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YouTube Channel Name vs. YouTube Handle (Explained Like I’m 5!)

by | Apr 17, 2025 | Blog, Video, YouTube

If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between a YouTube channel name and a YouTube handle, you’re not alone.

In this post, I’ll explain the difference between a YouTube channel name vs. YouTube handle and why understanding this distinction can have a real impact on how people discover and remember your content.

Whether you’re just starting your channel or considering a rebrand, there’s a simple strategy you can use to get the most out of both.

Where Your YouTube Channel Name and Handle Show Up

Your YouTube channel name and handle show up in different places across the platform—and this can affect how people recognize and interact with your content.

On your channel homepage, you’ll see both:

  • Your channel name appears at the top. In my case, it’s “Done By Lunch Entrepreneurs – Jerry Potter.”
  • Your handle appears just below it, in the format @YourHandle. Mine is @mrjerrypotter.

But other areas of YouTube only show one or the other:

  • In your channel’s URL, you’ll only see your handle (youtube.com/@mrjerrypotter).
  • On regular widescreen videos, only the channel name shows under the video.
  • In the Shorts feed, YouTube displays only the handle and not the channel name.
This is why it’s so important to understand the difference, because where and how people see each of these can impact your discoverability and how your brand is perceived.

YouTube Handles Are Unique – Channel Names Are Not

This is probably the most important thing to know:

YouTube channel names are not unique. That means two different channels can have the same exact name (though I wouldn’t recommend doing that). 😁

But handles are unique—there can only be one @mrjerrypotter on the platform. So if a handle you want is taken, you’ll need to come up with an alternative that’s still on-brand or memorable.

This uniqueness makes handles even more important, especially when it comes to being recognized on Shorts or being found via URL.

Should Your Channel Name and Handle Match?

They can match but they don’t have to.

For example, my channel name is “Done By Lunch Entrepreneurs – Jerry Potter” but my handle is just @mrjerrypotter. I chose that because I have the same username on the other social media platforms.

But you may want your name and handle to be different…

While your channel name should probably be your brand, you might name your handle after something that people want, or that creates curiousity.

For example, if my channel served teachers, I could have a handle like @tipsformodernteachers. Then if a teacher was watching one of my YouTube Shorts , they would be more likely to click through to check out the rest of the channel.

So when choosing your handle, think about how to make it catchy, benefit-driven, or curiosity-inducing—especially if Shorts are part of your strategy.

How To Change Your YouTube Channel Name and Handle

Click here to see a walkthrough of how to change your name or handle.

Important notes:

  • You can change your channel name up to two times every 14 days.
  • If your channel is verified and you change the name, you’ll need to re-verify it, but the process isn’t too difficult.

Final Thoughts

Your channel name and handle serve different purposes on YouTube—and knowing how to use them strategically gives you an edge.

Let your channel name represent your brand, and use your handle to capture curiosity, especially for Shorts where it’s the only thing viewers will see.

And it’s important to know that your name and handle are only 2 of the 12 areas of your channel you should optimize so you get found in search AND convert visitors into subscribers and buyers!

Click here to get the list of all 12

Links & Resources

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Jerry Potter

Jerry has been lucky enough to help thousands of online entrepreneurs around the world run their business in less time by adding high leverage assets like podcasts, YouTube channels and more.

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