Why can't I change my name back??

[MiGatoEsBonito]

Just that really?
I name changed a little while ago to post about something quite sensitive/personal that could've been outing, yesterday and today I have tried to go back to my usual name but it's telling me my username is unavailable.

I've tried logging out and back in again but no luck, has anyone else had this issue and how did you solve it?

I've changed names again to something completely different but I'd like my old name back 😅

When I've had this it's because there's a space at the end. Delete it and it should be fine.
To other posters - someone else shouldn't be able to have your username - it's kept as yours forever. They may have made it look the same by using a number 1 as an l, for example, or adding a number, but unless this is due to the MN upgrade, that specific combination of characters for the username should only belong to your login.

Went on to the desktop site and it's let me change my name back 🙌🏻

So I've had a little email chat with MNHQ and they've been in touch with tech who will look into it on Monday. And they've also reassured me that our usernames can't be claimed by other users once we've used it!

That's good to know, thank you for the update, OP. Not that I think anyone would want any of my dozens of former or occasional usernames😆

Ha me too, I'm so rubbish at coming up with interesting names 😂

But someone has used mine! Like I said, I get messages to say I've been mentioned in a post, but when I check it, it's my old username and someone else is using it. Mumsnet has let them claim that username, yet it must still also connect it to me to send me the email notifications.

They are kept unless you deregister I think.
I've just checked and my very first username is still available to me as a "new" name but I deregistered briefly.
I've used this email address for 15 years and my usernames are all there. They weren't briefly the other day though. Only this one. I thought it was a changeover glitch as I can now access them all again.

There are sometimes glitches with the email notifications, but the username shouldn't be used by anyone else. Could you post a link to a post with your username that you didn't post? If it's doing what you say that's a massive account security issue, so you should email mn asap.

perimeno when you go into your account settings and view your previous usernames, is it in the list?

Do you have a letter in it that someone could have used a different letter for? Like a lowercase L and the other poster has used an uppercase i? Then people tagging them are mistyping?

I seem to remember a spate of that with posters names being maliciously copied then posts being made to stir up bad feeling. Are the posts that have been made particularly contentious?

Either way I'd contact mnhq, as it's not right!

Phew you had me worried about people pinching my name, but it's still there for me.