Your username is the name you chose when you created your account

Your GitHub username is the short name you picked during signup — the one that appears in your profile URL and in front of your repositories. If you are logged in, the fastest way to find it is to click your profile picture in the top right corner of any GitHub page. Your username appears right there in the dropdown menu, usually in the format github.com/yourusername.

If you are not logged in or cannot remember it, you can still recover it using the email address you registered with. GitHub's account recovery page lets you enter that email, and the system will show you the username tied to it. This works even if you have not used the account in months or years.

Key Takeaways

  • Click your profile picture in the top right corner while logged in to see your username when ready in the dropdown menu.
  • Your username is the short name you chose at signup, not your full name or display name.
  • If you forgot your username, go to GitHub's account recovery page and enter the email address you used to register.
  • Your username appears in your profile URL as github.com/yourusername and in front of every repository you create.

Finding your username while logged in

The simplest method works only if you can access your account. Log in to GitHub at github.com, then look at the top right corner of the page. Click the circular profile picture or avatar icon. A dropdown menu will appear with several options.

Your username is listed near the top of that menu, often shown as a clickable link to your profile. It is the short identifier GitHub uses for you, not your full name. If you have set a display name in your profile settings, that will appear separately — your username is the one that looks like a single word or hyphenated word with no spaces.

Recovering your username if you are locked out

If you cannot log in or do not remember your password, you can still find your username without accessing the account itself. Go to github.com/login/recovery and enter the email address you used when you created your GitHub account. GitHub will send a recovery link to that email.

Follow the link in the email, and GitHub will display the username associated with that email address. You do not need to reset your password to see this information — the recovery page shows your username as part of the account recovery process. If you no longer have access to that email address, you will need to contact GitHub Support through their help portal to verify your identity another way.

Where your username appears

Once you know your username, you will see it in several places across GitHub. Your profile URL is always github.com/yourusername. Every repository you create shows your username in the URL as github.com/yourusername/repository-name. When you commit code, your username appears as the author unless you have configured a different display name in your Git settings.

Your username also shows up when other people mention you in issues, pull requests, or discussions. They will type @ followed by your username to tag you. This is why choosing a username you are comfortable with matters — it becomes your public identifier on the platform.

The difference between username, display name, and email

GitHub lets you set three different identifiers, and they are not the same thing. Your username is the short name you chose at signup — it cannot contain spaces and is permanent. Your display name is optional and can be your full name, a nickname, or anything else. You can change your display name anytime in your profile settings, but your username stays the same.

Your email address is separate from both. You can have multiple email addresses linked to one GitHub account, and you can change which one is primary. Your username is what appears in URLs and when people mention you. Your display name is what shows on your profile page. Your email is what GitHub uses to send you notifications and password reset links.

What to do if your username is taken or you want to change it

GitHub usernames are permanent and cannot be changed once created. If you registered with a username you no longer like, you cannot rename it. Your only option is to create a new GitHub account with a different username and transfer your work to it manually — repositories, gists, and followers do not move automatically.

If the username you want is already taken, you cannot claim it unless the account holding it is deleted. Deleted accounts free up their usernames after a period of time, but there is no way to request this or speed it up. Many people register usernames and never use them, so popular names may be unavailable. Consider adding numbers, hyphens, or a prefix to your preferred name if your first choice is taken.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my GitHub username the same as my email address?

No. Your username is the short name you chose at signup, like "sarah-chen" or "devjohn42". Your email is a separate piece of information you provided during registration. You can change your email address in settings, but your username cannot be changed.

Can I see someone else's GitHub username?

Yes. Any public GitHub profile shows the username in the URL and at the top of the profile page. You can search for people on GitHub by username, and their public repositories and activity are visible to anyone. Private repositories and some profile details require permission to view.

What if I forgot both my username and password?

Go to github.com/login/recovery and enter the email address you registered with. GitHub will show you your username and send a password reset link to that email. If you no longer have access to that email, contact GitHub Support through their help portal to verify your identity.

Does my GitHub username have to match my real name?

No. Your username can be anything you choose — a nickname, a made-up word, your initials, or anything else. Many developers use usernames that have nothing to do with their real names. You can set your real name separately as your display name if you want it visible on your profile.