Pokemon-go – Friends list nickname editing limit (~20/day?)

Yes. You can rename a Pokemon at any time after catching it, it doesn't have to be directly afterwards.

1. From the main (map) view, click the Pokéball, and go to Pokémon.
2. Click on the Pokémon you want to rename.
3. Rename the Pokémon by clicking on the name field.

They can be renamed as many times as you want.

Unfortunately, there is no way to look at available names for Pokémon Go.

Your only real option is to keep trying usernames. There are still a few considerations that might make it easier to find a username you are happy with:

• The more simple the name, the more likely it will already be taken: Simple usernames are usually the first to go. This includes simple words, or names.
• Consider using deliberate misspelling: You might consider simply trying the same username with some degree of misspelling. For example, I often get away with replacing "the" for "teh", when faced with a username I really want that has already been taken.
• Consider adding a number: A common way to 'reuse' a name is to simply add a number to the end of it. Assuming you add a 4 digit number to the end of your username, you essentially go from having a single possibility to ten thousand possibilities. This number might be randomly selected, or have personal meaning to you, such as a birthday or a favored console system.
• Consider "l33t sp34k": You might also consider replacing alphabetical characters with numbers. "Leet speak", where you replace alphabetical characters for numbers that have similar appearance, works best in these situations. Here are some possible considerations, if you choose to use "leet speak":
  • 1 : l|L
  • 3 : e|E
  • 4 : a|A
  • 5 : s|S
  • 6 : b|B
  • 7 : t|T
  • 0 : o|O