Instagram Username Generator & Checker
Turn your name, brand or niche into handle ideas, or check a name you already have: every one is looked up on Instagram and checked against its naming rules. Free, no login.
Every click gives a new list, and each idea is checked on Instagram as it appears.
Letters, numbers, periods and underscores, up to 30 characters.
Your username ideas
“Looks free” means no account uses it now; banned or reserved names show the same way.
What makes a good Instagram username?
One people can remember after hearing it once. Keep it short, ideally under 15 characters, and easy to spell out loud. Use the same handle on your other platforms if you can. Avoid long number strings and stacked underscores, because they look like spam or an impersonator and make you harder to tag.
How to come up with a username
@mayabakesName + niche: mayabakes, tomruns
@tom.nycName + place: mayalondon, tom.nyc
@maya.studioA short twist: a dot or underscore between words, or a word like studio, daily or hq
Say it out loud. If you'd have to spell it for someone, try again.
How to check if an Instagram username is available
- Type the name. No @ needed. Capitals don't matter; Instagram treats them the same.
- Press Check username. You see whether it breaks a rule, whether an account uses it, or whether it appears available.
- Claim it fast. In the app, go to Edit profile and change your username. Instagram gives the final answer there.
Instagram's username rules
- 30 characters at most
- only letters, numbers, periods and underscores
- no spaces and no two periods in a row
- can't start or end with a period
Why "appears available" and not "available"
From the outside we can only see whether an account uses the name. Instagram also holds names from deleted and banned accounts, recently changed names and names it reserves. Those look free here but Instagram may still refuse them.
If your name is taken
Small changes keep a handle readable: a period or underscore between words, a short word in front such as "the" or "its", or a word that says what you do. Avoid long strings of numbers; they make a handle harder to remember and to type.
Frequently asked
How do I know if an Instagram username is available?
Switch to Check a name and type it. If no public Instagram account uses the name right now and it follows Instagram's naming rules, it appears available. The only final check is Instagram itself: try it in Edit profile.
Why does Instagram say a name is taken when it looks free here?
Instagram holds some names back: ones from deleted or banned accounts, names that were changed recently, and names it reserves. Those have no public profile, so they look free from the outside. Treat "looks free" as a strong sign, not a guarantee.
What are Instagram's username rules?
Up to 30 characters, using only letters, numbers, periods and underscores. No spaces, no two periods in a row, and it can't start or end with a period. Usernames aren't case sensitive, so @MayaBakes and @mayabakes are the same handle.
How do I change my Instagram username?
Go to your profile, tap Edit profile, tap Username, type the new one and tap Done. For 14 days afterwards you can usually switch back, and during that time nobody else can take your old handle.
How long until an Instagram username becomes available?
Instagram doesn't publish a fixed time. Deleted accounts can be restored for 30 days, so the name is held at least that long, and some names stay held for longer.
Can I reserve an Instagram username?
Only by using it. Set the name on an account and it's yours; a second account works as a placeholder, and the app lets you switch between up to 5 accounts.
How can I get a username that's already taken?
Usually you can't. Instagram doesn't hand over names on request. The exception is a registered trademark, which the owner can report through Instagram's trademark form. Otherwise try a variation: the checker suggests some whenever a name is taken.
Does the account owner see that I checked their name?
No. Checking a name only reads the public profile. Nobody is notified.
Is this Instagram username generator free?
Yes, with no login. Every press gives you a new list, and each idea is looked up on Instagram as it appears. There's a daily limit per visitor so it can stay free.