How to create a great Steam Username

I know you've probably seen quite a few great usernames over the time you've played TF2, and I know you want names just like them. So I'm just going to give you some tips on how to create your own unique username that both you and your friends will love.

Let's get started.

I know there are a lot of great and popular Steam usernames out there. You've probably seen quite a few of them. And there are some that are just absolutely terrible.
This guide should give you a few good steps on how to create your own unique username and answer any questions you might have on them. If you like your username already, this will help you tweak it so that you know it will be recognizable.

First off, anyone can have a good username.
Yup, that's right. Anyone.
Even the so called "COD f2p squeeker noobs" that everyone hates so much. It just all depends on how you look at it, and much work you are willing to put into it. Although some of you may not agree with this, it doesn't particularly matter, because in the end, someone is going to have an awesome username, and someone is not.

Step 1: Make it personal.

Start by choosing something that makes you YOU and will stand out right away. For me, I'm pretty good at cards, so I really wanted something with "Spades" in it. My great uncle's name was Ivan, and he was pretty good too. So I combined them. "Ivan of Spades". But that's my story, not yours. You don't have to do it the way I did. You can do it in completely different way.

You can make it silly, too. I've seen quite a few popular ones (and by popular, I mean recognizable, not how many people copy it). Just make sure you don't go overboard on it. Most multiplayer steam games are a mostly mature environment, so don't "over-silly" youself too much. Keep it at a mostly mature level. Memes work great if you're careful, but it's a good idea to have a personal twist to it.

Having the name of popular person is nice and all, but to have one that you made yourself feels much better, and it lasts longer than something copied.

Step 2: Less numbers.

Now this is a big one. Most new players do this way too often.

Honestly, I really don't like seeing all the names like D$H0T_PR05-99XX or Mat81841, and I bet a lot of people would agree with me. It looks like something more on the lines of a password, or something kids playing mature games use than an actual decent username. And besides, no one is going to remember what order they were in or what they were, people nowadays have enough numbers to worry about; such as passwords, or phone numbers.

Also, having a ton of custom symbols can really be an eyesore as well. Just like numbers, no one is going to remember them. People remember names, not symbols. Although, having one or two is not a bad thing. Just don't overdo it.

If you are gonna have numbers or symbols in your username, have as few as possible.
Trust me, it will help more than you think.

Step 3: Don't ruin it with insults.

I've seen people with the most demeaning usernames that normal people would probably be absolutly enraged over. Hateful names with things like rasicm, facism, or just plain hurtful and insulting remarks aren't something you put in a username. Otherwise, you will be yelled at by pretty much every player in the game, and most likely, Banned.

Honestly, it's in the Steam rules and regulations, so don't go being a complete dirtbag with your username. Your username is supposed to be a name. Not an opinion. Steam may not catch it at first, but don't expect your luck to hold forever. Like any criminal, you'll get caught.

Now, I don't care what you do in the real world. Whether you're in the KKK (hopefully not), or are a loyal Republican, or a devout creationist. Just don't bring it into your social life if it's something that can't be talked about in an honest conversation with someone that has an opposite opinion.

There are 4 main things you don't bring up in an conversation: Money, Drama, Politics, and Religion. So please, for the love of whatever you believe in, don't ruin a perfectly good username with an insult.

In short, your username is meant to be a name. Nothing else. Don't ruin it with hurtful remarks or biased opinions.

Step 4: Keep it simple, stupid!

Anyone who is even thinking of creating a username should read this before even doing it.

Now, I've seen a lot of great usernames in my journey of video games. Unfortunately, the one thing that new players think too often is that their usernames have to be super long and complex to be awesome.

THIS IS COMPLETELY FALSE!

You don't need a thousand word username for it to be awesome. Some usernames are less than 5 letters, and they are just as awesome. A good username is between 5 - 25 letters and should never be more than 5 words long. Keep it short and simple!

Trust me, this is crucial to having an awesome username.

If you create something exremely long and complex, there is a good chance that almost no one is going to remember it! If you look at most usernames, they are short, simple, and easy to remember. As my friend Dave Ramsey has said: "Keep it simple, stupid!"

Step 5: Nicknames

Just because it has everything you want in a username, doesn't mean it's perfect.
For example, one of my friends called【☞RK☜】used to name himself "rkgrei" because it had his initials of his real name and few other things as well. But, people always called him RK instead because it was easier to say. So, he changed it, and people he plays with still recognize him right off the bat, even with the change.

Go with nicknames if people always call you by just one part of your name.

Step 6: Don't stack group tags!

Now, I don't see a lot of problems with people using group tags the wrong way, but some people just don't do it right.

Just because you have all the tags from your favorite groups, doesn't mean you look cool.

Honestly, who would want to see this?:
[F2P][DM][CFFG][TF2][Noob64's][Lazy][UFP]-Busterdude[Mod]

NO.

It's too long, and it takes the focus away from the actual name. If you are going to have a group tag in your name, stick with just one group. Preferably the one you have the most friends in, the one who's server you visit the most, or the one you just like the most.

Group tags are also used for identification for certain people, like admins or group members.
Be careful, though! Just because your group tag may work in one server, doesn't mean it will work in another. You might be a powerful admin in your favorite server, but in another, you're just another player. Thankfully, most servers have an automatic player tag so that in the chatbox, it's always visible that you are in the group or you are a certain person.

Use caution with group tags. They are a great tool, but can hurt your username more than you think.

Step 7: Name + Profile picture = Awesome

Now this is the topic that some people have the most trouble with.

Some new players often have a decent username, but lack a good profile picture. Profile pictures are the most important thing that makes a player unique. Often, it's the image that people remember, and not just the name. Just make sure your profile pic doesn't clash too much with your name. If your name was for example MasterSpy, you wouldn't want a picture of the Heavy on your profile pic.

Custom pictures or ones that aren't used commonly work best, as anyone could probably tell if you got the picture from the Steam selection, if you got it from Google, or if you made it yourself.

Good profile pictures are a neccesity for having a great username and can be anything you want. The possibilities are endless.

Step 8: Don't make fun of lesser names.

Just because you have done your homework on creating your username, don't make fun of others that haven't. That's what a bully is, and I hate bullies. The truth most likely is that the ones who haven't quite made a nice username yet probably haven't been on Steam for very long, and aren't used to mature gaming usernames or they just prefer the usernames they have. So don't make assumptions that they are "6 year old minecraft noobs" or that they're just "stupid F***ing idiots". The only thing you are doing by calling someone that is making yourself look stupid. (No offense guys, but it's true.)

Before you even think about making fun of someone's username, look at yours first and remember that yours may look just as "stupid" as theirs. In their eyes, you are no different from them. So don't ruin your reputation by looking like a bully. You're only making yourself look worse.

So, don't be someone who makes fun of people's usernames just cause you think they are bad. Take a look at your own before saying something like that.

Step 9: Usernames aren't done overnight.

Usernames can take time to develop. It may be a while before you find something that you are comfortable with. Find something you like, and try to stick with it.

For example, my username at first used to be SargeXtrme. Looks absolutly ridiculous, right?
Then I changed it to RoboTroll, and that wasn't much of an improvement. Then it was ChrisTheManiac, and so on... until I finally settled on Ivan of Spades. This entire process took me nearly a year, so don't expect an awesome username right away. It takes time and a little effort to make it right.

The idea here is to let your username build up familiarity. Until you, your friends, and random people you play with can recognize it easily. And by that time, you'll probably be popular too!

Step 10: Be confident in what you have.

The last step I want to cover is that once you have settled on a Username for yourself, have confidence in it so that you're not asking "Is this username ok, or what?". Saying something like that means you are still unsure about it, and you need someone else's opinion on it.
Unfortunatly, you probably won't get a straight answer, because either people don't want to say something bad, or they are making fun of it. (Don't do that!)

Once you settle on a username, you should be proud of it! Don't ruin your confidence with questions if it's good or not. There are some people out there who will make it seem like your username is absolutely terrible. Ignore them! These people aren't interested in you and your feelings! If you keep listening to them, you'll just keep going from username to username and never settling down on just one. It's like a teenage girl who can't decide on the "perfect" pair of shoes to wear.
Don't be like that!

Usernames are like a serious relationship. They require care and confidence to make it perfect. Otherwise, it's straight back to the "Username Newbs R' Us" group.

In Conclusion...

Anyway, my main point here is that a lot of players still need to have a few changes to their names.
But, you don't have to follow every step! These are just some good steps on the ladder to popularity. You may have the most terrible name in the universe, but that doesn't mean you won't be eventually popular.

Look at famous people in history. They all were bad in some way before they were great.
As my old gamer friend used to say, "Everyone was a Noob at some point. Then later on, people were awesome". So work on your username a little! Adding or removing one small part can have a big impact.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you can learn something from this! Even I may have a long way to go on having the perfect username.

Don't ask me if your username is good or not. That's for YOU to decide.

[Rice Shower]

I forgot if I commented here before, but thank you. I made a name that was ez to say and memorize

[k0r]

Nice

[ducco]

Thanks i like the username i have now, it fits because demomen normally get kritz from medics and create awesome frag movies n shuch

[bumpercarz]

epic

[PsychoMickey]

Do u use flex tape ?

[76561198268816484]

My fav. animal is foxes and Im really hairy, so A FURRY FOX it is! ;D

[SATURNiNE]

SP1CY.

[eu in 2012 †]

I got this profile name from my real name,nothing hard

[Mikasa Ackerman]

If your name was for example MasterSpy, you wouldn't want a picture of the Heavy on your profile pic.

unless you want others to spam your profile with " that heavy is a spy "

[【= ◈ ︿ ◈ =】]

I was thinking at Phobostar (because i love astronomy and i think Phobos sounds cool)