Baby Names vs. Usernames

I spotted some not-so-great baby name advice in the blogosphere the other day. I won’t link to the post–I don’t want to pick a fight–but I’ll summarize it and explain why I disagree.

The blogger asserted that usernames should be taken into account when choosing a baby name. She suggested that expectant parents make sure usernames based on their favorite baby names are still available at social networking sites (using something like namechk). She also suggested that, once the baby’s name has been chosen, parents go back and claim as many corresponding usernames as they can.

I’m not on board with her advice at all.

First, it’s short-sighted. By the time the child is old enough to use the Internet, many of the social networking sites that were popular at the time of his/her birth will be irrelevant. Some will be nonexistent. And those that are still around will undoubtedly give users the option of having screen names that are independent of their usernames, making name-based usernames unnecessary.

Second, it makes choosing a baby name even more complicated than it already is. Also quite unnecessary.

Where do you stand on this?

P.S. Speaking of the login process…did you know that names do not make good passwords?