homename

Homename is a term used in digital identity design to refer to the primary public-facing name displayed on a user’s home or profile page within an online platform. It serves as the everyday identifier that other users see when visiting the home page, posting content, or interacting in communities and chats. Unlike a legal or verified name, a homename is typically chosen by the user or assigned by the system to be memorable and recognizable within the service.

In practice, homenames are governed by platform policies on appropriateness, impersonation, and privacy. They may be editable, subject to length and character restrictions, and may be removed or changed if they violate rules. Some platforms separate a homename from a login username or handle, while others unify the two under a single public identity. Support for localization and formatting, such as diacritics or capitalization, varies by service and can affect readability across different languages and devices.

The term homename is a relatively recent addition to discussions of online identity and is not part of formal naming standards. It appears mainly in design documents, user interface discussions, and conversations about profile presentation on social networks, forums, and gaming communities.

Related concepts include display name, username, handle, nickname, alias.