What is the most effective way to change my username ?

[XPcentric]

Let me tell you first what I want.

I know its possible to make a new user and delete the current one, but I'm not sure I'd be able to remember all configurations and preferences.

If I changed the name in system preferences, I don't know if that would change it everywhere, or if the old username would still show up anywhere on my system. For now I'm mainly interested to have a new user in terminal, because the current one is too long.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Changing it via Terminal most definitely should work well. The school misspelled my dad's name and it was just a few commands to correct it and add the missing letter across the system.

 

[Weaselboy]

Let me tell you first what I want.

I know its possible to make a new user and delete the current one, but I'm not sure I'd be able to remember all configurations and preferences.

If I changed the name in system preferences, I don't know if that would change it everywhere, or if the old username would still show up anywhere on my system. For now I'm mainly interested to have a new user in terminal, because the current one is too long.

Just follow this support doc from Apple to do it. The new name will be shown across the system.