diff --git a/templates/user/info.mako b/templates/user/info.mako
index 5ecc1847c7a..632ff29490f 100644
--- a/templates/user/info.mako
+++ b/templates/user/info.mako
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
                 %else:
                     <input type="text" id="name_input" name="username" size="40" value="${username | h}"/>
                     <div class="toolParamHelp" style="clear: both;">
-                        Your public name is an optional identifier that will be used to generate addresses for information
+                        Your public name is an identifier that will be used to generate addresses for information
                         you share publicly. Public names must be at least three characters in length and contain only lower-case
                         letters, numbers, and the '-' character.
                     </div>
diff --git a/templates/user/username.mako b/templates/user/username.mako
index b2d218785ee..118b2c6eb05 100644
--- a/templates/user/username.mako
+++ b/templates/user/username.mako
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
             <label>Public name:</label>
             <input type="text" name="username" size="40" value="${username}"/>
             <div class="toolParamHelp" style="clear: both;">
-                Your public name is an optional identifier that will be used to generate addresses for information
+                Your public name is an identifier that will be used to generate addresses for information
                 you share publicly. Public names must be at least four characters in length and contain only lower-case
                 letters, numbers, and the '-' character.
             </div>