Decentralized naming systems like @HNS and @namecoin seem focused on competing with DNS. They're also hopelessly complicated. Is there equivalent for user names instead of DNS?

I think the challenge is you need to drop the idea of creating a global namespace. Otherwise you end up with DNS or blockchain solutions, both of which are centralized. You need something that doesn't rely on the entire system being aware of all other names.

I don't think there's a clear answer yet. But I'm thinking something that matches more how people communicate identities in person. Plenty of people share the same name and it's not a problem the majority of the time during normal communication.

Sure and that social distance way works for searching online but I hear folks saying their account names all the time. It’s important we do find a solution.