I never have more than one handle at a time.
For many years I was The Lobster, because I thought no-one else would ever come up with that name. It came from me mis-hearing a friend saying "carpet- lobbers" as "Corporate Lobsters". (Before you ask, I have no idea why he was talking about carpet lobbers.)
Then one day I met two or three other Lobsters chatting on IRC. I want my handle to be unique so I changed it. I went through loads of names before coming up with Dogscoff, which I use on dozens of Boards / services / communities. When a first name is required I call myself Delegate Dogscoff. I hope this time that I *am* unique.
I came up with the name just by messing around with words, but I immdiately knew it was good. I like the way it sounds like it could mean something or could just be nonsense. Rolls nicely off the tongue as well.
When I get round to it I don't anticipate any trouble registering
www.dogscoff.net, .com, .uk or anything else (They're all still available=-)
------------------
"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
"Uh, I think so, Brain, but balancing a family and a career ... oooh, it's all too much for me. "