Appropriate word for internet name of a person

Solution 1:

There are various terms for this. Once upon a time, “screen name” would likely have been the most common.

However, it seems to me that this convention has been driven by the most pervasive websites. So, with Facebook et al's move toward encouraging the use of real names, “screen name” seems much less common (phrases such as “nickname” appear to be used now by these sites).

However, I have always thought of aliases used online as being just that (which may be why Google+ includes an option to add “aliases” to one's profile now). As a result, I have tended towards the more general term “handle” which was apparently derived from CB Radio operators and then later popularized in use by Bulletin-board systems.

E.g.:

My name is “Sam,” but I often use the handle “halosghost.”

As @DoubleDouble (and others) suggested, the terms “username” and “profile name” might also have some relevance. I chose not to include these in my suggestion on the grounds that they often mean something different than what I believe the OP is asking for.

Often times, the “username” refers specifically to the account itself rather than what will appear to other people online. A perfect example would be how Steam handles its accounts. When you create an account you specify a username (which you use to log in) and a “display name” (another perfectly valid answer to the OP's question). No one ever actually sees your username. Of course, not all services work this way, but many do.

“Profile name” seems more relevant to me than “username,” however it feels focused on a particular profile rather than the person's general persona.

E.g.,

My profile name here (“HalosGhost”) is a variation on my typical handle “halosghost.”

Solution 2:

I guess screen-name is appropriate:

Noun, Digital Technology:

• a unique sequence of characters that a person chooses to use for identification purposes when interacting with others online, as in computer games, instant messaging, or forums.

Source:http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/screen+name