I scanned many threads related to "recent names" list but did not find anything similar. The clue is: consider not to include that default system-given user####### name to the list of recent names at all, if user changes it immediately after account creation.
Sure thing "immediately" is not a precise thing in the context, but there are several possible conditions for the definition (at least several examples that came at a glance):
- Until the 1st post (answer or question)
- Until the 1st profile view
- If a user changes their name within 5-10-24 hours of account creation (exact timeframe to be discussed) and the above 2 points are not [yet] applicable.
The reasons:
- As soon as I created my account on SO, I filled in the bio and changed my display name - in a matter of minutes. However, I still have that "recent names" string in my profile which lists the only record so far - that default
user########name. Technically - yes, I had it indeed. But practically - I don't think so!.. Hardly ever it was seen by anyone else. Still, it's a whole ROW on my profile page, which is still here at least for 90 days... (if even be removed thereafter). - I know this is visible for me, devs and modders, but even for the last it may be more confusing than helpful: the list has
1, but that name was never practically seen.
I know there are many folks who still have that default name (even with several K of rep) - that's their choice. But in that case they don't have that extra row displayed in their profile, while I do - and that's really annoying, since my display is not so huge.
I don't mind having this for 90 days if I change my name in the future - it's a fair cost for doing that, but it should be displayed only if required - e.g. as helpful flags counter.
Perhaps many people do not even care about such nuances, but being QA with almost 5 years of experience made me catch these things.
