Want a forum name that does not contain your surname, birthday or usual nickname? You can make a random username with dice and the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s word lists. This guide shows you how to choose a throwaway handle offline, keep track of it and understand what a new name can protect.
Last checked October 28, 2026.
Quick answer
- For a public handle, try two or three dice-selected words from an EFF list.
- Use a printed list if you want to choose the name without a computer.
- Choose a fresh handle for each account you want to keep separate.
- Keep the username and password separate: never publish words from a secret passphrase.
Why a throwaway username matters for privacy
A pseudonym is simply a name you use instead of your real name. It can be a sensible choice for a hobby forum or a public comment account where you would rather leave personal details out.
EFF explains that public information, including usernames, email accounts and addresses, can become more useful for targeting someone when those details are combined.4 Think about which parts of your life you want to keep apart before choosing a handle. For example, choose a fresh name for a gardening forum rather than adapting the name on your work profile.
The benefit of paper and dice is narrow but useful: if you choose the words on paper without entering them into a website, you have not sent that choice to a name generator. This does not establish anything about what a particular online generator collects.
A random name also cannot undo personal information you supply later. The Tor Project warns that giving a website identifying information such as your email, address or phone number removes anonymity toward that website, even when using Tor Browser.6 Treat the handle as one small privacy choice, then review the rest of the registration form.
Your options: three ways to use EFF’s dice word lists
EFF provides a long word list for five dice and two shorter lists for four dice.1 These are word-list files, rather than an app you need to install. Start with the official EFF instructions and downloads.
Printed long list: a straightforward starting point
EFF’s long list contains 7,776 entries, with words between three and nine characters long.2 Choose this approach if you want a broad selection and do not mind handling a longer document.
- Pros: Once printed, you can do every lookup on paper. Keep the list with your dice for future accounts.
- Cons: Browsing a long printout takes patience. Check the page count before printing, and consider using both sides.
Printed short list: useful for compact handles
EFF’s first short list has 1,296 entries and limits words to five characters.2 Consider it when a registration form leaves little room for a username.
- Pros: Shorter words give you more room to combine them within the site’s limit.
- Cons: A smaller vocabulary gives fewer possible combinations for the same number of words. Do not assume that a handle will be available.
Saved text file: fewer pages to handle
The official long list pairs each five-digit dice result with a word.3 Save a copy and use your device’s text search to find the number after rolling real dice.
- Pros: This avoids printing the whole list and makes number lookup convenient.
- Cons: The lookup involves a device. Choose paper instead if your aim is to keep the entire selection process away from a computer.
You do not need a paid generator for this workflow. If sharing a printed copy, follow EFF’s copyright policy: original EFF material is generally available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 unless otherwise noted.7
Step-by-step: make a random username with dice
The following adapts EFF’s word-selection method for a public handle. The suggestion to use two or three words is for a username, not a password-strength recommendation.
- Check the site’s rules. Look for the username length limit, allowed characters and any naming requirements. Use a pseudonym only where the service permits one.
- Prepare the long list. Print it or save the text file before starting. Set aside five ordinary six-sided dice, paper and a pen.
- Choose a reading order. Decide to read the dice left to right before rolling. EFF’s method starts by rolling five dice together and recording their faces before consulting the list.1
- Look up the number. Read the five results as one five-digit code and find its matching entry. For example, 43463 corresponds to panoramic in EFF’s long list.3
- Repeat for your handle. Roll again for each additional word. Try joining two or three words, using a separator only if the site allows it. If the result exceeds the limit, try the short list with four dice per word.
- Register and record it. Check availability on the intended service. If taken, generate another combination rather than adding your birth year. Record the final spelling alongside that account’s login details.
For everyday organization, consider keeping the handle in your account record; the Academy’s KeePassDX guide is a starting point for Android readers. Give the account its own strong password and review its recovery options before logging out.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Publishing a secret. Never build a public handle from your password, master passphrase or recovery words.
- Adding personal clues. Leave your initials, postcode, employer and birthday out of a handle intended to stand apart.
- Reusing the whole profile. For accounts you want separate, choose fresh names and avoid copying your familiar avatar and biography.
- Forgetting recovery. Keep access to the recovery method you select. Do not make an account disposable if you need to keep it.
- Stopping at the name. Review optional profile fields before completing registration. For another practical account-separation habit, read the Firefox Containers guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the username as my password?
Keep them separate. A public handle should not double as a secret. For actual password-manager and disk-encryption passphrases, EFF recommends at least six randomly selected words.5 Follow the full password guidance rather than the shorter username exercise here.
Does a random username make me anonymous?
It is not a guarantee. Start by asking whom you want to keep information from: other forum readers, acquaintances or the service itself. Avoid adding identifying details unnecessarily, and seek advice tailored to your situation if being identified could put you at risk.
Is the EFF word list supposed to be secret?
No. The list is published for everyone to use. EFF explains that choosing words at random from a list creates many possible passphrases.2 Keep a password’s selected words secret, while treating your username as public.
How should I secure the new account?
EFF recommends unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication where available.5 Two-factor authentication adds a second sign-in requirement. The Academy’s Proton Authenticator guide explains one option to explore alongside the service’s own setup instructions.
Sources
- EFF: EFF Dice-Generated Passphrases
- EFF: Deep Dive: EFF’s New Wordlists for Random Passphrases
- EFF: Long Wordlist
- EFF Surveillance Self-Defense: How to Manage Your Digital Footprint
- EFF Surveillance Self-Defense: Creating Strong Passwords
- Tor Project: Tor Browser best practices
- EFF: EFF’s Copyright Policy
