Username Generator
Generate usernames in four styles, with the actual character limits and allowed characters for each platform.
Click the star to pin a name you like. Pinned items stay while you keep generating, are remembered when you come back, and can be copied on their own or with everything else.
What this tool does
A username has to be available, within the platform's character limit, and made only of characters that platform allows. Instagram permits up to 30 characters using letters, numbers, full stops and underscores. Requirements differ across platforms, and this page lists them.
Produces usernames in four distinct styles, because a handle that suits a portfolio does not suit a game and vice versa.
Lists what each major platform actually permits, which is what determines whether a handle is usable at all.
How to use it
- Choose a style - aesthetic, gaming, professional or playful.
- Pick how many you want.
- Press Generate and pin the ones you like.
- Check availability on each platform yourself - see below for why.
Why use this name generator
Usernames differ by platform in length and allowed characters, and a handle that suits a portfolio does not suit a game. Style choices and platform rules let you pick one that will be accepted.
Why we built it
We built the username generator with four styles and the real character limits for each platform. Test password strength with the password strength checker and create a strong one with the random password generator.
Who this tool is for
- Gamers and streamers creating a handle
- Professionals choosing a consistent username
- Anyone signing up to a new platform
When to use it
- Creating an account on a social or gaming platform.
- Choosing a consistent handle across sites.
- Brainstorming gamer tags or portfolio names.
- Checking what characters a platform allows.
This cannot check availability, and here is why
Everything on this site runs in your browser, with no server involved. Checking whether a username is taken requires querying each platform's systems, which needs a server making authenticated requests.
So this generates candidates; it cannot tell you which are free. Any tool that claims to check availability across platforms is either sending your queries to a server, or guessing from whether a profile page loads - which is unreliable, since suspended, private and reserved handles all behave differently from genuinely free ones.
The practical approach is to generate a shortlist, then check them yourself by attempting to view each profile URL. Check every platform you care about before committing to any of them.
Check all your platforms before settling. A handle free on Instagram but taken on TikTok is a handle you will end up abandoning.
What each platform allows
| Platform | Length | Allowed characters |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 30 | Letters, numbers, full stops, underscores | |
| TikTok | Up to 24 | Letters, numbers, underscores, full stops |
| X | Up to 15 | Letters, numbers, underscores only |
| 3 to 20 | Letters, numbers, underscores, hyphens | |
| Twitch | 4 to 25 | Letters, numbers, underscores |
| GitHub | Up to 39 | Letters, numbers, single hyphens |
| Discord | 2 to 32 | Letters, numbers, full stops, underscores |
X is the binding constraint at fifteen characters, and it accepts underscores but not full stops. If you want one handle everywhere, design it to fit X and it will fit everywhere else.
Hyphens are the other trap: GitHub and Reddit allow them, most others do not. A handle with a hyphen is not portable.
Choosing between the styles
Aesthetic
Soft, natural vocabulary. Suits visual accounts, photography and lifestyle. Reads as considered rather than casual.
Gaming
Short, hard, technical. Built to be readable in a killfeed and sayable on a stream. Length matters more here than anywhere else.
Professional
Plain and legible. If your handle appears on a CV or a business card, it needs to survive being read aloud in a meeting. This is the one style where being boring is correct.
Playful
Self-deprecating and specific. Works well on platforms where personality matters more than polish. Ages faster than the others.
The general rule: use the same handle everywhere if you can. A single handle is findable; four different ones across four platforms means nobody finds any of them.
What you give it, and what you get back
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Controls | Four styles of username. |
| Output | Usernames and a summary of platform rules. |
| Shortlist | Pin names you like; a seed reproduces the same list. |
Issues you may run into
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The platform rejects it | Length or characters are not allowed. | Check the platform's rules shown on the page. |
| A name already exists | Generated names can coincide with real people, brands or characters. | Search for it before using it for anything public or commercial. |
| The same names come back | The word or syllable pool is finite, or a seed is set. | Clear the seed, change the options or generate a larger batch. |
Assumptions and limitations
- Availability cannot be checked. This runs entirely in your browser with no server to query platforms.
- The generator does not enforce platform character limits, since these vary and you may only care about one.
- Some generated handles will exceed X's 15-character limit. Check length if you need portability.
- Platform rules change. The table reflects the rules as documented at time of writing and is worth confirming.
- Handles are English-language and may not suit non-English audiences.
Frequently asked questions
How do I come up with a username?
Pick a style that matches what the account is for, generate a shortlist, then check availability on every platform you care about. Design to fit X's 15-character limit if you want the same handle everywhere.
Can this check if a username is available?
No. Everything here runs in your browser with no server, and checking availability requires querying each platform's systems. Generate a shortlist and check them yourself by trying each profile URL.
What characters can I use in a username?
It varies. Instagram allows letters, numbers, full stops and underscores; X allows only letters, numbers and underscores; GitHub and Reddit allow hyphens where most others do not. A handle with a hyphen is not portable.
How long can an Instagram username be?
Up to 30 characters. TikTok allows 24, Twitch 25, GitHub 39, and X only 15. X is the binding constraint, so design to fit it if you want one handle everywhere.
Should I use the same username everywhere?
Yes, wherever you can. One handle is findable and builds recognition; four different ones across four platforms means nobody finds any of them. It is worth compromising slightly to get one that works everywhere.
What makes a good professional username?
Plain and legible. If it will appear on a CV, a business card, or be read aloud in a meeting, it needs to survive that without explanation. This is the one context where a boring handle is the right answer.