Name visible above avatar

[valerie Inshan]

You can't control the display of your username to other Residents, but you can control whether you see others' usernames and whether you see your own name.

To show or hide usernames inworld, both above other avatars and in chat:

1. Log into Second Life.
2. Choose Me > Preferences from the top menu.
3. Click the General tab.
4. Select the Usernames checkbox. If the box is checked, usernames are shown. If the box is not checked, usernames are hidden.
5. Click OK.

http://community.secondlife.com/t5/English-Knowledge-Base/Usernames-and-display-names/ta-p/700173

[valerie Inshan]

You can't control the display of your username to other Residents, but you can control whether you see others' usernames and whether you see your own name.

To show or hide usernames inworld, both above other avatars and in chat:

1. Log into Second Life.
2. Choose Me > Preferences from the top menu.
3. Click the General tab.
4. Select the Usernames checkbox. If the box is checked, usernames are shown. If the box is not checked, usernames are hidden.
5. Click OK.

http://community.secondlife.com/t5/English-Knowledge-Base/Usernames-and-display-names/ta-p/700173

[Ariel Vuissent]

Your first and last name IS your username. If you're looking to show your display name only, it's not possible. You can disable display names and only see usernames, but you can't disable usernames. Or rather, you can disable whether or not YOU can see your name above your head, but not whether or not other people can.

 

[stacykaplan]

Thank you for your answers. Does this mean that in order to get the name I want people to see "joyful" instead of my full name "stacy kaplan", I need to close this account and start all over?

 

[KarenMichelle Lane]

Stacy - You can create a Display Name "Joyful"

But please understand that your account name is what all transactions will be recorded under in your Transaction log and bots will only see you by your account name. Most people will see your Display name fine and call you by that name.

[stacykaplan]

KarenMichelle - I'd like my display name (joyful) to show, but not my real name (stacy kaplan). Can this be done? I don't mind having stacy kaplan attached to my account, I just don't want it to show. -Thank you!

[KarenMichelle Lane]

I'm sorry. The choice as to what name is displayed is up to each [avatar] account. This is because different avatar's have different requirements. Merchants need to know your account name in all dealings not the Display Name. I'm a DJ and seeing your Display name allows me to send you a custom greeting however, I also need your real name in order to save your music preferences in the Notes section of your Profile.

The reason LL does not allow the blanking out of your actual account name is so that you are in fact "unique".

By some weird stroke of luck, I'm the only KarenMichelle [anything] in all of SecondLife. But someone else could have a Display Name identical to my 1st name.. The Account name feature would make sure that any one seeing 2 KarenMichelle's in SL would know who was the DJ [real] one.

[stacykaplan]

Thanks for your help, KarenMichelle. It looks like I will need to close out my account and then open a new one which uses a pseudonym instead of my real first and last name. I guess I'm going to lose all my stuff. Yikes.

[valerie Inshan]

You may have a look at the "Joyful" already existing. Chances are good that you will have to add something to just "Joyful" to have an available name.

http://search.secondlife.com/?query_term=joyful&collection_chosen=people&isLeftColOpen=True