diff --git a/apiserver/apiserver/api/serializers.py b/apiserver/apiserver/api/serializers.py
index 81af3cd..5a0f28c 100644
--- a/apiserver/apiserver/api/serializers.py
+++ b/apiserver/apiserver/api/serializers.py
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ class MyRegisterSerializer(RegisterSerializer):
         if re.search(r'[^a-z.]', username):
             raise ValidationError('Invalid characters.')
         if '..' in username:
-            raise ValidationError('Can\'t have double periods.')
+            raise ValidationError('Can\'t have double periods. Remove spaces.')
         if username.startswith('.') or username.endswith('.'):
             raise ValidationError('Can\'t start or end with periods.')
         return super().validate_username(username)
diff --git a/apiserver/apiserver/api/utils.py b/apiserver/apiserver/api/utils.py
index d802e20..2640a81 100644
--- a/apiserver/apiserver/api/utils.py
+++ b/apiserver/apiserver/api/utils.py
@@ -340,9 +340,9 @@ def link_old_member(data, user):
     if data['request_id']: utils_stats.set_progress(data['request_id'], 'Linking old member data...')
 
     member.user = user
-    member.first_name = data['first_name'].title()
-    member.last_name = data['last_name'].title()
-    member.preferred_name = data['first_name'].title()
+    member.first_name = data['first_name'].title().strip()
+    member.last_name = data['last_name'].title().strip()
+    member.preferred_name = data['first_name'].title().strip()
     member.save()
 
     models.Transaction.objects.filter(member_id=member.id).update(user=user)
@@ -381,9 +381,9 @@ def create_new_member(data, user):
 
     models.Member.objects.create(
         user=user,
-        first_name=data['first_name'].title(),
-        last_name=data['last_name'].title(),
-        preferred_name=data['first_name'].title(),
+        first_name=data['first_name'].title().strip(),
+        last_name=data['last_name'].title().strip(),
+        preferred_name=data['first_name'].title().strip(),
     )
 
 def register_user(data, user):
diff --git a/webclient/src/LoginSignup.js b/webclient/src/LoginSignup.js
index 05ede0c..84d7b00 100644
--- a/webclient/src/LoginSignup.js
+++ b/webclient/src/LoginSignup.js
@@ -79,12 +79,20 @@ export function SignupForm(props) {
 	const handleValues = (e, v) => setInput({ ...input, [v.name]: v.value });
 	const handleChange = (e) => handleValues(e, e.currentTarget);
 
-	const genUsername = () => (
-		input.first_name && input.last_name ?
-			(input.first_name + '.' + input.last_name).toLowerCase().replace(/ /g, '.')
-		:
-			''
-	);
+	const genUsername = () => {
+		if (input.first_name && input.last_name) {
+			let first_name = input.first_name.trim();
+			let last_name = input.last_name.trim();
+			first_name = first_name.replace(/[^a-z- ]+/g, '');
+			last_name = last_name.replace(/[^a-z- ]+/g, '');
+			first_name = first_name.replace(/[ -]/g, '.');
+			last_name = last_name.replace(/[ -]/g, '.');
+			const username = first_name + '.' + last_name;
+			return username.toLowerCase();
+		} else {
+			return '';
+		}
+	};
 
 	const handleSubmit = (e) => {
 		if (loading) return;