All about chat nicknames

WhatÂ’s in a (screen) name?

When you signed up to AOL, you chose a screen name. This identifies you uniquely as an AOL user and functions as your email address, your chat name, your Instant Messenger name and your username for message boards, blogs and any other products or tools on AOL. You cannot delete or change your master screen name if you subscribe to the AOL internet service, but your AOL account also gives you six additional screen names.

You might not find that the same screen name suits you for email, chat, message boards, blogs and Instant Messaging, so you can use extra screen names to create the right nickname for each. You can choose a professional-sounding or straightforward name for your email account, such as JSmithsonUK, and also have a chat nickname that sounds more personal, such as MusicLoverz75.

How to create a screen name
You can create these extra screen names at AOL Keyword: Names. You can also delete screen names that you no longer use and replace them with different ones, but there is an option to restore discarded names too.

You may find that the screen name you select for yourself has already been taken, in which case you may be asked to submit an alternative name or select a variation on your suggestion. You could try checking back a month or so later to secure your ideal online identity as AOL screen names do become available if an account has been terminated.