The WhatsMyName project: the open dataset behind many username tools
WhatsMyName is an open-source project, not a single app. It is a community-maintained file describing how to check hundreds of websites for a username. We are an independent tool that uses its data, so this page explains what the project is, who runs it, and how it differs from our checker.
Open username dataset. Project: github.com/WebBreacher/WhatsMyName · License: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Last reviewed 2026-10-13
What is WhatsMyName?
Micah "WebBreacher" Hoffman created WhatsMyName in 2015 because the username checkers of the time produced too many false positives. Contributors around the world have since grown it into one of the most widely used username enumeration datasets in OSINT.
The core of the project is one JSON file, wmn-data.json. Each entry says which URL to request for a site, what a found response looks like and what a missing one looks like. Tools read the file and do the checking themselves, so anyone can build a checker on top of it. To be included, a site has to be publicly reachable and put the username in the profile URL.
The dataset is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0. The project README points people who just want to search to whatsmyname.app, a free browser tool built on the dataset, and lists many other tools that use it, Blackbird among them.
WhatsMyName Apps is one of those independent tools. We merge the WhatsMyName data with the Sherlock and Maigret lists, credit all three on our open-source page, and share our use of the WhatsMyName data under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 terms. We are not the project and are not run or endorsed by its maintainers.
How to use WhatsMyName
- To search without installing anything, the project README recommends whatsmyname.app.
- To build your own checker, download wmn-data.json from the GitHub repository and read each site entry.
- To fix a false positive or add a site, follow the contribution notes in the repository; accuracy depends on reports from users.
- If you reuse the data, keep the attribution and share your changes under CC BY-SA 4.0.
WhatsMyName vs WhatsMyName Apps
| Feature | WhatsMyName | WhatsMyName Apps |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A community dataset (wmn-data.json) plus a list of tools that use it | An independent web checker that uses the dataset |
| Run by | Micah Hoffman and contributors | WhatsMyName Apps, unaffiliated with the project |
| Sites | Hundreds of carefully vetted sites | 3,166 sites, merged from the WhatsMyName, Sherlock and Maigret lists |
| License | CC BY-SA 4.0 | We use the data under CC BY-SA 4.0 and credit it |
| Web search | whatsmyname.app, built on the dataset | Nothing to install. It runs in the browser |
| Result states | Depends on the tool reading the data | Four statuses: found, not found, blocked, unknown |
| Domain check | Not part of the dataset | .com, .net, .org, .io, .us, .app and .dev through public RDAP |
| Export | Depends on the tool | JSON and CSV (no PDF) |
Based on WhatsMyName's own documentation as of 2026-10-13. Tools change; the project page is the final word.
Pros and cons of WhatsMyName
Pros
- Openly licensed data that any tool can use, so fixes help the whole community.
- Strict inclusion rules aimed at fewer false positives.
- Long-running project with an active contributor base.
- Its own web front end, whatsmyname.app, needs no install.
Cons
- Covers hundreds of sites, fewer than tools that merge several lists.
- Only sites with the username in the URL qualify, so some platforms cannot be included.
- It is a dataset first; how good the results are depends on the tool that reads it.
Who WhatsMyName is for
The project is for OSINT practitioners and tool builders who want a vetted, openly licensed list of username checks. If you want to search right now, use whatsmyname.app or any tool built on the data, including ours.
Try a username search in your browser
Free, no sign-up. Checks 3,166 sites; the username is not stored or logged.
Frequently asked questions
Is WhatsMyName Apps part of the WhatsMyName project?
No. WhatsMyName Apps is an independent tool. It uses the WhatsMyName dataset under CC BY-SA 4.0, alongside the Sherlock and Maigret lists, and is not run or endorsed by the project or Micah Hoffman.
Who created WhatsMyName?
Micah "WebBreacher" Hoffman started it in 2015. It is maintained on GitHub with contributions from the OSINT community.
What license does the WhatsMyName data use?
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International. You can reuse it with attribution, and adapted versions must be shared under the same license.
How is a WhatsMyName search different from yours?
whatsmyname.app checks the WhatsMyName sites. We check 3,166 sites by merging WhatsMyName with the Sherlock and Maigret lists, and add domain checks and profile details. Both are free.
Related tools and guides
- Sherlock: Username search (CLI)
- Maigret: Username search (CLI and web UI)
- Blackbird: Username search (CLI)
- OSINT Framework: Directory of OSINT tools
- All OSINT tools compared
- OSINT username search · Reverse username lookup · Platform username checkers
- Username OSINT for beginners
Names and trademarks belong to their owners. WhatsMyName Apps is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by WhatsMyName or its authors.