Gmail Username Rules: Length, Characters and Dots (and What a Checker Can Tell You)
New Gmail usernames must be 6 to 30 characters of letters, numbers and periods, and dots are ignored. Those are the rules in Google's username guide. The Gmail username availability checker tests a name against them first, then asks Gmail's mail server whether a mailbox with that name exists.
The rules in plain terms
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| 6 to 30 characters | Shorter or longer names are refused for new accounts |
| Letters, numbers and periods | No spaces, underscores or other symbols |
| Dots do not count | jane.smith and janesmith are one account |
| Anything after + is ignored | janesmith+news delivers to janesmith |
Older accounts can predate these rules, so treat them as a guide for new names, not a test every existing address passes.
Step 1: enter the name
Type the username, with or without @gmail.com. Dots are dropped in the comparison, because Gmail does the same.
Step 2: read the rule check
If the name breaks a rule, the tool says which, before any lookup. That saves a try on Google's sign-up page.
Step 3: read the mailbox answer
The checker asks Gmail's mail server whether it would accept mail for the address, in one SMTP conversation that stops before any message is sent. A confirmed mailbox means the name is taken. If no account answers, the result says exactly that rather than "available".
Why "no account answers" is not "available"
Google does not reissue deleted names, and sign-up can refuse others. A deleted account usually looks the same from outside as one that never existed. The sign-up page is the only place that can confirm a name is free. Why signup still says no covers that case.
Dots, plus signs and googlemail.com
Mail to name+anything@gmail.com reaches name@gmail.com, and googlemail.com is the same service. Google says dots do not matter. The rule applies only to gmail.com and googlemail.com; on a company domain run by Google Workspace, a dot makes a different address. See googlemail.com vs gmail.com.
What this check cannot do
- It cannot confirm a name is free.
- It cannot see deleted accounts or names held back by Google.
- It cannot reserve a username or create an account.
- The 6 to 30 character rule is for new names; older accounts may differ.
Check the Gmail addresses on your list
If you have addresses rather than names to check, upload your list on the verify page: the first 100 email checks are free with a Google sign-in, no card. Each address comes back valid, risky or invalid with a reason, and nothing is sent to anyone on the list. For larger or recurring lists, see bulk email verification, list cleaning and pricing.
Test a name now
Type it into the Gmail username availability checker.
Common questions
How long can a Gmail username be?
Between 6 and 30 characters for new accounts, using letters, numbers and periods.
Do dots matter in a Gmail username?
No. Gmail ignores dots, so j.smith and jsmith are the same account and the same name.
Can I get a Gmail username that was deleted?
No. Google does not reissue the username of a deleted account to anyone, including the original owner.
Can a username check confirm a name is free?
No. It can say a mailbox exists, which means taken. If none answers, the name may be free, but only Google's sign-up page can confirm it.
Do older accounts follow the same rules?
Not always. The rules apply to new usernames, and older accounts can predate them.
Check your list before you send
Real mailbox checks over SMTP, and nothing is sent to the address. Sign in with Google and your first 100 email checks are free, no card. Plans for bigger lists are on the pricing page.