Good profile names for online dating

Thinking up the perfect clever username for PoF, Okcupid or Match is hard work.

This ultimate guide is going to make it easy for you.

As a Personal Dating Assistant, my team & I have helped hundreds of guys come up with the best dating user names.  For just about every type you can imagine.

I’ve worked with guys who had some of the funniest usernames (KosherCasanova).  I’ve managed profiles with cool usernames (SteveMcDream).  And I’ve seen usernames that dudes thought were hilarious, but actually terrible ideas (StatutoryApe…any takers, ladies?).

Working from a sample size of under 1000 men, I don’t have perfect data.  But I have learned quite a bit over the years about what goes into a great dating name.

With that in mind, I hope you enjoy this ultimate guide to usernames for dating.

“Sounds great, But Do usernames even matter?”

A 2010 academic study, frequently cited in blog posts about online dating, claimed that women were most attracted to usernames that suggest “intelligence” (while men preferred sexy usernames).

This sounded plausible to me.

But this oft quoted study is 7 years old; bronze age online dating wisdom at best, when compared to the A.D.D dating apps of today.

Because my company creates thousands of usernames for our members, I wanted to be sure.

Have we been wasting our time, thinking up catchy and funny usernames, when they don’t even matter?

Click Here To Skip To Our For Science! Tests At The Bottom

Now, here’s Karen.  She’s a lot more articulate than me.  So she’s going to give you an overview:

Clever Username Example Categories

If you found your way to this page because you were searching for a spark of creative inspiration, you’re in luck.

What better way to get your creative juices flowing, than to show you a matrix of username catagories we’ve already identified as top performers for our members.

Simply choose 1 word, from any attractive username category, and combine it with a second word from a different category.  And presto!  The perfect one word username!

Funny Username Examples – Friend Catagories

Humor

• monkey
• nibble
• marvelous
• feet
• panda

Intellect

• brain
• scholar
• philistine
• books
• wonk

Culinary

• gumbo
• cupcake
• wine
• spiced
• chocolate
• pinot

Geek

• jedi
• lord
• hacker
• dungeonmaster
• code

Sexy Username Examples – Lover Catagories

Passion

• fire
• dream
• seduction
• smoldering
• heat

Dance

• smooth
• suave
• funky
• backspin
• moonwalk

Power

• alpha
• captain
• tycoon
• CEO
• endowment

Competition

• baller
• stamina
• muscle
• victory
• medalist

Good Username Examples – Provider Catagories

Old Fashioned

• gentleman
• chivalry
• noble
• thoughtful
• romantic
• prince

Status

• velvet
• style
• platinum
• VIP
• luxury

Talent

• creator
• skilled
• gift
• conductor
• aesthetic

Travel

• jetset
• tropical
• adventure
• abroad
• escape
• gondola

1 Prefix + 1 Suffix = Clever Username Mashup

lordphilistinejetsetgentlemanbackspinCEOcaptainadventurevelvethackerfunkyaestheticsmolderingpandafirewine

Ah, but if only it was that simple.  Of course, choosing a great username still requires some human brain power.

Not all of these combinations are going to be cool usernames for guys.  I typically use these examples as a good starting point, to help brainstorm the best usernames for my clients.

How To Choose The Perfect Username For Your Online Dating Profile

“Why Should I Listen To You?”

The internet is full of lifestyle and culture blogs offering advice on how to craft the perfect username for dating.

While some of those tips can work, they tend to be untested, and more emotionally charged rants from single millennial women, based on personal preference.

The wisdom found in this article is hard earned, gained after years of trial and error.

We’ll get into the data near the end, if you’re interested in that.  For now, just trust me that a clever username is worth the effort to get right.

What’s Your Attractive Archetype?

It’s a scientific fact that there are a handful of masculine qualities that women find universally attractive.

Here at PDA, we’ve organized these qualities into 2 dozen sets of online personas, which we call Attractive Archetypes.

So rather than reinvent the wheel every time we write a new dating profile, we already have a pretty good idea of what will work best for most types of guys online.

If you don’t know what yours is, ask yourself the following questions;  “What do you do with your life?”  “What do you think about?”  “What do you care about?”

What a man does, and what he thinks about, is essentially who he is.

For example, if you love playing guitar, even as a hobby, that still qualifies you for an artist/musician dating profile username.  If you have experience building a business, that’s redeemable for ‘ambitious hustler’ credentials.

Whatever your into, there’s a way to work it into your online persona in an attractive way.

Don’t Know Thyself? You Betta Ask Somebody

As proud men, it’s normal that we like to think of ourselves as special snowflakes.  But when you can’t think of a congruent username that fits your personality, it’s better to check your ego at the door, and get an outside opinion on how you come across.

For example, lots of guys come to us, saying they’re the funny & fun type of guy.  But after we get to know them for an hour on the phone, we’ll often uncover that their most attractive archetype is actually something totally different from what they thought it was.

When thinking how to come up with a good username for a dating site that describes you, asking for an outside opinion can help steer you in the right direction.

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“I’m Casual”

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“I’m Convinced”

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Use Rich Language To Describe Normal Things

If you make your username with plain, generic sounding words, you’re going to have a plain, generic sounding user name.

If you use bold, colorful, imaginative words, you better believe that username is going to pop.  Pretty much regardless of how you put it together.

Take for example, the word “bodacious”.  I don’t know if this word is even real.  I’m pretty sure Bill & Ted used it back in 1989.  But put it into a username, and it’s going to make anything else you put with it sound totally radical.

Below are a few examples of how rich sounding words compare to normal ones

“computerguy”

Computer, as a word, sounds sterile and boring. If you’re going to use it, you should pair it with something exciting, to liven it up.
And she already knows you’re a guy, so no points there either.

“Ambitious developer”

Now you’re on the right track. Women say ambition is one of the most attractive qualities in a man. Developer may sound interesting to a certain audience..

“CodeTycoon”

Yes! Juxtaposition. Rich words that illustrate capability and prowess. Lifestyle imagery. This username plays to the mans ability and power, without coming across as conceited or arrogant. Great username!

“mikefromNJ”

If you must use your first name in a username, it should follow with something clever or funny. Sadly, New Jersey does not inspire us to take any trips with this unoriginal fellow.

“Musictraveler”

Getting warmer. Who doesn’t love music and travel? But it’s not immediately clear if the owner of this username is himself a musician (big dating points), or simply a fan.

“ArtistAbroad”

You can hear her swooning already! What could be more romantic? Not to mention it uses alliteration as a stylistic device, containing repeated sound of the first letter across both words. Catchy indeed!

“BIGlifter”

If true to his name, captain obvious isn’t telling us anything we can’t already see from his bulging mirror gym pics. A missed opportunity, and playing to a narrow audience who respond to the 1 dimensional approach.

“SurfJock”

With surfing being one of the most attractive keywords a guy can include on his dating profile, this username is on the right track. But jock is a double edged sword, just as likely to help as it is to hurt, depending on the type of woman reading it.

“WatersRunDeep”

Now we’re intrigued! This turn of phrase has transformed our muscle bound, ocean loving meathead to a more thoughtful, sensitive brute. A can’t lose combination for guys who are naturally on the more intimidating side of online dating lineup.

Synergize Your Name With Your Lead Photo

The most important quality of an effective dating username is how well it relates to your lead photo.

Your username and lead photo should compliment each other.  Each element working in sync, will support the other, together creating your overall Attractive Archetype.

For example, let’s say the funniest username for PoF you’ve got is PhotoshopCowboy.  By itself, that sounds pretty funny.  But when it’s actually on your profile, next to your lead dating photo, it might not jive at all.

But the right username, next to the right picture?  Huge interest from the ladies.

MBAExplorer

(This does not work)

MBAExplorer

This works!

MidnightMaverick

(This does not work)

MidnightMaverick

This works!

Different Username Styles For Different Dating Sites

While rich language and outrageous words usually word best for PoF & Okcupid usernames, it’s not always the right play.  Particularly on a more serious or conservative dating site, like Christian Mingle, or Match.com

On these platforms, I find that less outrageous dating site usernames play better to these types of women.  Dial back the shock & awe.  Try a kinder, more relationshipy sounding username.  Without sounding like a total bore, of course.

Match Username

Match.com is one of the OG’s of the online dating world. The first time I used their site was when they launched, way back in 1995!

These days, Match has settled into their place as the best platform for folks over 30 who are looking for serious relationships, but younger men can also find success on the site.

Usernames are featured very prominently on Match.com.  So it’s fairly important to choose a good name for this site, to tie together your overall profile.

Because the personality types of women found on Match.com lean more traditional, with an older user base compared to Okcupid or PoF, I find that names originating from the Provider category play well here; “old fashioned”, “gentleman”, and “romantic” do well on Match.

OneMomentForever

35 year old man  Miami, Florida, USA Seeking women 22 – 35 within 50 miles of Miami, FL

His Details

Relationship:    Never Married

Have kids:         No

Want kids:         Definitely

Ethnicity:           Black / African descent

In his own words

“…for ways of being, of seeing, tapping into the full range of our humanity – It’s often seen in playful children, fully experiencing life in the here and now”  Hi, I’m Michael.

EndlessEscapes

52 year old man  San Diego, California, USA Seeking women 32 – 45 within 50 miles of San Diego, CA

His Details

Relationship:    Divorced

Have kids:         Yes, and they live away from home

Want kids:         Probably not

Ethnicity:           White / Caucasian

In his own words

Some folks say travel is a passion.  But I prefer to think of it as way of life.  You haven’t lived until you’ve tried snorkeling off the coast of Australia.  Scaling the mountains of

Okcupid Username

Usernames on Okcupid are created when you start a new account.

Keep in mind Okcupid will only allow you to change your username once per month.  So get it right the first time, or you’ll need to start over with a new profile.

Okcupid is one of the most popular free dating websites in the world.  Men of any age can find success on the site, though it’s best suited to those in their 20’s through 30’s.  Relationship expectations lean more casual on Okcupid compared to Match.com. Personality types are more liberal leaning here.

With this in mind, here are some good dating usernames for okcupid.

CarvingArtist

28 • Portland

My self-summary

Often leading a dichotomous existence, alternating between pragmatism and dreams, sometimes hedonistic, at other times cerebral. Trying to understand, feel, rehash, learn. Going in

ThatsAcademic

25 • San Jose

My self-summary

App developer.  Which sounds like a walking cliche’ around here I know.  But really I get to solve challenging people problems using a deep understanding of technology. I may code like a geek, but communication, empathy, and improvisation

PoF Username

On Plenty Of Fish, usernames are smaller in size, taking a back seat to a big, more important looking headline.   As you can see here, size matters.  At least when it comes to getting noticed on PoF..

Because PoF is the biggest free dating site with a gen pop demographic, your clever username won’t be appreciated as much here, when compared to Okcupid and Match.  So instead, try keeping it simple, and aim for the funny bone in your headline and self description.

My library contains many leather bound books..

I’ve had lots of funny things happen in my life, but being used by Angelina Jolie to make Brad Pitt jealous was one of the more unique.  Remind me to tell the

WisecrackAbs  39     Looking for a relationship     Associates degree    Online Now

DIY guy, you can get your hands on

Successful construction company and owner of a small ranch.  Spend most of my time & energy making sure both run smoothly and efficiently. Got animals? Ask me about mine,

IntrigueBuilder 45     Looking for a relationship       High School    Online Now

Your Username Should Suit Your Dating Site

Keep in mind these examples work best for traditional dating websites.

When you’re on a faster paced dating app, like Tinder or Bumble (which don’t have usernames, they display Facebook first name), it’s more beneficial to be a tad outrageous, in an effort to grab her attention.

And definitely ignore corporate advertising that recommends you present yourself as a “humble person” online.   It’s bullshit.

Choose a dating username that makes sense for the platform you’re on, and you’ll be in good shape.

“How Do The Professionals Think Of A Clever Username For Dating Online?”

Let’s hear what a few professional dating consultants think, who actually write dating usernames as part of their job.

Female Opinion From Mia Topalian – Personal Dating Assistant

“Being a word nerd myself, I’m a sucker for a good rhyme or alliteration. A clever username can be the 1 thing that makes a message stand out in a womans flooded inbox.

First, I free associate my client’s passions, interests, and identities and words that go along with them.  Then, I consider the archetype.”

Male Opinion From Matthew Violette – Personal Dating Assistant

“The way I think of usernames is to incorporate a hobby, and try to use it in a pun or a simple play-on-words. The cornier, the better.

It’s my job to make her smirk from the name alone. If she does, I feel that it gives our guy a slight advantage.”

Female Opinion From Karen O’connell – Personal Dating Assistant

“I like to imagine the guy’s personality as a romantic comedy or movie, and make his username something like what the title of the movie would be”

Don’t Expect The Perfect Username On Your First Try

Thinking up a great username for dating can, and should take time.

Jot down your best ideas, and let them percolate in your mind for a day or 2.

Just like any form of creative writing, sometimes it helps to switch gears and do something else for a while.  New stimulation is proven to change the way the mind thinks.

The best solution to writers block, often enough is to simply stop trying for a while. When you come back to it later, you can approach it with a fresh perspective.

Don’t Make It A Bigger Deal Than It Is

Ultimately, your dating username is just another part of your overall dating persona.  It’s not who you are.  And no woman is going to hold you to it during a meet up offline.

If you’re worried that an otherwise great username sounds too outrageous, or too different from who you really are, try it out on your profile for a test run, and see how women respond.

If it really feels cringe inducing, change it later.  But only after you’ve thought of something better.

The stress of not having a cool name you’re totally in love with just might motivate your creative energies faster than if you sit on the sidelines, waiting for that perfect username to pop into your head. If you suffer from chronic stress or anxiety, you might want to check the Synchronicity Hemp Oil Products on sale at the link.

For Science! – How We Test Our Usernames

To kick things off, I chose a picture of a guy doing all the right things for a dating photo.  High quality image.  Close cropped.  Thousand yard stare.  A bit of facial hair never hurts, and the stylish scarf adds a touch panache.  Let’s call him “Joe”. (Joe’s a stock photo, in case you were wondering)

I uploaded Joe’s picture to a photo scoring website called photofeeler.  It’s a tool my company uses sometimes, when we can’t agree on which photo looks best for one of our members.  It’s not perfect, but it’s good for gauging general sentiment.

For now, I just want to understand what women’s general impression is of this guy.  Before any username is applied to him.  Here’s what I got back:

At the 71st percentile for attractiveness, Joe’s inbound activity should be above average.  And in the 83rd percentile for “smart”, he’s a great choice for the testing the intelligent username claim.

Creating The Dating Profiles To Test

Now that we have a baseline understanding of Joe’s attractiveness, I made 2 copies of the exact same dating profile, on the 3 biggest dating sites where usernames are still used; Okcupid, Plenty Of Fish, and Match.

For each website, I gave one a clever username, and one with a generic username. Everything else on his profile was identical.

The reason we chose a fairly attractive test photo, was to make sure we would get enough unsolicited inbound interest, so we could compare the amounts.  (note, we also tried this test with a few less attractive guys.  But they didn’t get enough unsolicited inbound to draw conclusions, unsurprisingly).

I let Joe’s profiles sit for 3 days.  Then checked on his inbound activity.

Username Scorecards After 3 Days

Clever Username

Okcupid

Profile Views
Likes
Messages

Match

Profile Views
Favorites & Lkes
Inbound Messages

Plenty Of Fish

Profile Views
Wants To Meet You
Messages

Photofeeler With Username Included

Generic Username

Okcupid

Profile Views
Likes
Messages

Match

Profile Views
Favorites & Lkes
Inbound Messages

Plenty Of Fish

Profile Views
Wants To Meet You
Messages

Photofeeler With Username Included

Analysis

Most notable is the clever username encouraged almost twice as many profile views & likes on match.com, when compared to the Generic username.

Also interesting is that when either username was shown alongside his picture on Photofeeler, he scored less than half as attractive when compared to just the photo, with no dating username at all.

Perhaps the nameless photo scored twice as high on Photofeeler, because it was twice as big on the scoring page, when compared to showing it with a username.

Or more likely, a picture on a dating profile is perceived by women as inherently lower status when compared to the same picture by itself.

So How Do Dating Usernames Even Matter?

The answer will intrigue you

• When it comes to getting noticed on a dating site like PoF, Okcupid or Match, dating usernames matter somewhat.
• Therefore, The primary benefit for thinking up a good username, is to support your outbound efforts.

• Why? Because when creating an attractive archetype (which are proven to double response rates for us), a congruent username will tie your whole dating profile together. Like a tailor fitted suit.

Next Time

For my next article, I’m going to cheat big time, by including a cute dog.  You won’t want to miss it.

Want The Perfect Dating Username, Written For You?

Matthew Valentines

Personal Dating Assistant at Personal Dating Assistants

Matthew Valentines is an online dating concierge, and executive director at Personal Dating Assistants.

An attraction technologist at heart, he travels the world in search of beautiful women, new ways to help men with their online dating, and the perfect single malt whiskey.

His column runs Tuesdays.

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