title: What should I use for git user.name?
body: <p>I'm very new to Git and have never used any VCS before. I just opened a GitHub account. I started out by reading the GitHub help pages. I downloaded and installed Git on my local Windows machine. From there, I was directed to the Pro Git book. During the initial setup I used my proper legal name.</p>
  
  <p>I've done so much reading about Git and GitHub in the last little bit that I can't remember where I read what. I thought I read something somewhere (but can't find it now) that said I should use my GitHub <em>username</em> as my Git <em>user.name</em>. So now I am not sure what to do.</p>
  
  <p>I've read <a href="http://git-scm.com/book/en/Getting-Started-First-Time-Git-Setup">this Pro Git page</a> which says:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>$ git config --global user.name "John Doe"</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>And I've read <a href="https://help.github.com/articles/set-up-git">this GitHub page</a> which says:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>$ git config --global user.name "Your Name Here"</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>The first implies that one should use their proper name, the second is unclear. However, the GitHub page also has the following to say:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>We use the email address to associate your commits with your GitHub account.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>What I take from that is that the <em>user.email</em> is important if I want my commits linked to my GitHub account. Since it doesn't say anything about the name, I'm thinking that maybe it doesn't matter.</p>
  
  <p>So what should I be using for my Git <em>user.name</em>?</p>