Why your online dating name matters

We don’t get to choose our birth names but in the brave new world of internet dating the onus is firmly on the individual to create their unique user name or alias and register it with the online dating site. The pressure is on to invent their own special moniker – the key that will prompt site visitors to open up their profile; the name that marks them out from the rest and shouts, ‘Click me!’. 

However choosing an appropriate name is not quite as simple as it sounds. An online dating name serves as a screen, protecting your real identity and projecting – much like a shop window – who you are and how you want to be perceived.  The successful internet dating name will act as a magnet to attract the types of individual you want to contact you. For example, a single lady seeking love and romance might suggest as much with the name PurrfectlyCute.  But select an inappropriate, misleading or dull name and someone runs the risk of projecting a negative persona that could actually put people off clicking on their profile.

So what makes a suitable or even a great online dating name? 

First, it needs to be short, memorable and unique and ideally should say something special about you. Enjoy working out? Then maybe a name like SixPackSam sums you up in a nutshell. 

Second, a name should have positive connotations and present you in the best light as fun-loving, outgoing and attractive eg ZumbaGal immediately suggests ‘young, social female into fitness’. 

Third, a name must stand out for all the right reasons and not misrepresent its owner. 

Flirtatious and pleasantly suggestive names are commonplace though they say little else except that the name owner is available and looking for a relationship (which is obviously why they registered in the first place) and waste the opportunity to say something constructive and unique. 

Of course if someone is interested in love and romance, a long term relationship and total commitment, names such as AndSoToBed or MissWhiplash send out totally contradictory messages (though the ‘hits will just keep on coming’). Likewise WallFlower and EverABridesmaid fail miserably as online dating names (hardly gregarious, successful, fun-loving types), and PublicEnemy1 is only likely to attract the attention of the FBI or MI5 (that’s if it gets through the site’s filters).

It’s fine to be humourous, creative and have fun with online dating names as the inference is that you too are funny and creative which are generally perceived to be positive traits. Equally, a dull, boring and unimaginative name suggests that little thought has gone into creating that screen persona or worse, that the person behind the name may not have much a personality. 

Remember that a site may stipulate a certain number of letter characters for a name (eg 12 to 15) so bear this in mind. Also try to avoid using numbers unless they help you read the name as in Fun2CuddleUp2. Also break up names into upper and lower case as this makes them easier to read and remember. 

Still struggling to find an original name? Then spend time researching forums. What’s trending? What works? What attracts you?

One last thing… When you’ve decided on a name as with all personal information, keep your alias to yourself.

Online Dating Sites Explained

Online dating sites enable time-pressured, busy professional singles to find friendship, love and romance whether using their home computers, notepads or internet phones. This new ‘anytime, anyplace, anywhere’ way of connecting with people and potential partners is the modern take on old-fashioned courtship, enabling single men and ladies to widen their social network, chat and develop their relationships.

Dating sites work by inviting people to sign up, create a personal profile and describe the type of person and relationship they in turn are looking for. ‘Niche’ sites are designed to attract people from the same backgrounds sharing the same ideals and expectations and cater for a particular clientele (eg the ‘over 50s’). More general sites are less targeted, boast a broader membership base and therefore attract a high level of traffic but potentially fewer specific matches. If a profile looks familiar it may well be a case of ‘déjà vu’; now that free online dating is widely available, people are likely to sign up to multiple sites.

Online dating sites range from those that don’t charge at all to those that charge to join, pay a monthly charge and even possibly, per introduction. Clearly terms and conditions need to be carefully scrutinized before signing up to avoid unexpected charges.

Not surprisingly free online dating sites uk are growing in number and popularity. One unique selling point is possibly that they are not making any mileage out of ‘disappointing’ introductions or experiences as they get their revenue from onsite advertising.

While online dating sites enable people to connect with those they are most likely to appeal to, there is still the excitement and fun of making that special contact which can be taken to the next level. Some more sophisticated sites even allow you to go on a ‘virtual date’ and interact with a companion to ‘test the water’ before arranging to meet.

People using dating websites uk are encouraged to be as honest as possible when creating their profiles, have realistic expectations, and keep their wits about them and exercise caution. Unfortunately online sites aren’t foolproof and do not claim to be able to filter out all the bad pennies. Dating sites are obviously keen to present their success stories, but there are downsides to the online dating scene, most notably the potential to be misled (for example someone claiming to be unattached who is actually ‘married’) or to have one’s personal security compromised.

Users should never disclose personal and financial information – one reason why they must take care when creating their ‘unique’ user or ‘screen’ name to use in chat rooms and emails. Online sites have the potential to be exploited by internet fraudsters – scammers, stalkers and sexual offenders – who have submitted false IDs and whose intention is to do harm. Some sites offer the facility to run background checks to screen out such undesirables but will still advise members to remain cautious and careful when meeting up.

Without doubt dating websites are being embraced by all generations today and there is certainly no stigma attached to having originally ‘met over the web’ rather than by more traditional means. In fact as a way of contacting other professional single men and ladies, widening your social network and ultimately finding love and romance, online dating is proving a highly effective and attractive proposition.