# What is it about my username that is so confusing?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [September 29, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723 "2004-09-29T20:46:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/1 "2004-09-29T20:46:33Z")
My real name is Elaine, and my last name starts with “F”. When my niece was little and cute, she called me “Laina”. I’ve used “lainaf” as my online name for a long time. Here I eventually realized that it confused people, although I’m not sure why, so I changed it to **laina\_f**. Still, about half the time when people refer to me, they call me “liana”. Today, someone used “lainaff”.
I’m really curious as to why my username seems to be so difficult for people.
I’m stuck with **laina\_f** now that the one-name-change rule has been implemented. Otherwise, I might change to **Dog\_and\_DreamCatcher**. Feel free to suggest other names that I can’t change to.
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### Author:  [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/2 "2004-09-29T20:52:42Z")
Speaking for myself - I don’t recognise the word ‘laina’, and don’t understand the meaning of the ‘\_f’ suffix.
But if I were to quote you I’d make sure I get it right.
And now that you’ve explained it it makes sense, but we’re not psychic. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/3 "2004-09-29T20:54:36Z")
In my head I always pronounce it “Lyin’ Elf”
Totaly inaccurate, but it’s stuck in my head.
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### Author:  [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2004, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/4 "2004-09-29T20:58:46Z")
IMO, nothing. There is such a wide variety of user names on message boards that I just view the name as a name, whether I understand its meaning and origin or not. Also, usernames are important to some people so I try to make sure that I do not misspell their name if I use it.
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### Author:  [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/5 "2004-09-29T21:01:58Z")
When pronouncing it, it doesn’t ‘flow’. It requires a breath pause, ‘laina eff’ kind of like a sharp turn at high speed. whereas ‘liana eff’ flows.
Also, Initials and names are generally capitalized. So it’s missing quite a few clues to it’s meaning.
Elaine\_F or Elaine F seem like a name and initial.
elaine\_f seems a little less like a name and initial.
and laina\_f, ‘laina’ being a name I’ve never heard, could mean anything.
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### Author:  [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/6 "2004-09-29T21:05:39Z")
Not for nothing, but if you’re looking for a catchier username, [Gold Dong Member](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=278043) should still be available.
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### Author:  [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/7 "2004-09-29T21:09:29Z")
> [@laina\_f](#):
>
> Feel free to suggest other names that I can’t change to.
Feel free to not change your username to any or all of the following:
clown-penis.fart
Mr. Short-term Memory
Toonces, the Cat Who Could Drive a Car
Band Name
Earn more sessions by sleeving
lafaina\_
ana\_fil
na\_fail
\_fanail
:dubious: :rolleyes:
WallyM7
Snarky
nonpolar
Boy\_Scout11
Sevastapol88
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### Author:  [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/8 "2004-09-29T21:18:06Z")
I knew what it meant immediately, if that makes you feel any better. laina (I figured it was your given name, but close enough) and F-last initial.
You once posted a link to a story or article you’d written and the name was Laina F. and that cinched it for me.
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### Author:  [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2004, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/9 "2004-09-29T21:21:06Z")
Well, your post [over here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=277425) made me think you had a different user name …
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### Author:  [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2004, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/10 "2004-09-29T21:49:32Z")
Too many syllables.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/11 "2004-09-29T23:39:15Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#):
>
> Too many syllables.
laina\_f has too many syllables?
\*\*Elenia28 \*\* must be a real mouthful, then. 😃
And you probably don’t even say **Diogenes the Cynic**. 😉
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### Author:  [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/12 "2004-09-29T23:44:53Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#):
>
> In my head I always pronounce it “Lyin’ Elf”.
Oh great, now everyone will start doing that.
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### Author:  [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/13 "2004-09-30T00:12:35Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I’m really curious as to why my username seems to be so difficult for people.
Eh. Couldn’t say.
Don’t let the bastids grind you down. 😉
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/14 "2004-09-30T00:19:02Z")
It’s yer own damn fault for picking such a nonsensical username. Pick an easily recognized, sensible one!
😃
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### Author:  [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/15 "2004-09-30T00:20:58Z")
I understood what it was even before the name change.
By the way, are you in the birthday list?
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### Author:  [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/16 "2004-09-30T00:27:39Z")
I have a friend called Laine, pronounced ‘Lyna.’
So I always kind of knew what it referred to.
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### Author:  [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/17 "2004-09-30T01:47:24Z")
I always saw it as laina. _shrug_ Maybe it confuses people because it’s all lowercase?
I recently changed my name but I don’t care if it confuses anyone. I am more confortable with this name since I use it other places.
Thanks CK Dexter!
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### Author:  [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/18 "2004-09-30T02:54:32Z")
Thanks for the laugh, **koeeoaddi** and **Qadgop the Mercotan**.
**Flamsterette\_X** , Long long ago there was a thread about coolest user names, and I nominated you and **Bosda** (whose full name I still can’t spell without looking it up).
I really blame the whole mess on **Lamia** because except for her, I would’ve asked for just **Laina**.
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### Author:  [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/19 "2004-09-30T03:19:51Z")
I think I remember that… you’ve read the explanation of my name, right?
(trying to find it and coming up empty…)
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-my-username-that-is-so-confusing/266723/20 "2004-09-30T12:49:34Z")
> [@Flamsterette\_X](#):
>
> By the way, are you in the birthday list?
What is this and how do I get on it?
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