# How about using first names rather than last? **URL:** \ **Category:** Archived: Feature Requests\ **Created:** [February 25, 2016, 12:31am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/how-about-using-first-names-rather-than-last/8985 "2016-02-25T00:31:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gary\_Hawkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@Gary\_Hawkins](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Gary_Hawkins)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 12:31am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/how-about-using-first-names-rather-than-last/8985/1 "2016-02-25T00:31:00Z")
How about using Gary. H, rather than G. Hawkins as currently comes up for my specific name information.  It’s much easier to engage in social texting if you know the person’s first name rather than last name. What do other Zwifters think? Best regards   Gary Hawkins ---
**Author:** ![GARNIER\_Stephane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@GARNIER\_Stephane](https://forums.zwift.com/u/GARNIER_Stephane)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 6:39am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/how-about-using-first-names-rather-than-last/8985/2 "2016-02-25T06:39:30Z")
I have the same reflexion each time i want to chat with somebody. I do agree with you. You can notice that the first name appears in this discussion … ---
**Author:** ![Kermit\_deFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@Kermit\_deFrog](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Kermit_deFrog)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/how-about-using-first-names-rather-than-last/8985/3 "2016-02-25T19:49:34Z")
Interesting Idea! Try to speak to “Dave” and wait for the thousands of replies of “who, me?”. I bet I can find you better in the system when you are G.Hawkins rather than some Gary H. How can you find anybody in the list at the first screen to ride with when there are 100s called Gary.  I ask if I want to know the name, quite easy. ---
**Author:** ![Daniel\_Smith](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/daniel_smith/32/1188_2.png) [@Daniel\_Smith](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Daniel_Smith)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2016, 1:29pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/how-about-using-first-names-rather-than-last/8985/4 "2016-02-27T13:29:58Z")
I would actually like to see the choice to use a nick name.  I don’t go by either my first or last name.  I’m known by my nickname   ---
**Author:** ![\_david\_aka\_setuid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/_david_aka_setuid/32/8974_2.png) [@\_david\_aka\_setuid](https://forums.zwift.com/u/_david_aka_setuid)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2016, 10:18pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/how-about-using-first-names-rather-than-last/8985/5 "2016-02-27T22:18:21Z")
That’s why my name looks like it does here in these replies…  You could model this using the existing method, by putting your surname first, or your first/last in the last-name box as well.  ---
**Author:** ![GARNIER\_Stephane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@GARNIER\_Stephane](https://forums.zwift.com/u/GARNIER_Stephane)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 7:22am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/how-about-using-first-names-rather-than-last/8985/6 "2016-02-28T07:22:46Z")
Good idea.   And when you’re part of a group ride, it becomes: " xxx (aka yyy) Group (Level)". Easy.   ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Sandberg](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/randy_sandberg/32/464124_2.png) [@Randy\_Sandberg](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Randy_Sandberg)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 7:57am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/how-about-using-first-names-rather-than-last/8985/7 "2016-03-04T07:57:14Z")
Of course, Team Zwift could just have three fields: First, Last, and Nickname with the rule that at least one field must have data in it AND no abbreviating of any kind – WYSIWYG. As for the current logic, there’s a rider who goes by the name of R.uby. I think that’s quite clever. In fact, I myself have been thinking about changing my R.Sandberg to R.andy. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Downing](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/sue_downing/32/22004_2.png) [@Sue\_Downing](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Sue_Downing)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/how-about-using-first-names-rather-than-last/8985/8 "2016-03-19T22:24:31Z")
I think it would be cool if the names had a gender indicator.  When I see someone closing in on me, my first question is, M or F.  Depending on what I’m doing, I’d be inclined to whip out more watts to keep an F behind me. ---
**Author:** ![Ben\_CANYON\_RAD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/ben_canyon_rad/32/151981_2.png) [@Ben\_CANYON\_RAD](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Ben_CANYON_RAD)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 9:04am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/how-about-using-first-names-rather-than-last/8985/9 "2016-11-11T09:04:55Z")
I really would appreciate the idea not to short the first name. Zwift is not a business platform, we´re here to having a great time together and i don´t like to talk to someone with: hey mister xy. that´s bourgeois. that´s why i put my first name into the surname field.  ---
**Author:** ![GARNIER\_Stephane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@GARNIER\_Stephane](https://forums.zwift.com/u/GARNIER_Stephane)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 11:55am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/how-about-using-first-names-rather-than-last/8985/10 "2016-11-11T11:55:46Z")
Ditto