# If I change my user name will my old messages be linked to the new name?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-change-my-user-name-will-my-old-messages-be-linked-to-the-new-name/313550
**Category:** About This Message Board
**Created:** [July 21, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-change-my-user-name-will-my-old-messages-be-linked-to-the-new-name/313550 "2005-07-21T22:52:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-change-my-user-name-will-my-old-messages-be-linked-to-the-new-name/313550/1 "2005-07-21T22:52:39Z")
Let’s say I change my user name to **newusername**. And then someone does a search for all posts by **newusername**. Would the posts by **plan b** come up?
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### Author:  [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-change-my-user-name-will-my-old-messages-be-linked-to-the-new-name/313550/2 "2005-07-21T23:08:04Z")
I believe so.
For example, **Master Wang-ka** used to be **Wang-ka** , but I’ve been able to search under his new name and come up with his old posts.
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### Author:  [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-change-my-user-name-will-my-old-messages-be-linked-to-the-new-name/313550/3 "2005-07-21T23:52:32Z")
Yes. I decided a few months ago that my old user name was a bit too like my real name, so I asked to be renamed. All my old messages automagically had my new name attached.
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### Author:  [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2005, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-change-my-user-name-will-my-old-messages-be-linked-to-the-new-name/313550/4 "2005-07-22T00:08:05Z")
Remember that the only way to change your user name is to email an admin. And… you only get one change, so make it good.
All your previous posts will come up under **newusername**.
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### Author:  [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-change-my-user-name-will-my-old-messages-be-linked-to-the-new-name/313550/5 "2005-07-22T00:20:58Z")
In threads where someone has referred to a previous post by quoting or simply typing your (old) user-name, your (old) user-name is part of the text of the message, and thus subject to text searches.
This can also be confusing in threads that refer to past posts extensively.
So if I reference the post by **ivylass** , above, her name is now part of this thread text. If she were to change her user-name, say to just **ivy** , the member hyper-link would say ivy, but this post would still say ivylass. Twice.
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### Author:  [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2005, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-change-my-user-name-will-my-old-messages-be-linked-to-the-new-name/313550/6 "2005-07-22T11:36:46Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#):
>
> Remember that the only way to change your user name is to email an admin. And… you only get one change, so make it good.
>
> All your previous posts will come up under **newusername**.
Actually, we’re a little more flexible these days . . . if you’ve had a name change before, we’d consider changing your name again.
We’re just not comfortable with people changing their screen names like they change their underwear. Names have meaning and we want you to have a name here you’re happy with and that people can identify you by. However, we also understand that people do change, so we’re not necessarily confining you to one change in your life here at the board.
But not once a week, neither. 🙂
your humble TubaDiva
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### Author:  [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-change-my-user-name-will-my-old-messages-be-linked-to-the-new-name/313550/7 "2005-07-22T13:43:07Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#):
>
> Remember that the only way to change your user name is to email an admin. And… you only get one change, so make it good.
**Cyborg Platypus** is still available.
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### Author:  [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)
#### Post date: [July 23, 2005, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-change-my-user-name-will-my-old-messages-be-linked-to-the-new-name/313550/8 "2005-07-23T01:36:18Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#):
>
> Actually, we’re a little more flexible these days . . . if you’ve had a name change before, we’d consider changing your name again.
>
> We’re just not comfortable with people changing their screen names like they change their underwear. Names have meaning and we want you to have a name here you’re happy with and that people can identify you by. However, we also understand that people do change, so we’re not necessarily confining you to one change in your life here at the board.
>
> But not once a week, neither. 🙂
>
> your humble TubaDiva
Or changing underwear like screennames 😃
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### Author:  [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)
#### Post date: [July 23, 2005, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-change-my-user-name-will-my-old-messages-be-linked-to-the-new-name/313550/9 "2005-07-23T11:08:29Z")
Well, the ‘II’ surrounding my changed nick, were forced by the fact that the user **Gyan** exists. But he has never posted. Ever. If it’s ok, I’d like to adopt that nick.
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### Author:  [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)
#### Post date: [July 23, 2005, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-change-my-user-name-will-my-old-messages-be-linked-to-the-new-name/313550/10 "2005-07-23T15:13:27Z")
Which moderator should one e-mail in order to change their username? I also made the mistake of using my real name.
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### Author:  [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)
#### Post date: [July 23, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-change-my-user-name-will-my-old-messages-be-linked-to-the-new-name/313550/11 "2005-07-23T18:06:36Z")
Any administrator will do it for ya.
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### Author:  [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)
#### Post date: [July 23, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-change-my-user-name-will-my-old-messages-be-linked-to-the-new-name/313550/12 "2005-07-23T18:33:51Z")
> [@II Gyan II](#):
>
> Well, the ‘II’ surrounding my changed nick, were forced by the fact that the user **Gyan** exists. But he has never posted. Ever. If it’s ok, I’d like to adopt that nick.
Yeah, the name I wanted was registered in 2000. He posted three times in 17 hours in the same thread, and has never been seen since.