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Hacker News Username Checker

Check if a Hacker News username is free.

We'll check it against Hacker News's rules as you type.

How to check a Hacker News username

Step 1

Type the name

Enter the Hacker News username you want. No @ needed. We validate it against Hacker News's rules as you type.

Step 2

Live check

We check Hacker News in real time, plus every other major platform and the matching .com, in one go.

Step 3

Claim it or try a variation

Available? Claim it straight away. Taken? The results page suggests close variations you can check in one tap.

Hacker News username FAQ

Everything people ask before picking a Hacker News handle.

Type the name above and press Check. handle.tools uses Hacker News' official API to see if the username already exists.

Usernames are 2–15 characters and can use letters, numbers, hyphens and underscores. They're case-sensitive.

No. There's no self-service rename, so pick carefully.

We check the lowercase version, which is how most people type names. A different capitalisation may technically be a separate account on HN.

Many founders and developers use the same handle on Hacker News, GitHub and GitLab so people can connect their posts to their work.

Check the same username on other platforms

Consistent handles make you easier to find. Grab your name everywhere.

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All platforms at once
21 socials + domains
Check every platform21 socials + domains in one searchUsername generator40 styles, live .com checkDomain checker100+ extensions, groupedBulk searchCompare a shortlist side by side

Hacker News username checker

Your Hacker News username appears on every comment and submission, and it can't be changed after sign-up. This Hacker News username checker uses the official HN API to see if a name already exists.

HN usernames are 2 to 15 characters using letters, numbers, hyphens and underscores. They're case-sensitive, so we check the lowercase form most people type.

Founders and developers often use the same handle on Hacker News, GitHub and GitLab. Each search here checks them all at once, plus the .com and .dev for your project.

Tips for an HN username

  • You can't rename it, so choose carefully.
  • Match your GitHub handle so people find your work.
  • Keep it within 15 characters.
  • Real names build trust in discussions.
  • Check your project's domain before you Show HN.

Related searches

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Choose your HN username carefully

Hacker News doesn't let you rename your account, and your username shows next to every comment and submission. Most people use their real name or the same handle they use on GitHub, so their posts link naturally to their work.

Founders: match your HN, GitHub and domain

If you'll launch on Show HN, a consistent name across Hacker News, GitHub, GitLab and your product's domain builds trust. Check them all in one search, and grab the .com or .dev while it's free.

Need ideas? Try the Developer username generatorHandles for HN, GitHub & GitLab, each checked for availability.Get ideas