# Social media username generator

Type your name, brand or a few keywords, pick a network and a style, and get 30 username ideas that fit that network's length and character rules.

## How the username generator works

The generator takes up to three words from what you type, drops accents and anything that is not a Latin letter or a digit, and mixes your words with a short word list for the style you pick. **Clean** adds plain words like "hey" or "daily", **creative** adds words like "studio" or "pixel", **business** adds "hq", "team" or "digital", and **gaming** adds "plays", "gg" or "shadow". It joins the parts with nothing, a period, an underscore or (on YouTube) a hyphen, but only where the network allows them. When a pattern is too long it shortens your words, never below three letters.

Every idea follows the rules of the network you pick:

| Network | Length | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram | up to 30 | letters, numbers, `.` and `_` |
| TikTok | 2 to 24 | letters, numbers, `.` and `_` (no `.` at the end) |
| X | 5 to 15 | letters, numbers and `_` |
| YouTube | 3 to 30 | letters, numbers, `.`, `_` and `-` (not at the start or end) |
| Threads | as Instagram | as Instagram |

The generator is stricter than the networks: it never puts a separator at the start or end of a name or two in a row, and it leaves out "admin" and "twitter" on X. Numbers stay off unless you allow them, because a name without a number is easier to say and to remember.

## Pick a username people can find

Use the same name on every network if you can, so people who know you on one find you on the others. Read the name out loud: if you have to spell out the periods and underscores, try one without them. Keep it short enough to fit on a business card. Once you have a name, check that it is free on each network, then connect your profiles to PostBoost and schedule your first posts to all of them at once.

## How to use

1. Type your name, your brand or two or three keywords.
2. Pick the network: Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube or Threads. Its length and character rules apply to every idea.
3. Pick a style (clean, creative, business or gaming) and allow numbers at the end if you like.
4. Press More ideas for a new list, then open a name's profile link to see whether it is taken, and copy the one you want.

## FAQ

### Does the generator check whether a username is available?

No. It only builds names that follow the network's rules. Open a name's profile link: if a profile loads, the name is taken. The network's own sign-up or edit-profile screen has the final word.

### What are the username rules on each network?

Instagram: up to 30 characters, letters, numbers, periods and underscores. TikTok: 2 to 24 characters, letters, numbers, underscores and periods, no period at the end. X: 5 to 15 characters, letters, numbers and underscores. YouTube handles: 3 to 30 characters, letters, numbers, underscores, hyphens and periods, not at the start or end.

### Why are there no accents or emoji in the ideas?

Usernames on these networks take plain letters, numbers and a few separators, so the generator drops accents (é becomes e) and skips other characters. Use the fancy text generator for styled letters in your display name or bio instead.

### Will I get the same ideas again?

Yes. The same name, network, style and numbers setting give the same list, and More ideas moves to the next list. Through the API, pass the same seed to get the same list back.

### What username does Threads use?

Threads profiles start from your Instagram or Facebook account, and you can keep the Instagram username or edit it on Threads. Meta does not publish separate Threads rules, so the generator applies the Instagram rules.

### Is my name sent anywhere?

No. The generator runs in your browser, and nothing you type is sent to PostBoost or stored.

## Related

- [Instagram font generator: copy and paste fancy text](https://postboost.co/tools/fancy-text-generator): Turn text into bold, italic, script, fraktur, monospace, small caps, circled and more Unicode styles and copy it into a bio or post. Free, in your browser.
- [Social media character counter](https://postboost.co/tools/social-media-character-counter): Free character counter for X, Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and more. Counts as each network does, live in your browser.
- [Instagram bio generator](https://postboost.co/tools/instagram-bio-generator): Write an Instagram bio that fits the 150-character limit: a simple bio formula, 8 fill-in templates and, when on, five AI bio drafts. Free.
- [Publish and schedule](https://postboost.co/features/publish): Write one post, adjust it for each account, then schedule it, add it to your queue or publish now.

Last verified: 2026-10-17

## Sources

- [Instagram Help, username tips (periods, numbers, underscores)](https://help.instagram.com/513717858639392)
- [Hootsuite, Instagram username ideas (30-character limit; Meta does not publish it)](https://blog.hootsuite.com/instagram-username-ideas/)
- [TikTok Support, username rules (2 to 24 characters, no period at the end)](https://www.tiktok.com/support/faq_detail?id=7581821550156962315)
- [X Help, Username rules (5 to 15 characters, letters, numbers, underscores)](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/x-username-rules)
- [YouTube Help, handle rules (3 to 30 characters, _ - . not at the start or end)](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/11585688)
- [Instagram Help, Threads profile data from your Instagram or Facebook account](https://help.instagram.com/788669719351544/)

Canonical: https://postboost.co/tools/social-media-username-generator