Length is the primary value driver. Single characters (a, x, 1) are worth $50,000-1,000,000+. Two characters (ai, go, tv) range from $10,000-100,000. Three characters start around $1,000-10,000. By four characters, only dictionary words retain significant premium.
Word meaning matters at longer lengths. Common words like "money," "social," "design," and "music" command premiums even at 5-6 characters. Industry terms like "crypto," "nft," and "ai" have surged in value with market trends. Brand-adjacent terms carry value if the brand might want them.
Platform context affects value. A short username on Twitter is worth more than the same username on a niche forum. Platform user count, social cache, and monetization potential all factor in. The same @AI handle might be worth $500,000 on Instagram and $500 on a startup nobody has heard of.
Liquidity matters for valuation. Usernames are illiquid assets — finding a buyer takes time. Brokers exist for premium handles, but transactions are slow. Reserve high-value usernames even if you do not plan to sell them. The value is in optionality.