# What was your first choice for a user name? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 11, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607 "2004-03-11T02:01:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/21 "2004-03-11T09:15:51Z")
**Diogenes** , a nick I’ve used elsewhere. And when that was taken, **Diogenes the Cynic**. Who knew? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/22 "2004-03-11T14:58:03Z")
When I first signed up, I (rather lamely) used my e-mail nick, which is an abbreviation of my real name. Not so bright, rather uncreative, and you can’t pronounce it. So after a while I decided to change it in honor of the costume I wore for New Year’s Eve 2000. “Katie Scarlett” and “Scarlett” were both taken. (Bitches only posted a few times.) So here I am. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/23 "2004-03-11T15:21:25Z")
I wanted to use **Dr. Bedlam** , the nick I use on most other message boards and internet communications; it’s also my main email address. Unfortunately, the SDMB didn’t seem to like it. I tried Dr. Bedlam, Doctor Bedlam, Dr Bedlam, Doc Bedlam, Doctor B, Doc B, Doc Bee, and several other permutations… …and it did not like them, Sam I Am. So I tried several other nicks I’ve used over time. It didn’t like any of those, either. I began randomly trying various ideas and nicks. “Wang-Ka” finally stuck. After quite a while. Not easy getting in here… ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/24 "2004-03-11T15:22:47Z")
I wanted **jim** , but it was already taken. At least, now I think I just _assumed_ it was already taken. If it isn’t, can I have it please mods? ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/25 "2004-03-11T15:24:31Z")
I wanted just plain Pookah. Taken. Then I tried Phouka. Taken, and s/he is still around. So I went for this one which is a deliberate misspelling of a character from one of my favourite novels. Actually this name is not what I would choose now. I chose it a good while ago and then didn’t post for ages. But I think I’m just starting to get to a point where people might actually remember who I am, so I’m sticking with it. ---
**Author:** ![ReverseCowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@ReverseCowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReverseCowgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/26 "2004-03-11T15:55:32Z")
ReverseCowgirl says it all. ---
**Author:** ![DoubleJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@DoubleJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoubleJ)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/27 "2004-03-11T16:01:01Z")
I wanted “JJ”, which I use on another board, but it was already taken. Never seen the guy post though, maybe he only hangs out in GD. On a couple other boards I ran up against a minimum name length, so “DoubleJ” has become the default I use when I sign up on a new board now. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/28 "2004-03-11T16:29:39Z")
This one. it was my e-mail address at the time, so I stuck with it. I think I may have wanted **dead\_paul** , but that appeared to be taken. although who he is,??? I was considering changing to **attackships** , which is my newer e-mail, but everyone knows me as this now, so i’ll stick with it. I use that if I sign up to other boards (aside from NADS), as its nobody else uses it. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/29 "2004-03-11T16:41:25Z")
I wanted pandora, which is what I used to use pretty much everywhere. Taken, so I went for **belladonna** because I was reading both The Hobbit and The Mangler at the time and had been struck by the inclusion of belladonna in both works. Now I almost never use pandora (it’s almost always taken anyway), and answering to bella seems second nature. I’ve only ever seen pandora post here one time, and I think it was just a really old post I saw in a thread from the dead… ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/30 "2004-03-11T16:43:41Z")
My first choice was jsgoddess. I’ve been using it since 1995 at various places, and it’s never in use. If I stumble across it in use, that just means that I’ve been there before and forgot! Julie ---
**Author:** ![jesleigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@jesleigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesleigh)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/31 "2004-03-11T16:58:54Z")
lil\_red\_corvette. I didn’t even try it here though. Its been taken on everything else I tried, so I show no use. Betcha can’t guess what kinda car I drive… at least, I wish I drive ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/32 "2004-03-11T17:28:27Z")
I was **Flora McFlimsey** for about a year, till people started meeting me in real life and I figured it was silly to have a pseudonym. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/33 "2004-03-11T18:01:14Z")
Shortly before The Winter of Our Missed ContentTM, I signed up as **Frank the Lost Ramone** , my old college radio dj name. Then the crash came and wiped out every post I ever created with that name, aas well as my registration. When I tried to sign back up using that name, I was told it was too long. So I resorted to this name, the one I use when I’m gaming online or at laser tag. ---
**Author:** ![Ottoerotic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6de8d8/32.png) [@Ottoerotic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ottoerotic)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/34 "2004-03-11T18:09:12Z")
I originally wanted to be OTTO. Unfortuantely that was taken, but on the positive side, at least the person who “stole” my name still posts. ---
**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:** [March 11, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/35 "2004-03-11T18:23:15Z")
**Frank** , but it was taken. ([profile](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?userid=5150)) He made 3 posts back in 2000 and then disappeared. I use Frank everywhere I can as it keeps things simple, like **Eve** said. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/36 "2004-03-11T18:46:02Z")
Ever since I started BBSing in the late 80’s, I always went by **Sir Blah**. I registered here with that name years ago, but never got around to posting. When I registered my current name last year, I first tried getting on with the Sir Blah name, but apparently the system wouldn’t let me back on with it – not really sure what happened there. So, I decided to use my current, polar opposite handle. 🙂 If a generous mod wanted to switch the name over I’d be grateful, but it’s not something I’m terrible concerned about. ---
**Author:** ![williamweigand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b3f665/32.png) [@williamweigand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williamweigand)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/37 "2004-03-11T19:56:53Z")
I was so ignorant when registering that I thought “username” meant _real name_ and that “signature” meant “the alias you will be posting under”. So , with that in mind , my first choice for username was what I briefly had as my (never-posted) signature - Clement T. Arglebargle IV. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/38 "2004-03-11T20:42:06Z")
Padre. It was my college nick name. But it was taken. The moron posted to only 8 threads, 7 of them pimping his crappy band. I’ve been thinking of petitioning the powers that be for the name. ---
**Author:** ![\_Deep\_F\_ied](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/7cd45c/32.png) [@\_Deep\_F\_ied](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Deep_F_ied)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/39 "2004-03-11T21:15:30Z")
Unfortunately for all, I got mine on the first try… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607/40 "2004-03-11T21:28:59Z")
I got my first choice - I’ve never come up against someone else using it. If I were to choose another name, it’d be something that would be easy to shorten to a cute nickname. “Fairy” doesn’t really suit me. I’m more likely to answer to “Mom” - but I don’t intend to do any changing. I like my username. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-choice-for-a-user-name/233607.md?page=3)