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[Su-san]

I only do it if Asked for... otherwise then I'm just "Mato" which is my first name for my dA OC

[defectedmodel]

If someone asks me, I tell them my real name.
However, if someone Creepy asks me, I make a name up haha

[Blood_Sword]

The truth is, most people just call me by whatever the character's name is who I'm cosplaying at the moment and don't even ask for some kind of non-character name. But when I learn to know a new person at a con I will give them one of my "internet names" if they ask for it, but, if I feel I will get along really well with this person and they ask specifically for my real name then I will tell them it.

[MirniMausi]

When we first meet, people usually call me by the name of my cosplay. If I'm in contact with the people for longer, I usually tell them my real name, though some also call me by nicknames I use online despite the knowledge about my real name xD

Some of my friends who know that my name is Miriam still call me Usako at times, because it's my Skype nick and they're used to it

[Ends Beginning]

I put Tray on all my con badges and it's what I go by in real life as well. It's one letter different from my birth name which is Tracy, even my family, coworkers, and professors call me by Tray. I really don't care, but if you give me some crazy looking name that I can't figure out how to pronounce within 30 seconds of getting it then I'll lose interest and not bother looking for more info on you or what you do.

[Merides]

See the post a couple above... I agree. I usually get called by the name of my cosplay right off the bat. If not that, I give them the name 'Merides' - it's an online handle I've had for years (if you see a Merides online, chances are it's me. There are only a couple times I've had to lengthen it because it was already taken somewhere, then it's 'TheOnlyMerides' LOL!) People actually usually call me 'Meri' or 'Riza' most of the time now... stemming from my constant cosplaying of Riza Hawkeye (FMA). I've found out recently that I'm in several people's phones as 'Riza'. (win!)

If someone wants my info, I'll tell them, within reason, but honestly? You can find me anywhere by looking up my username. I'm not worried about internet security, I don't give out much personal info online anyway.

And by the way, my facebook has never had the word 'cosplay' in it - I have a 'like' page instead. I'm sorry for everyone who didn't... a 'like' page is simpler and still suits the purpose of keeping up with your cosplay friends... and it's still there. So while I sympathize with people who lost their accounts, I'm wiping my brow because I missed that bullet...

[DireKitty]

I give out my real name. I'm con staff - so it's on my badge. When people recognize me from here and use my forum name I feel weird and quickly get them to call me by my real name. I won't call people by their alias either (unless it seems like an actual name)... just not my thing. I'll use "hey you" before i'd use some odd name in person.

[mokulen22]

If asked for my name, which actually doesn't come up all that often in the brief converstations at cons, I will give it; as, I assume that is what they wanted (not a nickname).

My nickname, Moku, is more for my college friends and family...no one else calls me that.

After FanExpo printed my real FULL name in their guidebook...well, now thousands of people know my name..so what is the point of hidding it. :P

[touchmon]

Well my real name is long and a pain to say but if a person asks, I'm willing to give it. It usually doesn't come to asking about real names unless I've hung around the person for a while or they want to exchange fbs or something. I usually just end up getting called the name of the character I'm cosplaying.

[Pocketfightr]

I'm very rarely randomly asked my name but when I'm introduced to someone it is my real name. I do put Pocket or Pocketfightr on my badge but I don't know how many manage to spot my badge for a name to call me by (I often have my badge hanging from my belt or somewhere lower).

[Quinn The Spazz]

I'll usually just write Quinn or Lucille (my other alias) on my con badge, but if someone asks and it's someone I've struck up a conversation with and they seem nice and not a creep, I'll tell them my first name.

[ShinobiXikyu]

I put my real and my Coscom name on con badges (I've beeen recognized at least a half dozen times in seven cons), but unless we're getting really friendly, I don't give out my msn/email. I used to use a Pseudonym, but it doesn't really stick to me/have much attachment anymore. And then cons started stating you need your real name on it...

[sunseenli]

I put my real name (my first name, anyway) on my badge along with my nickname. I learned that, even after a good 15 years of having the name "SunseenLi" absolutely everywhere...I haven't learned to respond to it. A friend of mine used to call me "Li-chan" and I would never realize he was talking to me, and another friend of mine once addressed me as "Sunny" and I had NO idea why. Calling me by the name of the character I'm cosplaying usually works, but I'm just so used to being called "Crissy" that that's what I go by. I'm also not too worried about keeping my hobbies out of my "real life", so to speak. If an office cares more about what I do (totally legal and not hurting anybody) in my off hours than they do about my performance, I probably don't want to work for them anyway. (Then again, I live in a major metropolitan area where there are more jobs than in the rest of the country, so I realize that may be a luxury most people can't afford.)

[Taokaka]

I'd give them my first name, and my username on tumblr/deviantart. I never feel comfy with giving out my Facebook

[arkham71]

While it’s been years since I have been to a con I have used the name Arkham for so long I respond to it almost as if it’s my birth name. The truth is I use both interchangeably depending on the circles I am moving in at the time. Whether it be online, or at my day job, or working on a film, or going to a religious retreat determines which name I use.

It’s kinda weird really, but many ancient cultures used to believe that names have power so you should not give out your real name to just anyone…. I believe that our ancestors were wise in many ways, and in this case they were right.