# So how did you pick your user name? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 26, 2003, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559 "2003-05-26T11:02:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/61 "2003-05-27T02:40:55Z")
I was inspired by the ability of the small Kangaroo mouse to survive and thrive in the harsh climate of Dune. I asked the Fremen Stilgar, naib of seitch Tabr, what this creature was called and he replied “Muad’Dib”. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/62 "2003-05-27T02:43:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MeanOldLady \* > \*\*I’ve been told _many_ times by many people that I act like a mean old lady. Guess they must be onto something. I find this wildly hilarious considering I’m 20 years old and I’ve been hearing this since I was 15,m dag’nabit! \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/63 "2003-05-27T03:35:56Z")
Well, the ones I wanted were gone. And I sorta stared at the screen, and just started typing stuff, and this was the only thing that looked even close to right. It wasn’t any of my other usernames online, but I’ve become much more fond of it as it gets older. And now I use it for other stuff, too. ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/64 "2003-05-27T03:52:27Z")
I am originally from Arkansas. When I first moved to beautiful St. Louis, I was the brunt of a lot of “ignorant hillbilly inbred hick” jokes. So when I went off to college, I knew I would be talking to a lot of people from all over who might do the same when they found out where I was from. So I decided to make a joke of it with the screen name “Kissing Cousin.” Well, the people online were a lot nicer than the folks in high school (isn’t that always the way?) and I got to be quite popular on the lists I was on. Soon my nickname was shortened to “KC.” I was also known as “KC Susan” sometimes. My brothers often call me “Suze” instead of Susan. KC Suze. There you have it. ---
**Author:** ![Teaira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9d8465/32.png) [@Teaira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teaira)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/65 "2003-05-27T04:02:24Z")
As dorky as this is going to sound, my username was actually the character I played most on an online game (EverQuest). I use it for everything now pretty much. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/66 "2003-05-27T04:17:50Z")
Eh, **Muad’Dib**? ---
**Author:** ![a\_bird\_on\_the\_wire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@a\_bird\_on\_the\_wire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a_bird_on_the_wire)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/67 "2003-05-27T05:01:55Z")
…from a Leonard Cohen song. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/68 "2003-05-27T05:09:15Z")
Sorry, I just thought that you were not done with your post. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/69 "2003-05-27T05:17:54Z")
Heh, no, that was it. I’ve heard the mean old lady bit a gazillion times, think it’s really feckin’ funny (especially considering the number of people who have told me this and my age), made it my user name. I wonder how many people picture me as this nasty old woman who’s grumpy all the time, as opposed to a nasty _young_ woman who’s grumpy all the time. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sqube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Sqube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sqube)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/70 "2003-05-27T05:22:33Z")
**Sq** uare + c **ube** = **Sqube**. I believe the drug was mescaline… nah, I’m just kiddin. I was like 12, and it came to me in a fit of inspiration that hasn’t shown hide nor hair of itself before or since. I use it for everything cuz… dammit, it’s the most original name I’ve ever come up with. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/71 "2003-05-27T07:01:34Z")
It’s pretty much what I came up with for my first e-mail address and every online thing I’ve registered for since. Pilot (what I did) and 141 (the airplane I was flying at the time - a USAF C-141). I’ve moved through three airplanes (and out of the AF) since then, but the name has stuck - on aviation message boards people see pilot141 and know that its me. People here must think that there were 140 pilotXXXs in front of me, but there wasn’t! The 141 is an airplane! I chose the name on purpose! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/72 "2003-05-27T07:05:46Z")
I read a SF book where one of the characters refers to his significant other/lover/wife/slave (well she was kind of all of them, but it was a confusing situation - hard to describe in a quick sentence) as **Waenara**. It means “beloved” an an alien language. I liked the sound of it, and my typical usernames were already in use when I finally went to register - after lurking on and off for several years. ---
**Author:** ![Gopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gopher)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/73 "2003-05-27T08:21:27Z")
I used to use Zopz as an online handle often but afterwards it kinda lost its ring to me so I was searching for a new name to use. Jubbjubb? Yubyub? Honey Roasted Peanuts? or Gopher? I’ve been called Gopher by friends since middle school because according to one guy, I have a resemblance to a gopher he saw in a cartoon. I don’t have an urge to dig in people’s gardens but the name’s stuck with me through all of high school. So that’s my user name: **Gopher** ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/74 "2003-05-27T11:13:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Earl Snake-Hips Tucker \* > \*\*And I just thought you were a big Jackie Gleason fan. One of my favorite lines “You left enough. . . .” \*\* I don’t recognize your name. Did you change it recently? When I first signed up I was working as an international go-between for some undersea fiber optic projects, hence the name sub- (underwater) -light (optics). ---
**Author:** ![Madame\_Zelda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Madame\_Zelda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madame_Zelda)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/75 "2003-05-27T12:47:24Z")
OK, got the name change - HiHorse has been retired to prevent further discomfort to my poor li’l old mammy. **Madame Zelda** was the nickname given to me by my friends and coworkers who seemed to think I was some sort of psychic or mind-reader. “Hey, **Madame Zelda** , what’s the investment value of stock #9355251?” “$17,250. I’ll verify that for you as soon as you let me get out of the bathroom!” No, really - that happened. Salesmen followed me into the ladies’ room to ask me this type of question - _all the darned time_!! We even had signs made up for my office - “The Madame is In/Out”, “Minds read - half-wits half-price”, “Out of body experiences extra - out of brain experiences usual” - that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![insomnia4AM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@insomnia4AM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/insomnia4AM)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/76 "2003-05-27T12:59:49Z")
I can’t seem to sleep before 4am, and if I do, I cat nap. No matter how tired I am, as long as that clock says any time before 4, you can bet I am either wide awake, or thrashing about, trying to get at least 30 minutes every hour. Strangely though, I feel rested, even though I hardly slept. ---
**Author:** ![Ender\_Will](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Ender\_Will](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ender_Will)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/77 "2003-05-27T13:08:39Z")
Ender, from _Ender’s Game_. Will, my name. I first started using it about five years ago for Starcraft online, had to use an underscore because [Battle.net](http://Battle.net) wouldn’t accept a hyphen, and I’ve stuck with it since. ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Frank\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_2)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/78 "2003-05-27T13:16:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by moi \* > \*\*Overall point to this post: Yes, you’ve been pronouncing it wrong. \*\* And I’ll continue to pronounce it wrong, mwah. 🙂 My user name? Simple. My name is Frank (or so my driver’s license says). I like to register with my real name whenever possible to avoid real life confusions. Unfortunately, **Frank** was already taken so that made me the 2nd Frank to register here. Ergo, I am **Frank #2**. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/79 "2003-05-27T14:14:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sublight \* > \*\*I don’t recognize your name. Did you change it recently? \*\* Yep. Story [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=3451883#post3451883), if you’re interested. ---
**Author:** ![williamweigand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b3f665/32.png) [@williamweigand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williamweigand)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559/80 "2003-05-27T14:28:43Z")
I should have called myself The Ultimate Newbie because in my ignorance when registering I thought username meant REAL name.(And just in case it was the name that would show up on my posts, I “customized” it by omitting capital letters and the space between first and last names.)Someday I’ll e-mail an Administrator to request a username change - if only so no one will mistake me for that Sacremento bishop. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-did-you-pick-your-user-name/177559.md?page=5)