Choose a username 6–30 characters long. Your username can be any combination of letters, numbers, or symbols. If you see 'Username not allowed' when you sign up for your Google Account or Gmail, follow these guidelines. Note: “Abuse” and “ Postmaster ” are reserved aliases, and you cannot use them as usernames or aliases.
So you want to sign up for Gmail (or change your username), but the Holy Grail of email addresses — [email protected] — is taken.
With more than 350 million users, it's hard to grab a unique username on Gmail these days — especially one you can use for the long run. (Sorry [email protected], it's just not going to work out.)
But don't despair entirely. Here are some tips for generating a viable and unique email address you'll still want to use in three years.
1. Don't Frustrate Yourself
Even if your desired address is no longer in use, you can't get it. Gmail won't let an identity be re-registered — ever. Instead of getting frustrated, move on to other options.
2. To Dot or Not to Dot
Despite the abundance of email addresses with firstname.lastname formatting, Gmail doesn't distinguish between them. Emails like John.Smith and johnsmith and jo.hn.sm.ith are all the same username in Gmail's eyes. This can work to your advantage or disadvantage.
If the email address you want is already taken in one format, it's taken in all of them. But, with a little creative dot placement, you can turn an unclaimed username into one that works for you.
For example, if [email protected] is already taken, you can turn [email protected] into [email protected].
3. Get Creative
If you have a common name, try using your initials, middle name, or a nickname (though keep it memorable and professional). Some people have creative amalgamations of their names; Brandon Anderson becomes Branderson, for example. You can even add your profession in, like [email protected]. Just avoid things that may be a little too weird or unprofessional for use down the line.
We also advise against putting your company in your personal username. You probably won't be [email protected] forever.
4. Register Your Own Domain
If this still isn't working for you, you can register your own domain and use Google Apps instead.
Google Apps for Domains offers all functionality of a standard Google account (Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Google+, etc.), but it's mapped to a custom website. It costs about $10 to register your own domain and then set up Gmail as your email client.
Now you've got a cool email address like [email protected], but with all the Gmail goodness you're used to.
5. Route Another Service Through Gmail
If you don't want the trouble of setting up a custom domain but still want all those Googly features, you can set up an email address through a free service and route it through Gmail.
Gmail Account Name Generator
About.me is one great option. It comes with a handy About.me profile, which is a great web space for displaying your bio or portfolio. You can sync this to any Google account and use [email protected] as a Gmail address, assuming it's available.
Got any ideas we've missed? Let us know in the comments. And if you're already a Gmail power user, check out these tips and tricks to get the most out of your inbox.
We’ve all been there, staring blankly at the computer screen, struggling vainly to find the right Gmail username idea. Will it be andrew.smith? Maybe harambe2016? Or maybe a random combination of letters and numbers, like 8nls8923? Something as simple as a Gmail username can feel so pivotal.
Gmail Account Name Generator
Whether it’s a throwaway username for an anonymous email, or a professional username for a new set of business cards, we try to imbue our usernames with some aspect of our identity. Keep in mind that you can use our tool to check available gmail addresses. Here are six ideas to help you next time you’re faced with the dilemma of choosing a Gmail username:
1. Your Name
If it’s a username for school or business, always use your name. Your name is the best professional email address. As of this year, Gmail has over 1 billion users—so if you have a common name, like Andrew Smith, it’s probably already taken. Make sure to use our tool to find available Gmail addresses for different possible combinations and abbreviations—like a.smith, andrew.s, or maybe throw in your middle initial or a few numbers at the end.
Gmail Account Name Generator Download
Just make sure that it’s easily identifiable, memorable, and appropriate for the public image you want to cultivate. Even though Gmail doesn’t take into account periods (emails sent to [email protected] and [email protected] will both go to the same place), it’s a good idea to use them between names for clarity, especially if your name is less common.
But let's be honest. The Internet is about a lot more than professionalism. It’s the way we interact with people, close friends and anonymous strangers alike. Sometimes you want ideas for a different Gmail username, maybe for communicating with family only, one that will express your passions and creativity, or maybe a throwaway account you can use to sign up for sweet online deals without the inevitable junk mail weeks later. When your name just isn’t cutting it, turn to the next five ideas for inspiration.
Gmail Account Name Generator Images
2. Nicknames and Inside Jokes
If you’re the type that likes to keep work separate from your personal life, the best idea for a private Gmail username to use with friends or family might come from a nickname or inside joke. Nicknames and inside jokes both help us to feel closer to each other, they’re always very memorable, and they’re usually quite unique.
Maybe your name is Sharon, but your friends affectionately call you Sharbear. Or maybe your family has a meaningful inside joke from when you were little. These usernames aren’t good for professional uses, but they can be great ideas to keep in touch with family and friends—and if you’re afraid your new Gmail username idea isn’t unique enough, just pass it through the availability checker to be sure.
3. Favorites
If you’re having a hard time coming up with nicknames, inside jokes, or if you want your Gmail username to be more reflective of a different part of your identity, try coming up with a list of favorites—your favorite sports team, movies, books, travel destinations, actresses, athletes, historical figures, video games, etc.
You can come up with a long list, and then try recombining them until you come up with something clever that represents your passions and interests. A lot of people have similar favorites—make sure to try out your new Gmail username idea in the availability checker to make sure some other fan hasn’t already taken the title of your favorite book or movie.
4. Tell a Story
For creative people, a fun way to create a new Gmail username is by writing one that tells a story. The author Earnest Hemingway used write “six word novels”—his most famous was “for sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Challenge yourself by writing a “flash fiction” story like Hemingway in as few words as possible and turning that into a unique Gmail username that’s sure to catch people’s attention and pique their interest. It’s quite the challenge—you might have to do even less than six words! The more creative you can be, the more likely it is that you’ll pass the Gmail availability checker without a problem.
5. Random Combinations
For the ultimate anonymous or throwaway Gmail username, you don’t need many ideas at all, and no need for drawn out contemplations of how to capture your identity in a tagline. Instead, just tap randomly at the keyboard and come up with a string of letters and numbers—but be sure to write them down in case you need to access the account later.
These usernames are easy to forget, but can be useful to maintain anonymity, and they’re great for one-time offers, special deals, or when websites want your Gmail username, but you don’t want to give it to them. Just tap your keyboard randomly, but make sure to do it in the Gmail availability tool first to make sure some other anonymous user hasn’t already done the same thing!
6. Use a Generator
When all else fails and you’re simply out of ideas, try using a random generator for your new Gmail username. A lot of clever people have written algorithms that will recombine your lists of favorites or generate new, fantastical names for you. Instead of straining to find the right Gmail username idea, you can browse the results of random name generators until you find the perfect combination—an unexpected fit that jumps out at you. Maybe you’ll find that the username chooses the user!
Gmail Email Generator
The right idea for your first (or next) Gmail username really depends on how you want to use it:
Email Account Name Generator
- If it’s for professional or educational purposes, make sure you use your name—or if the Gmail username availability checker reveals that it’s already taken, try some other combination.
- If you want a Gmail username for communicating with family and friends you can use a nickname or inside joke.
- If you want something that reflects your passions, write down your list of favorites and choose a unique combination that expresses what you love in the world.
- If you’re really creative and up for a challenge, use “flash fiction” story for your username.
- If it’s a throwaway account and you don’t care to spend too much time thinking, just type out random numbers and letters.
- When all else fails, turn to username generators and let the right Gmail username idea find you!