# What’s the best way to let someone know about an unintentionally embarrassing email name? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 7, 2026, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281 "2026-03-07T17:12:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/21 "2026-03-07T19:47:33Z")
I worked at a first initial last name place and they made an exception for Frank Uckert. He got franku@ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/22 "2026-03-07T20:48:41Z")
I went to grad school with an M. Adams. During one presentation with a list of email addresses for a paper’s authors, some confused member of the audience asked “Who is Madam S?”. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/23 "2026-03-07T21:06:49Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > It’s not Pen Island, is it? Or Volkswagen Italia. [![](https://i.ibb.co/9k1tN7Xz/i-have-no-idea-v0-wy9zhiy19adc1.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/9k1tN7Xz/i-have-no-idea-v0-wy9zhiy19adc1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/24 "2026-03-07T21:29:44Z")
I knew a Rabbi Weinberg whose auto-generated “first initial-last name” email username was **sweinberg.** He decided it was too funny to change. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/25 "2026-03-07T21:42:35Z")
I recall the case of a young woman in college, who was assigned her email address by the institution, no choices, no changes. Their policy was to use the last name of the student followed by the first two letters of their first name. This did not work out well for Megan Finger. Though I do understand she was able to eventually get it changed, but it took some time. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/26 "2026-03-07T21:48:26Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I won’t reveal it here but when my parents signed up for AOL, they chose a very embarrassing email name. Chunkylover69? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UxyV-Eq3vHI/hqdefault.jpg "The Simpsons - Homer's E-mail Address") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxyV-Eq3vHI) ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/27 "2026-03-07T23:44:19Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > I knew a Rabbi Weinberg whose auto-generated “first initial-last name” email username was **sweinberg.** He decided it was too funny to change. America’s synagogues are full of Sarah, Susan, Sam & Sheldon Weinbergs. I’ll bet every university in the US has a sweinberg@[college].edu ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/28 "2026-03-07T23:47:13Z")
I once worked with a guy named Anthony Samuel S\*\*\*\*. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2026, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/29 "2026-03-08T00:00:19Z")
True story: At the government agency where I used to work, the convention for our user IDs was: - First Initial; Middle Initial; First five letters of last name. I had a colleague whose last name began with the letters KNAZI. His wife also worked there. Her first and middle initials were both K. 😱 They made an exception to the convention and gave her a different used ID. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2026, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/30 "2026-03-08T00:02:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I went to grad school with an M. Adams. During one presentation with a list of email addresses for a paper’s authors, some confused member of the audience asked “Who is Madam S?”. Shades of a dearly departed Doper from years ago, @norinew, whose actual name was “Norine W.”, but Dopers always assumed it was “Nori New”… ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2026, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/31 "2026-03-08T00:08:08Z")
Pour one out for the Richard Heads of the world. I have known no fewer than 3, they all went by “Rich”. Also knew a Butler Head, but he just kind of powered through it. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2026, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/32 "2026-03-08T01:01:10Z")
On the flipside, I once worked with a guy who was B. Eastman and thought his work email address was rad as hell. No period, even! ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2026, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/33 "2026-03-08T01:20:03Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Or Volkswagen Italia. Or Mole Station Nursery. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2026, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/34 "2026-03-08T01:26:15Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > I knew a Rabbi Weinberg whose auto-generated “first initial-last name” email username was **sweinberg.** He decided it was too funny to change. Makes me think of Swedenborg, which is doubly amusing. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2026, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/35 "2026-03-08T01:30:25Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Would it be uncouth of me to share the email address in question? I’m assuming yes. Just leave the @whatever.com off to preserve their anonymity. There’s nothing in the part ahead of the @ that’s ruder than stuff already on SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2026, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/36 "2026-03-08T01:31:14Z")
Yeah, double-entendre usernames/email addresses are funny, and everyone should feel free to have a private chuckle about them. And if you know somebody is **considering** adopting a username/address whose spelling has some potentially embarrassing connotations, feel free to gently point it out to them in case they didn’t notice. But in the case of somebody’s established email or username that they’ve been using since whenever? Don’t waste their time and make yourself look immature by telling them about the embarrassing connotations. Grown-ups should be able to communicate professionally without drawing attention to unintentionally amusing aspects of personal nomenclature. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2026, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/37 "2026-03-08T01:34:14Z")
It’s “fapportrait.” Not the most risque, but still unfortunate. I may be blowing the whole thing out of proportion. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2026, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/38 "2026-03-08T01:45:36Z")
I can’t begin to fathom your concern. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2026, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/39 "2026-03-08T01:47:38Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > It’s “fapportrait.” Maybe worth a small chuckle but not worth embarrassing someone about. Many people probably won’t even get it ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2026, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281/40 "2026-03-08T01:48:26Z")
Yeah, definitely blowing out of proportion IMHO. Not everybody even recognizes the word “fap”, and it’s not an especially shocking word anyway. You’ve had a chuckle with us about it, and that’s perfectly fine, but I think it would sound officious and maybe even a bit prurient to go out of your way to draw your contractor’s/supplier’s/whatever’s attention to this trivial nomenclatural infelicity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-let-someone-know-about-an-unintentionally-embarrassing-email-name/1028281.md?page=3)