Check the name first
- See whether the username is taken, inactive or free with the username check.
- Settle one plain-letter spelling that fits all three platforms.
- Collect proof tied to the name: a mark, a business record or a profile that is posing as you.
The brand and trademark guide covers the proof side.
Writing a British name as a username
British usernames meet the snags any Latin-letter language does: apostrophes in surnames such as O’Neill, and hyphens in double-barrelled names. Neither is allowed on Instagram or TikTok, and Snapchat takes a hyphen only as its single separator. Choose a joined spelling, or an underscore or period where the platform allows one.
What each platform allows
| Platform | What to know |
|---|---|
| Letters, numbers, periods and underscores, up to 30 characters. | |
| TikTok | Letters, numbers, underscores and periods, and a change is allowed once every 30 days. |
| Snapchat | 3 to 15 characters, Latin letters, numbers and one separator, and a change is allowed once every 12 months. |
Read the username rules guide and same username on every platform before you settle on a spelling.
Law and support notes for United Kingdom
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the CMA cover consumer services in the UK, and the ICO oversees data protection. None of them changes how a platform decides a username request. The platform pages in the sources list are the place to read the current rules yourself.
Reference points: trade marks are handled by the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), and personal data by the Information Commissioner’s Office. These are not legal advice.