<p>Okay, so when I'm going to be a grad student, I'm really thinking about using an untraditional username (lots of undergrads and even some professors use untraditional usernames that don't resemble their real-life names). I'm going into astrophysics, so I'm thinking of a name that starts with astro + something, or some other astronomical term. The reason I'm doing this is because my name (and initials) are extremely common, so I'd have to insert some random characters anyways. But also because it's a way of conveying passion - in another way. I know that a professor here, for example, who his email address set at <a href="mailto:corvid@x.edu">corvid@x.edu</a><a href="he%20studies%20crows">/email</a>.</p>
<p>Use your judgement to decide which nontraditional usernames still sound professional and which ones just sound silly.</p>
<p>“Corvid” sounds fine. “Astro-” could get childish.</p>
<p>Be professional. This will be an e-mail that will carry you through the job market years from now and you certainly wouldn’t want to slap your forehead at the time at the silliness of your e-mail. Choose wisely. My name/initials are surprisingly a bit common and I’ve taken to take my first name and the “nickname” of my middle name for username in a free e-mail account. It has worked quite well in all settings.</p>