How to Choose the Right Instagram Username

What name are you planning to use for your Instagram account?

Choosing the right Instagram username can help you to get more followers and increase your popularity.

Now that social networks are booming and they have more users than ever, it’s becoming very challenging to find a name that stands out and attracts users. Some of the difficulties you might face are:

• The name you choose has already been taken.
• You might need to add strange symbols that are difficult to remember.
• There are plenty of names like yours that can lead to some confusion amongst other users.

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So, you should be aware that your Instagram username is a crucial factor on Instagram. This is the first identifying aspect of your account, so you want to make sure you choose wisely.

Pay attention to all these tips to avoid any mistakes:

Before you Get Started… 

First, you must consider the type of account you want to create, what username would best reflect your personal or professional brand:

• A personal brand account
• A personal account
• A business account
• An account about life style or entertainment

Tips to Create the Right Instagram Username 

Before you start thinking of usernames for your Instagram profile, pay attention to the following 5 tips to make it easier:

✅ Original: This will attract the interest of your followers and help you to stand out from others. It’s crucial to use an original and striking name so it can turn out to be the x factor of your Instagram account.

✅ Simple: A username should be easy to remember. How many names can you come across in one day? To avoid your username going unnoticed, you must choose one that is easy, catchy and differentiating.

✅ Characteristic: The username that you use on Instagram will represent what you are. So, choose one that is consistent with your posts and aligns with the sector you are in.

✅ The shorter, the better. Users will be able to remember the username the shorter it is.

✅ Use the same name that you have in other social networks. This will bring consistency to your brand, and allow for users to follow you across all social networks, without needing to remember multiple handles.

AVOID THIS!

❌  Names that are too long

They are not easy to remember and can be a bit confusing for users. If your name is too long, you will have fewer opportunities to increase the number of followers.

❌  Dots and hyphens in the username

It’s difficult to remember where exactly these symbols go within the name. Although it can be difficult to avoid if other usernames are taken, users find it difficult to remember these exact punctuations and your account can get lost in the masses.

❌  Random characters

Your name should make sense to others. If you include random letters and symbols, it’s very difficult for users to learn your name.

❌  Irrelevant brand names

Unless your brand is well-established, avoid creating a random brand name. If you are starting from scratch, make sure you have a logo, a website, and content ready to go before launching.

Instagram Username Ideas

Next, you can find some examples that you can use for inspiration to find the perfect name for your profile after deciding your goals and objectives for the account.

✅ Use your own name

This is what will best represent you, and will be memorable for users too.

✅ Use well-known terms and words

The simpler, the easier to remember and pronounce. It’s not a good idea to use made-up words that people don’t recognize.

✅ Rhymed words or phrases

Making rhymes or phrases to play on your name might be funny and attract attention. Make sure that if you go this route, it’s not too long or distracting.

What should you do if your name is not available?

If your username is already taken, you must find another one that also works well. Below we have written some other ideas to replace your name on Instagram.

▶️ Add the language

If you have a company and use different profiles for different languages, you can add the language suffix at the end of your username to differentiate each profile.

▶️ Geographical zone

Add the geographical zone where you are, it’s a way to differentiate from other accounts.

▶️ Add “Official”

Add the word “official” at the end of the username for personal brands, artists or famous people.

You can also verify your Instagram account at the same time. It will provide more credibility and users will be sure that your profile is authentic.

▶️ Business or company

If you are a business, you can opt to add your activity to your name to differentiate from the rest.

If your Instagram name is already in use, add a keyword that explains your activity: Restaurant, spa, software, etc.

▶️ “I am“

If the name you were planning to use already exists, another solution would be to add in front of your name I am.

How to Change your Instagram Username 

If after reading this information, you have decided to change and optimize your Instagram name, you must follow the next steps that will take you less than 2 minutes, it’s that easy:

Enter the app and go to your profile

1. Tap “Edit profile”
2. Inside this menu, can customize different sections of your profile.
3. Type your new username in the Username option and if it’s available, you just got your new name.

So it’s time to create an irresistible name for your Instagram profile.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments! And if you want to learn more about marketing your brand on Instagram, follow this marketing guide from us here at Metricool.

Sara Martín , 03 August 2023