Digital Socio-onomastics of the Naming of Usernames Second Instagram Account

Azri, Amanda Titian Pamedia and Pamedia, Amanda Titian Pamedia and Titian, Amanda Titian Pamedia and Azri, Amanda Titian Pamedia (2026) Digital Socio-onomastics of the Naming of Usernames Second Instagram Account. S2 thesis, Universitas Andalas.

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Abstract

This study examines the social meaning of second Instagram account naming among Generation Z users, framed within socio-onomastics and social semiotics. Second accounts often referred to as "finsta" or alternate accounts have become a common practice through which users construct identities separate from their main, more curated profiles. The study addresses three research questions: (1) what onomastic patterns and linguistic structures characterize second-account usernames, (2) what semantic meanings these usernames convey, and (3) what social functions they perform for their owners. Using a qualitative descriptive method, data were collected through a survey, semi-structured interviews, and a data of second-account usernames, which were analyzed structurally, semantically, and functionally. Structurally, the usernames display a variety of morphological formations including , compounding, affixation, and phrasal constructions, organized into a nine-category typology. The interview data also point to a generational contrast in how these names are chosen: compared to other generations, Gen Z users tend to follow more identifiable patterns, approaching their second-account usernames with considerable thought and attention to detail rather than as an incidental choice. Semantically, drawing on Van Langendonck's (2007) model of presuppositional name meaning, categorical meaning is present in all usernames (100%), followed by associative meaning (72%), emotive meaning (48%), and grammatical meaning (32%), indicating that usernames function primarily as referential markers layered with connotative and affective content. Functionally, self-presentation and identity performance emerges as the most dominant social function, alongside community affiliation, emotional expression, creative identity construction, and privacy management. These findings suggest that second-account usernames are not arbitrary labels but deliberate linguistic choices through which young users perform, manage, and index multiple facets of their digital identity. The study contributes to socio-onomastic scholarship by extending naming analysis into the context of contemporary digital youth culture. Keywords: socio-onomastics, second Instagram account, username, semantic meaning, digital identity

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