Gaming has always been popular, but in the last few years it’s really taken off. For many, no longer is it just an enjoyable way of passing the time and has transformed into a serious hobby. Advances in tech have allowed gamers to get intentional about their hobby and improve their gaming experience with a range of devices.

Some have gone a step further than just engaging in gaming as a hobby and have turned their passion into a full-time occupation. As esports become more and more popular, some gaming enthusiasts have turned professional and play in big-money gaming tournaments.

Others make their money from gaming in the form of casino online One thing they all have in common is that they must create a username for themselves when they play online. But how do you create a good username? This article is here to provide you with a few tips.

Make your username stand out

Coming up with an original, appealing gamer name that will catch attention is easier said than done, given the fact there are billions of gamers out there already. It’s not impossible, however. Ideally, your username should make people smile when they see it. You want a gamer name that makes people talk about you in gaming circles when they see it. Gamers seem to be more drawn to funny names than to serious ones.

Keep your username short and simple

Even though you want your username to stand out, it should also be short and simple, so that people remember it. This makes life easier for your audience and for any sponsors if they decide to engage with you or to sponsor you. If you have a distinctive name, you’ll have less trouble appearing in Google searches.

Picking the perfect gaming username can be tough

Get creative and personal

Make a list of words that have a personal connection or meaning to you. This can be anything from colors, initials and nicknames to animals, mythological creatures, habits and more. Don’t be frightened to use a thesaurus if you need to. One way to come up with a decent username is to combine these personal words with verbs or adjectives.

Think into the future

When creating your username, you need to futureproof it. Your username is part of your personal brand and you may wish to set up a streaming channel on Twitch or YouTube. Choose a name that’s not specific to a particular game and you can use it in different games and on different platforms. Ideally, you want to use the same name everywhere.

Check the availability of your username across different platforms

You don’t want to choose a name on one platform but then find it’s not available on another. If you’re going to create content on streaming platforms, you can create your channels and let them sit until they’re being used. When you’ve confirmed the name you want is available, you can go ahead and launch them.

Things to do avoid when choosing a username

Coming up with a good username is interesting, but there are some don’ts to take note of in the process.

Don’t use a variation of someone else’s username
People won’t appreciate it if you take someone’s username, change it slightly and make it your own. It’s not good etiquette. Besides, you want to be building your own brand as a gamer.

Don’t overthink your username
Try to enjoy the process. Keep it light and engaging, which will have a more beneficial impact on the final username. If you turn finding the perfect username into too much of an ordeal, you’ll take the fun out of it and not produce as good a name.

Don’t just pick the first name you think of
Try out a few names and see how they feel or suit you, instead of just going with the first name that comes into your head. Suggest some names to friends or family and see how they respond to them.

Using tools and platforms to choose a gamer name

If you’re struggling to create a suitable name for yourself or even if you just want to take some of the legwork or frustration out of the task, look for a name generator online. One useful tool for this is social media platform Hootsuite, which offers a generator for social media, streaming and gaming platforms. You simply have to select your account type, your industry (if it’s a business account) and enter some words that describe yourself in the description box.

Whether gaming for leisure or to make a living, you should always enjoy it. Choosing the right username should not be an overwhelming, soul-sucking activity, but one that engages you as part of your interest in gaming. If you decide to turn pro, gaming gets even more thrilling and your username will be part of your personal brand, so choose well.