Editing Encyclopedia:Username policy (section)

== Other particular types of username ==
=== Real names ===
{{Redirect|WP:IMPERSONATE|impersonation regarding signatures|WP:Signature forgery}}
{{policy shortcut|WP:REALNAME|WP:IMPERSONATE}}
'''Minors and children are ''strongly discouraged'' from creating accounts with usernames that are their real names, any nicknames which might be traced to them, or that contain ''any'' personally identifiable information'''. Furthermore, '''''all editors'' {{dash}} regardless of age {{dash}} should take the time to carefully consider the risk and consequences before doing so'''. Usernames with this information ''significantly'' increase the potential for [[Wikipedia:Harassment|harassment]], especially if these accounts edit in controversial subject areas. In some countries, editing Wikipedia [[Censorship of Wikipedia|can be illegal]], and using this information can put you at risk of legal consequences. While it is possible to rename your account later (see [[#Changing your username|Changing your username]] below), a record of your previous username remains permanently.

Do not edit under a name that is likely to imply that you are (or are related to) a specific, identifiable person, unless it is your real name. If you have the same name as a well-known person to whom you are unrelated, and are using your real name, you should state clearly on your [[WP:userpage|userpage]] that you are unrelated to the well-known person.

If a username implies that the user is, or is related to, a [[WP:N|notable]], identifiable or well-known person, the account may be [[Wikipedia:Blocking policy|blocked]] as a precaution against impersonation until the user's proof of identity is provided.

If you have been blocked for using your real name, please do not take offense; we are trying to prevent somebody from impersonating or harassing you, or someone you may share the same real name with. You are welcome to use your real name, but in some cases, you will need to prove that you are who you say you are. You can do this by sending an email to [mailto:info-en@wikimedia.org info-en{{No spam blue}}wikimedia.org]. Be aware that emails are handled by a [[Wikipedia:Volunteer Response Team|volunteer response team]]; it can take some time before you'll receive a reply. Do not send unsolicited scans of your [[passport]] or [[driver's license]] to the volunteer response team. Instead, you should contact them to find out the best way to prove your identity. The best way will vary, but could be by using a mail address on a [[domain name]] that belongs to you.

===Stage names===
{{shortcut|WP:USERSTAGENAME}}
Users may use a self-identifying [[stage name]], [[pen name]], or other nickname as a username, provided that it uniquely identifies a single person. This is not considered promotional, even if commercial performances or publications are made under such a name, unless the user makes promotional edits ''within Wikipedia'' about themselves, their projects, etc. However, a user may not use '''someone else's''' stage name as a username, as per the {{slink||Real names}} section of this page.

=== Usernames with non-Latin characters ===
{{anchor|Non-Latin}}{{anchor|NL}}
{{policy shortcut|WP:NONLATIN|WP:LATINPLEASE}}
{{see also|Wikipedia:Unified login|Wikipedia:Signatures#Non-Latin}}

<section begin=UNPOL />Users with usernames in [[List of writing systems|non-Latin script writing systems]] are welcome to edit Wikipedia. There is no requirement that usernames must be in [[English language|English]] or that [[Latin script]] characters must be used. However, such usernames may appear illegible to other contributors to the English Wikipedia, and not every user's [[Computer keyboard|keyboard]] or [[input device]] may have immediate access to non-Latin [[Character (computing)|characters]]. In addition, sometimes certain characters may not display correctly.  As a courtesy to other contributors, and to avoid possible confusion or mis-identification, users with such usernames are encouraged to provide a Latin-character [[transliteration]] username on their [[Wikipedia:User pages|userpage]], and also as (at least part of) their [[Wikipedia:Signatures#Non-Latin usernames|signature]].  For an example, using the signature ''Παράδειγμα/Paradigma'' for [[User:Παράδειγμα]].<section end=UNPOL />

For technical reasons, usernames containing any [[Wikipedia:Naming conventions (technical restrictions)#Restrictions on usernames|forbidden characters]] (<code># < > [ ] | { } /</code>, as well as <code> @ : =</code>), are not possible.<ref>The "/" character is used for subpages of userpages. Just under 40,000 legacy usernames contain one or more of these last three characters; see {{quarry|87858}}.</ref> Usernames also cannot contain sequences of three or more consecutive tildes, as these are used to generate signatures, and cannot contain underscores, as the software automatically converts underscores to spaces and strips away any leading and trailing spaces.

=== Similar usernames ===
{{policy shortcut|WP:IMPERSONATOR|WP:SIMILARNAME}}
Usernames that are very similar to existing ones cannot be registered normally{{snd}}but if you do want to use one, you may request its creation at [[Wikipedia:Request an account]]. Usernames that are similar only to unused or inactive accounts should not be a problem. [[Special:CentralAuth]] can be used to check for such usernames. The program that checks for similarity is a bit over-sensitive{{mdash}}if the username is different enough as to prevent other people from confusing the two users, the request should be approved. One should not choose a username that implies a relationship with an existing editor (unless the account is actually owned or the relationship is acknowledged by the editor themselves).

If your username is similar to that of another contributor or an article, you may wish to provide some form of [[Wikipedia:Disambiguation|disambiguation]], such as by adding {{tl|distinguish}} to the top of your [[Wikipedia:User pages|user page]].

=== Commonly misspelled usernames ===
If your username is commonly misspelled, consider helping people by adding [[Wikipedia:Redirect|redirects]] to your actual user page and talk page from the misspelled titles. You may wish to consider registering the misspelled username as a [[Wikipedia:Sockpuppetry#Legitimate uses|doppelgänger account]] to prevent it from being registered by someone else. The software prevents registration of certain names that are found to be too similar to existing ones; if you cannot register your doppelgänger username for this reason, you should visit [[Wikipedia:Request an account]].

=== UseModWiki-era anonymous users ===
{{Policy shortcut|WP:USEMODDOMAIN}}
[[UseModWiki]], the software used on Wikipedia throughout 2001 and in early 2002, treated users who edited without logging in or providing a screen name differently from modern-day MediaWiki. Anonymous users in that time were treated in one of two ways:
*'''Domain names:''' Up until about March 2001, an editor with an IP address "192.0.2.34" that was associated with domain name "host.2.34.example.net" would have their edit logged as being by "host.2.34.example.net". Examples of this are [[User:office.bomis.com|office.bomis.com]], [[Special:Contributions/Dhcp-22-128.lclark.edu|dhcp-22-128.lclark.edu]], and [[Special:Contributions/cnts2p46.uwaterloo.ca|cnts2p46.uwaterloo.ca]]. Contributions by users with these usernames are affected by [[phab:T2323|T2323]]. These usernames are usually [[WP:BLOCK|indefinitely blocked]] on sight, as a) they don't make good usernames in light of the above criteria, b) they were never true usernames in the first place and would thus have been abandoned with changing software, and c) modern software is such that an innocent contributor editing from the "host.2.34.example.net" server would <em>not</em> be affected by a block of "User:host.2.34.example.net".
*'''Redacted IP addresses:''' An editor with that same IP address that was not associated with any domain name (or all UseModWiki edits after about March 2001) would have their edit logged as being by "192.0.2.xxx". The [[WP:Phase II software|Phase II software]] also exhibited this trait. Examples of this are [[Special:Contributions/209.69.30.xxx|209.69.30.xxx]] and [[Special:Contributions/62.110.183.xxx|62.110.183.xxx]].