# name change

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-change/239363>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [April 10, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-change/239363 "2004-04-10T20:49:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-change/239363/1 "2004-04-10T20:49:40Z")

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I was wanting to change my username, but found out that the name I want to use is, in fact, already taken. The person who has it is a “member” who last posted 08-30-2002. My question is, once this current signup period is over with, will I be able to change to that name, or is it forever taken on the basis of that one post?

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-change/239363/2 "2004-04-10T22:43:23Z")

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With apologies, it’s gone once someone has taken it.

While there are ways around this, we’ve chosen as a matter of policy not to take them.

I know, it sucks in some circumstances, but there we are. On the other hand, if you’d been away for a year or two and wanted to come back, you’d appreciate that policy that kept your name there.

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**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-change/239363/3 "2004-04-10T23:45:32Z")

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D 'oh

Thanks