TikTok has exploded in popularity over the last few years, becoming one of the most used social media platforms globally. As of 2023, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide, with over 125 million monthly active users in the United States alone (Source). With such a massive user base, standing out on TikTok is crucial yet challenging.
An engaging, memorable username is one of the best ways to get noticed on TikTok. With so many users, creativity and uniqueness are key when brainstorming TikTok names. The goal is to come up with a name that represents your brand or content, while also being catchy and searchable for new viewers. Taking the time to craft the perfect TikTok handle can help lead to a larger, more invested audience.
Keep it Short
TikTok usernames have a maximum character limit of 24. However, shorter usernames between 10-15 characters tend to work best. Shorter names are easier to remember and allow you to incorporate more creativity. According to Social Expert Tips, “Usernames in this length range tend to stand out and gain more traction among users.”
Aim for a username that is short, unique, and memorable. Staying under the 15 character limit will make your name easier to recall and share across the platform.
Be Unique
When choosing a TikTok username, it’s important to avoid common or generic names that many other users already have. According to the experts at predis.ai, “TikTok is already saturated with usernames like @dancequeen, @musiclover, and @singer. Steer clear of overused ideas and add your own spin.”
Some ways to make your username unique include:
- Using an uncommon word or inventing a new word as part of your username
- Adding numbers, hyphens, underscores or other symbols
- Using a creative spelling for a common word
- Incorporating your name, nickname, or initials
- Combining two words in an unusual way
Putting your own original stamp on your TikTok username will help you stand out from the crowd. As the TikTok creative username ideas guide suggests, “Combining creativity with personal details is a winning formula for TikTok fame.”
Consider Your Brand
One of the most important things to think about when choosing a TikTok username is how it aligns with your overall brand and content. Your username should reflect the personality and identity you want to convey on TikTok.
For example, if you’re creating comedic videos, choose a funny or clever username. If your content focuses on beauty or fashion, pick a name related to glamour and style. Your username is a core part of your brand on TikTok, so make sure it fits.
Additionally, your username should match the tone and style of your profile photo and bio. All of these elements – your username, photo, and bio – work together to form your brand identity. Make sure your username is cohesive and on-brand for the image you want to create.
Picking the right TikTok username involves thinking about more than just finding a cool name. It requires considering your niche, content style, and brand persona. Your name needs to resonate with who you are and what you create on TikTok.
Make it Descriptive
A descriptive TikTok username helps people immediately understand your niche or content focus. Including keywords that relate to your videos allows viewers to know what to expect from your profile. For example, if you post comedy sketches, “@comedy_skits_are_life” tells viewers they’ll find funny videos on your page. If you share vegan recipes, “@plantbased_chef” lets people know your content is about cooking. Other examples could include “@styletips4girls”, “@musiclover1234”, or “@dancemovesdaily.”
Using descriptive words in your username makes it easy for new viewers to recognize whether they’ll be interested in your content or not. Generic names like “@user123” don’t provide any indication of what someone will find on your profile. A descriptive username that summarizes your niche helps attract the right audience.
According to this article, “using niche-specific keywords in your username also helps increase the chances of your account showing up in TikTok searches.” So a descriptive name can help users find you and follow you as well. Just be sure not to make your username too long.
Use Keywords
Using relevant keywords and hashtags in your TikTok profile and video captions is one of the most important ways to optimize for discoverability on the platform. According to TikTok SEO: The Ultimate Guide to Boosting Your Profile Visibility, keywords help the TikTok algorithm understand what your content is about and match it with users who are likely to be interested.
When choosing keywords, it’s important to identify terms and phrases that are relevant to your niche and content focus. You can use free keyword research tools like Google Trends and SEMrush to find popular and high-search volume keywords related to your topic. Incorporate a mix of broad and more specific keywords in your profile bio, username, video titles and captions.
Keep your video captions concise but make sure to include a few highly relevant keywords. You can also include hashtags for broader subjects and categories that relate to your niche in both your captions and the video hashtags field when posting.
Optimizing with keywords helps the TikTok algorithm recommend your content when people search for relevant terms or hashtags. It’s one of the key factors for driving more views and engagement on TikTok.
Try Alliteration
Alliteration involves using the same first letter or sound at the beginning of multiple words in your TikTok username. This makes the username catchier and more memorable. For example, “SillySarah” or “JollyJulie” use the repetition of the “S” and “J” sounds. According to Neal Schaffer, some other alliterative username examples are:
- CleverCactus
- SillySloth
- PunnyPenguin
- WittyWalrus
- JazzyJaguar
The repetition of consonant sounds grabs people’s attention and makes the username more unique and fun. Using alliteration is an easy way to come up with a catchy, memorable username that will stand out on TikTok.
Add Numbers or Symbols
Adding numbers or symbols to your username is an easy way to get an unavailable name that is already taken without the numbers/symbols. For example, if “dancequeen” is taken, try “dancequeen123” or “dancequeen_”. According to Simplified.com, “Using numbers or symbols will also help your username stand out more in search results or comments.”
You can also try replacing letters with numbers that look similar like “danxequeen” or “dancequ33n”. Just be careful that your username is still easy to read and remember. As TikTok influencer marketing agency Growfluence recommends, “Avoid hard-to-read character combinations like Il1lliII1.”
Adding your birth year or favorite number to a username can also personalize it. For example, “katie_2003” or “dancequeen17”.
Overall, clever use of numbers and symbols allows you to get creative and customize taken usernames.
Check Availability
One of the most important steps when choosing a TikTok username is to make sure the name you want isn’t already taken. There are a couple ways to check availability:
Use a TikTok username checker to search if the name is available. Simply enter the desired username and the tool will let you know if it’s available across TikTok. This is the fastest and easiest way to check.
You can also try creating a new TikTok account with the username. If TikTok says the name is taken during signup, then someone else has claimed it.
Checking availability ensures the name you want is free to use. An unavailable or taken name means you’ll have to get creative and brainstorm some new options.
Test it Out
Before committing to a username, it’s a good idea to test it out first. Create some test or “alt” accounts with the names you’re considering to see how they look on an actual profile. Get some feedback from friends to see which usernames they prefer. As this article suggests, “Ask for brutally honest feedback from people you trust.” You want to choose a name that not only you like, but that also appeals to your target audience.
Additionally, test the username by searching for it to see if someone else is already using it, as suggested in this piece: “Search for it on TikTok to ensure nobody else has taken your awesome username.” It’s best to avoid usernames that are already in use to prevent confusion between accounts.
By thoroughly testing out potential names on alt accounts first, you can refine your options and settle on the ideal unique, catchy, and descriptive username before launching your main TikTok presence.
