What is a Skype name?

A Skype name is a user name for an individual to sign in to the computer program Skype, which is a telecommunications application that offers video calls. After signing in, the unique Skype name is used as identification for other users to know who is online and who they can video call.

Skype names are designed to have between 6 and 32 characters. They must always start with a letter, but within the name can be numbers and a few select punctuation marks. The Skype name is not always the display name that other users will see. Skype also allows users to create a display name, which is typically the users' actual name.