A styled name stands out in a busy server. Gothic letters, small caps or a row of stars next to your name make your profile easy to spot in a member list. Fancy fonts for Discord are popular for exactly that reason, but they do not work in every field, and it helps to know which is which before you start.
This guide covers where styled text works on Discord, where it does not, and how to type it on an iPhone.
How fancy fonts actually work
Discord does not have a font menu. What people call fancy fonts are really Unicode characters that look like styled letters. Unicode, the standard that defines text on computers, includes sets of letters drawn in bold, italic, script, double-struck, fraktur and other styles, originally for mathematics.
Because they are characters rather than formatting, you can paste them anywhere that accepts Unicode text. That is why a name typed in gothic letters on your phone still looks gothic when someone else sees it on a laptop.
The flip side is that these are not normal letters. Search, screen readers and some systems treat them differently, which matters in a few places on Discord.
Where fancy fonts work on Discord
Display name. This is the name shown on your profile and next to your messages. It accepts Unicode, so styled letters and symbols generally work.
Server nicknames. Each server can show a different nickname for you. These also accept Unicode, though individual servers can have rules about readable names. Check the server rules first.
About Me. Your profile bio accepts styled letters, symbols and kaomoji, and is a good place for a decorative line or a divider.
Messages. You can paste styled text into messages. For everyday bold and italic, though, Discord's own formatting is simpler: two asterisks on each side for bold, one for italic.
Follow along in Download Fontora on the App Store
Free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
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Where they do not work
Usernames. Your unique Discord username, the handle people use to add you, is limited to lowercase letters, numbers, underscores and full stops. Fancy fonts and symbols are not accepted there. Style your display name instead.
Server and channel names. These may accept some characters, but styled names can be hard to search and read. Admins often keep them plain on purpose.
Keep one plain word in your name
If your whole display name is in a fancy font, people may struggle to mention you or find you in the member search, because the styled letters do not match the plain letters they type. Keep at least one recognisable plain word, and use styling or symbols around it.
How to type fancy fonts on iPhone
There are two ways with Fontora.
From the keyboard. Fontora is a fonts keyboard. Once you enable it, you switch to it with the globe key and type straight into Discord in any of 32 included styles, with no Full Access needed. The keyboard extension contains no ads or networking and does not collect, store or send what you type.
To enable it:
- Open Fontora and complete the setup.
- Go to Settings, General, Keyboard, Keyboards, Add New Keyboard.
- Choose Fontora.
If the new keyboard does not show up, our guide on adding a custom keyboard on iPhone walks through it.
From Style Studio. Type once in the app to preview all 80 styles live, then copy the one you like and paste it into Discord. This is handy for trying lots of looks for a display name before choosing.
Ideas that look good on Discord
- Gaming tags: a styled name with a symbol either side, such as stars, swords or arrows.
- Small caps for a clean look: it reads well in a member list and still stands out.
- A styled divider in About Me: a row of symbols between your intro and your links.
- Kaomoji: a small face at the end of a bio adds personality without clutter.
Fontora includes gaming nickname and bio templates, symbol packs with stars, hearts, arrows and gaming symbols, and a kaomoji library. Edit the template text, apply a style and copy.
What to watch out for
Not every device shows every character. Most modern phones and computers display the common styled letters correctly, but older systems may show empty boxes for rarer ones. Test your name on another device if you can.
Screen readers. People using VoiceOver or other screen readers may hear styled letters read oddly or not at all. Keep important information plain.
Changing names too often. Discord limits how often you can change some profile details, so settle on a look in Style Studio before you commit.
Server rules. Some communities ask for readable, pingable names. Moderators may reset a nickname that breaks the rules.
Quick answers
Can I use fancy fonts in my Discord username?
No. Usernames only accept lowercase letters, numbers, underscores and full stops. Use fancy fonts in your display name or nickname instead.
Why does my fancy Discord name show as boxes for some people?
Their device does not have a font that includes those characters. Choose more common styles, such as bold or small caps, for wider support.
Do I need Full Access to use Fontora in Discord?
No. You can type with 32 styles from the Fontora keyboard without turning on Full Access.
Can people still mention me if my name is in a fancy font?
It can be harder, because the styled letters do not match what they type. Keep one plain word in your display name.
Where to get it
Fontora gives you a private fonts keyboard with 32 styles, 80 styles in Style Studio, gaming templates, symbols and kaomoji. Download Fontora on the App Store for iPhone.
Style the display name, keep the username plain, and you will stand out without getting lost.