# Should I change my username? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 22, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794 "2012-11-22T02:45:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/21 "2012-11-22T06:09:15Z")
I like your current name. It’s one that is familiar to me from reading your posts. But it is YOUR name. Change it if you want to. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/22 "2012-11-22T06:10:29Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > …and as most of you know… Maybe you should change your name to **CaptainSarcastic**. I had no idea what your username meant anyway, so I don’t think it really matters. It’s a perfectly cromulent name as far as I’m concerned, so no need to change it. ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/23 "2012-11-22T06:14:40Z")
Names very quickly become just that…a name. Don’t change it, as it is part of your identity, and I certainly don’t think of a hockey team when I see it. I associate it with you, the poster. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/24 "2012-11-22T06:38:18Z")
My username also comes from something that I was a fan of way back in 2000 when I joined the SDMB. I stopped being a fan back in 2003, and it’s been just a name for a very long time. No one has any idea what it comes from anyway. I say stick with the name you’ve got. It gives the boards some much-needed continuity. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/25 "2012-11-22T06:46:47Z")
To be honest, I never parsed your name. I thought it was a fantasy-character type name, like Steoffan (var. of Stefan.) I thought it was kind of nifty. (Heck, still do!) So…FWIW…it doesn’t necessarily carry a burden of context… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/26 "2012-11-22T07:33:47Z")
I didn’t know what it meant until you mentioned it in a thread awhile ago; I just thought it was a name. Even though I didn’t get the meaning, I like it. I suppose you could change it to **1967\_Was\_A\_While\_Ago** or something like that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/27 "2012-11-22T07:51:50Z")
I always knew it had to do with the hockey team; but even though they have been doing poorly for over forty years, I see no reason to change it. I’d suggest staying with it. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/28 "2012-11-22T08:02:47Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > Yep, never saw it as Leaf Fan either. For some reason I always ‘hear’ it as vaguely Celtic. Which makes no sense, really, but there it is. Exact same response here, down to the vaguely Celtic association. Never would have guessed hockey. Something about the look of it has, however, always made me assume you were a woman. Now I’m not sure. Are you? ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/29 "2012-11-22T13:54:56Z")
I never knew your name was about sports. It makes me think of a little dark bar on an exotic island, where spies and treacherous women hang out, and the ceiling fans have real palm leaves. ---
**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/30 "2012-11-22T14:03:26Z")
Make it even more obscure and change it to argosfan. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/31 "2012-11-22T14:13:36Z")
I knew from the get-go that it referred to the Leafs. And I also thought all along you should change it to RedWingsFan. Nah, just kidding. Keep it. mmm ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/32 "2012-11-22T15:01:24Z")
FWIW, I always pronounced it in my mind as “Lee-AFF-faan\*”, not “LEAF-fan”. \*[2 dot A] ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/33 "2012-11-22T15:11:55Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > FWIW, I always pronounced it in my mind as “Lee-AFF-faan\*”, not “LEAF-fan”. > > \*[2 dot A] That’s how the voices in my head say it, too! ---
**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:** [November 22, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/34 "2012-11-22T15:24:19Z")
OK, well with a 62.79% mandate, I’m sticking with my woeful username. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/35 "2012-11-22T15:27:14Z")
FWIW, I knew what the name means. If you do change it, you could go the route of \*\*TokyoBayer \*\*- something that resembles the old name so you’re still recognizable. But it’ll be a shame…people won’t be able to post about peeing in **Leaffan** ’s shower. -D/a ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/36 "2012-11-22T16:32:28Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > … I guess I am thinking of re-branding myself. Uhhh, **Chewbacca** , that’s the mandate of your next SO, dontcha know? P.S. don’t change your name, it immediately marks you as an eternal optimist. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/37 "2012-11-22T16:37:56Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I didn’t know what it meant until you mentioned it in a thread awhile ago; I just thought it was a name. > > Even though I didn’t get the meaning, I like it. > > I suppose you could change it to **1967\_Was\_A\_While\_Ago** or something like that. 😉 That’s what I was thinking - “I knew it was a hockey-themed name - I like being able to tell who has good taste and who is a Leaf’s fan.” 😃 > [@Rodgers01](#): > > Exact same response here, down to the vaguely Celtic association. Never would have guessed hockey. > > Something about the look of it has, however, always made me assume you were a woman. Now I’m not sure. Are you? He’s probably sure if he’s a woman or not. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/38 "2012-11-22T16:42:33Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Maybe you should change your name to **CaptainSarcastic**. > > I had no idea what your username meant anyway, so I don’t think it really matters. It’s a perfectly cromulent name as far as I’m concerned, so no need to change it. You know,\*\* Cromulent\_Leaffan\*\* would change things up, yet still be recognizable. 😃 BTW, sorry about your impending divorce. It’s gonna be a sucky time no matter what, so if you find a new name that helps you feel the LEAST little bit better about it, by all means go for it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/39 "2012-11-22T16:49:33Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > He’s probably sure if he’s a woman or not. Surely. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794/40 "2012-11-22T16:50:29Z")
But don’t call him Shirley, just to be safe. ETA: These Shirley jokes work better when spoken. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/641794.md?page=3)