Onename

Onename is a term used in discussions of online identity to describe a single, unique username that serves as a gateway to multiple online services. The central idea is to give users a persistent, human-readable moniker they control, which maps to cryptographic keys or digital credentials and enables sign-in and identity verification across various sites without needing separate credentials for each service.

In the early to mid-2010s, a project named Onename emerged that aimed to realize this vision by allowing users to register a single name and link it to a user’s cryptographic identity. The initiative contributed to the broader movement toward user-centric or self-sovereign identities and influenced later developments in decentralized identity platforms. While the standalone service has since ceased operating in its original form, its concepts and approaches contributed to ongoing discussions and progress in this area.

The legacy of Onename lies in illustrating the appeal of portable, user-owned digital identity and in helping to push conversations about interoperability, privacy, and user control over personal data within the digital ecosystem. Today, the broader concept of a single-name or portable identity continues in various forms, including decentralized identifiers and blockchain-inspired identity projects, which seek to provide individuals with durable identities that can cross service boundaries.