xX [B00b]pVtDrl337sHaDoWnorris.ny98 -johnny- {ﮔąģṩ} Xx 8==Đ

Throughout my ten plus years as a server moderator and multiplayer gamer, I’ve had the (dis)pleasure of meeting many other players. Likewise, I’ve seen a multitude of names, some being good, some not so hot. Being new to the internet culture, I started off with the typical initials and numbers for lack of anything better.

Over time, a profile name goes from being some letters and numbers to a true online identity with your personal reputation and ego attached. Your name is often the only thing other people will have to associate you with and first impressions on the internet work the same as in real life.

Good communication requires:

  • a name you can type quickly
  • a name you can say quickly
  • if long, a name that can be abbreviated into short form

Avoid using:

  • Ựηịςσđҽ lettering
  • l337 speak
  • excessive non-alphanumerics
  • a Dr or Mr prefix
  • military prefixes
  • internet memes
  • numerical digits after name
  • alternating capitals
  • so many tags that your name is indiscernible
  • xXx _____ xXx
  • your year of birth
  • your date of birth
  • your age
  • your initials
  • your full, real name
  • your Social Security number
  • a name you can’t say
  • a name that’s too long
  • a name that is unintentionally spelled wrong
  • obscene names
  • common names, especially “shadow,” “gamer,” “gurl,” or “unnamed”

Just a note, if you really like a common name, add something to make it personal. A great one would be for example, Loki → LokiJester.

There are some benefits from restricting yourself to these guidelines: it is more likely that people will communicate with you, remember you, believe that you are older, or overall hold more respect for you and your playing abilities. In games where teamwork is required, this can directly affect the assistance you receive. Also, in ten years someone may ask you where your name comes from or what it means… and you don’t want the answer to come from some obscure reference to granny porn.

(5) Comments

  • redlupine
    01 Feb 2010

    Very good naming rules, I struggled when picking my steam name, because i wanted something anime related, but I wanted English speakers to be able to say it. That’s how I came up with Jade Stern as my steam name.

    “internet memes”
    that’s the reason I changed my name from Jade Stern, because when I first named myself, I knew nothing of internet memes and was disgusted when I found out the truth behind ~Desu’s popularity. I couldn’t believe i was supporting that kind of culture

    also,
    “a Dr or Mr prefix”
    What’s wrong with that one?
    Mr.Seyon
    Dr. Wolf
    not hard to say or long

  • Wolf
    02 Feb 2010

    Jade! :D

    MD, and the Mr and (especially) Dr prefix seems to be the current fad of late; you’ll see someone start off with a good name and then later tack that on. There’s nothing wrong with them and, like you said are easy to say, there’s just always one on the server. It loses a bit of the individuality, in my opinion.

  • redlupine (a.k.a. Jade)
    02 Feb 2010

    oh okay its a recent thing, I haven’t noticed it much. But I definitely approve of it way more than than adding random numbers or xXx tags

    I’d rather wear Dr.Jade for 1000 days than wear Jade1415926535 or xXxJadexXx for one single day.

    oh, yea, my moniker mostly everywhere else is redlupine, I had forgotten you guys didn’t know me by that name :P I’ll see about fixing that in future posts

  • Wolf
    03 Feb 2010

    I’d rather wear Dr.Jade for 1000 days than wear Jade1415926535 or xXxJadexXx for one single day.

    lol Agreed.

  • Seyon
    03 Feb 2010

    Aye, one of many names back when I played Counter Strike was MrFillmore. I would see it much less often back then.

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