Display Names

[StarArmy]

This suggestion is to add a "Display Name" for users that would be the public-facing name of a user, which could be different than their login. For example, if I could continue to log in as StarArmy but my display name could be STARARMY, for the sake of style or branding. Because emojis are fun but using them in login fields is annoying. I really enjoy having a display name on sites like Suno and I'd love to see it as an option on Xenforo. If implemented, perhaps it could be toggled and an on/off setting in the ACP since some forum admins may find it confusing. Additionally, a permission for this would be great (and a fun thing to offer for user upgrades).

 

[Deleted member 184953]

Custom user fields?

 

[Ashley S]

Custom user fields?

I was thinking this too.

 

[Kevin]

Custom user fields?

I'm assuming @StarArmy is thinking that the Display Name would be displayed in place of the regular username (like how you can login with your email on some social media sites and have a separate display name that is shown publicly and users can have some fun with creative display names).

 

[mjda]

like how you can login with your email on some social media sites and have a separate display name that is shown publicly and users can have some fun with creative display names

Can't you already do this with XF? I mean, log in with your email address and change your username to whatever you'd like to display publicly.

 

[Kevin]

Can't you already do this with XF? I mean, log in with your email address and change your username to whatever you'd like to display publicly.

They are asking for a way logging in as either their existing username (which most sites restrict to certain chars anyway) while having their displayed public name be different.

For example, if I could continue to log in as StarArmy but my display name could be STARARMY, for the sake of style or branding. Because emojis are fun but using them in login fields is annoying

 

[frm]

Maybe the request is more in line with Twitter where you have an @handle, but also a display name?

Easily achievable with "Username match regular expression" for the handle and a custom field for the display name, but a lot of template mods to display the display name, and, well, nothing to do with the tag system as you tag a handle on Twitter.

 

[Kevin]

a lot of template mods to display the display name

Hence someone making a Suggestion post.

 

[mjda]

They are asking for a way logging in as either their existing username (which most sites restrict to certain chars anyway) while having their displayed public name be different.

Yeah, I realize that. I was just pointing out that what you used as an example was already possible.

Maybe the request is more in line with Twitter where you have an @handle, but also a display name?

Even with Twitter, though, both are still publicly displayed.

I guess I'm just struggling to see the point of this suggestion. What's the point of a username that's used to log in, but isn't used for anything else and isn't publicly visible? Just log in using your email address and change your username to whatever you want the public to see.

 

[Kevin]

What's the point of a username that's used to log in, but isn't used for anything else and isn't publicly visible?

As @frm pointed at, tagging the person would still be using their plain username and in spots where the person is referenced it would likely be used (adding them to a DM, etc). The comparison to how Twitter does it is likely the best answer to your question.

 

[mjda]

As @frm pointed at, tagging the person would still be using their plain username and in spots where the person is referenced it would likely be used (adding them to a DM, etc). The comparison to how Twitter does it is likely the best answer to your question.

Sure, that's a fair point, but if the first username isn't publicly visible, how would anyone know what username to tag or add to a DM? If my login was "mjda" but my publicly displayed name was "Maverick", how would anyone know to tag "mjda", or add "mjda" to a DM?

 

[Kevin]

Sure, that's a fair point, but if the first username isn't publicly visible, how would anyone know what username to tag or add to a DM? If my login was "mjda" but my publicly displayed name was "Maverick", how would anyone know to tag "mjda", or add "mjda" to a DM?

and in spots where the person is referenced it would likely be used

 

[StarArmy]

Discord has display names (per server, even!). X and Bluesky have display names. People are used to being able to claim their "core" username for their account and then display some fancier display name these days. There's no reason why Xenforo couldn't have them as well.

If I'm selling books at a convention I could temporarily change my display name to "Star Army | AmericasMart Booth E450" so people could find my table. But it wouldn't make sense to change your actual account name for something like that. Worse, if you did, your account name might get stolen by another user because it's not in use.