s no confusion between us. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/18 "2000-08-19T14:13:23Z")
First, it refers to my profession - I am an expert on coal power plants. Second, it refers to my heart, which is cold, hard, and black. But still capable, with work, of being ignited again. Una ---
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/19 "2000-08-19T14:22:11Z")
A friend and I decided to set up e-mail accounts using each other’s information. Don’t ask me why… I think we were drunk at the time! When I started lurking here and finally decided to start posting I couldn’t think of a clever username so I just used my friend’s name. Pretty boring, huh. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935/20 "2000-08-19T17:30:15Z")
My user name chose me… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-you-chose-your-username/29935.md?page=2)