diff --git a/api-server/common/models/user.js b/api-server/common/models/user.js
index 7ff1db25c0..7db7b13e78 100644
--- a/api-server/common/models/user.js
+++ b/api-server/common/models/user.js
@@ -127,6 +127,9 @@ function nextTick(fn) {
 const getRandomNumber = () => Math.random();
 
 function populateRequiredFields(user) {
+  // by default, the displayUsername will have
+  // the same value as the username
+  user.displayUsername = user.username;
   user.username = user.username.trim().toLowerCase();
   user.email =
     typeof user.email === 'string'
@@ -347,6 +350,7 @@ export default function(User) {
     if (!username && (!email || !isEmail(email))) {
       return Promise.resolve(false);
     }
+    username = username.toLowerCase();
     log('checking existence');
 
     // check to see if username is on blacklist
@@ -395,6 +399,7 @@ export default function(User) {
         cb(null, {});
       });
     }
+    username = username.toLowerCase();
     return User.findOne({ where: { username } }, (err, user) => {
       if (err) {
         return cb(err);
@@ -724,13 +729,13 @@ export default function(User) {
 
   User.prototype.updateMyUsername = function updateMyUsername(newUsername) {
     return Observable.defer(() => {
-      const isOwnUsername = isTheSame(newUsername, this.username);
+      const isOwnUsername = isTheSame(newUsername.toLowerCase(), this.username);
       if (isOwnUsername) {
         return Observable.of(dedent`
           ${newUsername} is already associated with this account.
           `);
       }
-      return Observable.fromPromise(User.doesExist(newUsername));
+      return Observable.fromPromise(User.doesExist(newUsername.toLowerCase()));
     }).flatMap(boolOrMessage => {
       if (typeof boolOrMessage === 'string') {
         return Observable.of(boolOrMessage);
@@ -741,14 +746,20 @@ export default function(User) {
         `);
       }
 
-      const usernameUpdate = new Promise((resolve, reject) =>
-        this.updateAttribute('username', newUsername, err => {
-          if (err) {
-            return reject(err);
+      const usernameUpdate = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+        this.updateAttributes(
+          {
+            username: newUsername.toLowerCase(),
+            displayUsername: newUsername
+          },
+          err => {
+            if (err) {
+              return reject(err);
+            }
+            return resolve();
           }
-          return resolve();
-        })
-      );
+        );
+      });
 
       return Observable.fromPromise(usernameUpdate).map(
         () => dedent`
diff --git a/api-server/common/models/user.json b/api-server/common/models/user.json
index fc5d1aaec4..0f7a16fd54 100644
--- a/api-server/common/models/user.json
+++ b/api-server/common/models/user.json
@@ -74,6 +74,10 @@
       },
       "require": true
     },
+    "displayUsername": {
+      "type": "string",
+      "default":""
+    },
     "about": {
       "type": "string",
       "default": ""
diff --git a/api-server/server/boot/settings.js b/api-server/server/boot/settings.js
index 4e366391bd..9941ea06cb 100644
--- a/api-server/server/boot/settings.js
+++ b/api-server/server/boot/settings.js
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ function createUpdateMyUsername(app) {
       user,
       body: { username }
     } = req;
-    if (username === user.username) {
+    if (username.toLowerCase() === user.username) {
       return res.json({
         type: 'info',
         message: 'Username is already associated with this account'
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ function createUpdateMyUsername(app) {
       });
     }
 
-    const exists = await User.doesExist(username);
+    const exists = await User.doesExist(username.toLowerCase());
 
     if (exists) {
       return res.json({
@@ -218,16 +218,19 @@ function createUpdateMyUsername(app) {
       });
     }
 
-    return user.updateAttribute('username', username, err => {
-      if (err) {
-        res.status(500).json(standardErrorMessage);
-        return next(err);
+    return user.updateAttributes(
+      { username: username.toLowerCase(), displayUsername: username },
+      err => {
+        if (err) {
+          res.status(500).json(standardErrorMessage);
+          return next(err);
+        }
+        return res.status(200).json({
+          type: 'success',
+          message: `We have updated your username to ${username}`
+        });
       }
-      return res.status(200).json({
-        type: 'success',
-        message: `We have updated your username to ${username}`
-      });
-    });
+    );
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/api-server/server/utils/auth.js b/api-server/server/utils/auth.js
index dd6d9aad0e..3960799da6 100644
--- a/api-server/server/utils/auth.js
+++ b/api-server/server/utils/auth.js
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ function createProfileAttributesFromGithub(profile) {
   return {
     name,
     username: username.toLowerCase(),
+    displayUsername: username,
     location,
     bio,
     website,
diff --git a/api-server/server/utils/publicUserProps.js b/api-server/server/utils/publicUserProps.js
index 71becb1ac3..cde2aa6e9d 100644
--- a/api-server/server/utils/publicUserProps.js
+++ b/api-server/server/utils/publicUserProps.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ export const publicUserProps = [
   'about',
   'calendar',
   'completedChallenges',
+  'displayUsername',
   'githubProfile',
   'isApisMicroservicesCert',
   'isBackEndCert',
diff --git a/client/src/client-only-routes/ShowProfileOrFourOhFour.js b/client/src/client-only-routes/ShowProfileOrFourOhFour.js
index b8a01477d5..d5a76f423f 100644
--- a/client/src/client-only-routes/ShowProfileOrFourOhFour.js
+++ b/client/src/client-only-routes/ShowProfileOrFourOhFour.js
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ const propTypes = {
   navigate: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
   requestedUser: PropTypes.shape({
     username: PropTypes.string,
+    displayUsername: PropTypes.string,
     profileUI: PropTypes.object
   }),
   showLoading: PropTypes.bool
diff --git a/client/src/client-only-routes/ShowSettings.js b/client/src/client-only-routes/ShowSettings.js
index 8b4e60be3b..ef216e2252 100644
--- a/client/src/client-only-routes/ShowSettings.js
+++ b/client/src/client-only-routes/ShowSettings.js
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ const propTypes = {
         files: PropTypes.array
       })
     ),
+    displayUsername: PropTypes.string,
     email: PropTypes.string,
     githubProfile: PropTypes.string,
     is2018DataVisCert: PropTypes.bool,
@@ -121,6 +122,7 @@ export function ShowSettings(props) {
     toggleNightMode,
     user: {
       completedChallenges,
+      displayUsername,
       email,
       is2018DataVisCert,
       isApisMicroservicesCert,
@@ -191,9 +193,12 @@ export function ShowSettings(props) {
             </Button>
           </FullWidthRow>
           <Spacer />
-          <h1 className='text-center' style={{ overflowWrap: 'break-word' }}>
-            {`Account Settings for ${username}`}
-          </h1>
+          <h1
+            className='text-center'
+            style={{ overflowWrap: 'break-word' }}
+          >{`Account Settings for ${
+            displayUsername ? displayUsername : username
+          }`}</h1>
           <About
             about={about}
             currentTheme={theme}
@@ -203,7 +208,7 @@ export function ShowSettings(props) {
             points={points}
             submitNewAbout={submitNewAbout}
             toggleNightMode={toggleNightMode}
-            username={username}
+            username={displayUsername ? displayUsername : username}
           />
           <Spacer />
           <Privacy />
diff --git a/client/src/components/profile/Profile.js b/client/src/components/profile/Profile.js
index 4369b8fc2f..7f1a3ef452 100644
--- a/client/src/components/profile/Profile.js
+++ b/client/src/components/profile/Profile.js
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ const propTypes = {
       showPortfolio: PropTypes.bool,
       showTimeLine: PropTypes.bool
     }),
+    displayUsername: PropTypes.string,
     calendar: PropTypes.object,
     streak: PropTypes.shape({
       current: PropTypes.number,
@@ -121,13 +122,15 @@ function renderProfile(user) {
     picture,
     portfolio,
     about,
-    yearsTopContributor
+    yearsTopContributor,
+    displayUsername
   } = user;
 
   return (
     <Fragment>
       <Camper
         about={showAbout ? about : null}
+        displayUsername={displayUsername}
         githubProfile={githubProfile}
         isGithub={isGithub}
         isLinkedIn={isLinkedIn}
@@ -147,7 +150,11 @@ function renderProfile(user) {
       {showCerts ? <Certifications username={username} /> : null}
       {showPortfolio ? <Portfolio portfolio={portfolio} /> : null}
       {showTimeLine ? (
-        <Timeline completedMap={completedChallenges} username={username} />
+        <Timeline
+          completedMap={completedChallenges}
+          displayUsername={displayUsername}
+          username={username}
+        />
       ) : null}
       <Spacer />
     </Fragment>
diff --git a/client/src/components/profile/components/Camper.js b/client/src/components/profile/components/Camper.js
index cb8d137ad9..23b3724575 100644
--- a/client/src/components/profile/components/Camper.js
+++ b/client/src/components/profile/components/Camper.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import './camper.css';
 
 const propTypes = {
   about: PropTypes.string,
+  displayUsername: PropTypes.string,
   githubProfile: PropTypes.string,
   isGithub: PropTypes.bool,
   isLinkedIn: PropTypes.bool,
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ function joinArray(array) {
 function Camper({
   name,
   username,
+  displayUsername,
   location,
   points,
   picture,
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ function Camper({
     />
   ) : (
     <Image
-      alt={username + "'s avatar"}
+      alt={displayUsername ? displayUsername : username + "'s avatar"}
       className='avatar'
       responsive={true}
       src={picture}
@@ -99,7 +101,9 @@ function Camper({
         website={website}
       />
       <br />
-      <h2 className='text-center username'>@{username}</h2>
+      <h2 className='text-center username'>
+        @{displayUsername ? displayUsername : username}
+      </h2>
       {name && <p className='text-center name'>{name}</p>}
       {location && <p className='text-center location'>{location}</p>}
       {about && <p className='bio text-center'>{about}</p>}
diff --git a/client/src/components/profile/components/TimeLine.js b/client/src/components/profile/components/TimeLine.js
index be93b87895..d967ab8c09 100644
--- a/client/src/components/profile/components/TimeLine.js
+++ b/client/src/components/profile/components/TimeLine.js
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ const propTypes = {
       )
     })
   ),
+  displayUsername: PropTypes.string,
   username: PropTypes.string
 };
 
@@ -130,6 +131,7 @@ class TimelineInner extends Component {
   render() {
     const {
       completedMap,
+      displayUsername,
       idToNameMap,
       username,
       sortedTimeline,
@@ -171,9 +173,9 @@ class TimelineInner extends Component {
           >
             <Modal.Header closeButton={true}>
               <Modal.Title id='contained-modal-title'>
-                {`${username}'s Solution to ${
-                  idToNameMap.get(id).challengeTitle
-                }`}
+                {`${
+                  displayUsername ? displayUsername : username
+                }'s Solution to ${idToNameMap.get(id).challengeTitle}`}
               </Modal.Title>
             </Modal.Header>
             <Modal.Body>
diff --git a/client/src/components/settings/Username.js b/client/src/components/settings/Username.js
index 4242e78cf1..b9ddf60a06 100644
--- a/client/src/components/settings/Username.js
+++ b/client/src/components/settings/Username.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import FullWidthRow from '../helpers/FullWidthRow';
 import { isValidUsername } from '../../../../utils/validate';
 
 const propTypes = {
+  displayUsername: PropTypes.string,
   isValidUsername: PropTypes.bool,
   submitNewUsername: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
   username: PropTypes.string,
@@ -54,6 +55,9 @@ class UsernameSettings extends Component {
     this.state = {
       isFormPristine: true,
       formValue: props.username,
+      formDisplayValue: props.displayUsername
+        ? props.displayUsername
+        : props.username,
       characterValidation: { valid: false, error: null },
       submitClicked: false,
       isUserNew: tempUserRegex.test(props.username)
@@ -84,21 +88,23 @@ class UsernameSettings extends Component {
     e.preventDefault();
     const { submitNewUsername } = this.props;
     const {
-      formValue,
+      formDisplayValue,
       characterValidation: { valid }
     } = this.state;
 
     return this.setState({ submitClicked: true }, () =>
-      valid ? submitNewUsername(formValue) : null
+      valid ? submitNewUsername(formDisplayValue) : null
     );
   }
 
   handleChange(e) {
     e.preventDefault();
     const { username, validateUsername } = this.props;
-    const newValue = e.target.value.toLowerCase();
+    const newDisplayUsernameValue = e.target.value;
+    const newValue = newDisplayUsernameValue.toLowerCase();
     return this.setState(
       {
+        formDisplayValue: newDisplayUsernameValue,
         formValue: newValue,
         isFormPristine: username === newValue,
         characterValidation: this.validateFormInput(newValue),
@@ -160,7 +166,7 @@ class UsernameSettings extends Component {
   render() {
     const {
       isFormPristine,
-      formValue,
+      formDisplayValue,
       characterValidation: { valid, error },
       submitClicked
     } = this.state;
@@ -177,7 +183,7 @@ class UsernameSettings extends Component {
               <FormControl
                 name='username-settings'
                 onChange={this.handleChange}
-                value={formValue}
+                value={formDisplayValue}
               />
             </FormGroup>
           </FullWidthRow>
diff --git a/client/src/redux/fetch-user-saga.js b/client/src/redux/fetch-user-saga.js
index abed96dc3f..b8e3fa621c 100644
--- a/client/src/redux/fetch-user-saga.js
+++ b/client/src/redux/fetch-user-saga.js
@@ -20,7 +20,11 @@ function* fetchSessionUser() {
     } = yield call(getSessionUser);
     const appUser = user[result] || {};
     yield put(
-      fetchUserComplete({ user: appUser, username: result, sessionMeta })
+      fetchUserComplete({
+        user: appUser,
+        username: result,
+        sessionMeta
+      })
     );
   } catch (e) {
     yield put(fetchUserError(e));
diff --git a/tools/scripts/seed/seedAuthUser.js b/tools/scripts/seed/seedAuthUser.js
index 61e54c43b9..d5efa7c2b1 100644
--- a/tools/scripts/seed/seedAuthUser.js
+++ b/tools/scripts/seed/seedAuthUser.js
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ MongoClient.connect(MONGOHQ_URL, { useNewUrlParser: true }, function(
         isBanned: false,
         isCheater: false,
         username: 'developmentuser',
+        displayUsername: 'DevelopmentUser',
         about: '',
         name: 'Development User',
         location: '',