diff --git a/plugins/available/xterm.plugin.bash b/plugins/available/xterm.plugin.bash
index 8bda7f58..c16c5b8f 100644
--- a/plugins/available/xterm.plugin.bash
+++ b/plugins/available/xterm.plugin.bash
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@ set_xterm_title () {
 
 
 precmd () {
-    set_xterm_title "${USER}@${SHORT_HOSTNAME:-${HOSTNAME}} `dirs -0` $PROMPTCHAR"
+    set_xterm_title "${SHORT_USER:-${USER}}@${SHORT_HOSTNAME:-${HOSTNAME}} `dirs -0` $PROMPTCHAR"
 }
 
 preexec () {
-    set_xterm_title "$1 {`dirs -0`} (${USER}@${SHORT_HOSTNAME:-${HOSTNAME}})"
+    set_xterm_title "$1 {`dirs -0`} (${SHORT_USER:-${USER}}@${SHORT_HOSTNAME:-${HOSTNAME}})"
 }
 
 case "$TERM" in
diff --git a/template/bash_profile.template.bash b/template/bash_profile.template.bash
index 1822ada5..10eaaede 100755
--- a/template/bash_profile.template.bash
+++ b/template/bash_profile.template.bash
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ export SCM_CHECK=true
 # Will otherwise fall back on $HOSTNAME.
 #export SHORT_HOSTNAME=$(hostname -s)
 
+# Set Xterm/screen/Tmux title with only a short username.
+# Uncomment this (or set SHORT_USER to something else),
+# Will otherwise fall back on $USER.
+#export SHORT_USER=${USER:0:8}
+
 # Set vcprompt executable path for scm advance info in prompt (demula theme)
 # https://github.com/djl/vcprompt
 #export VCPROMPT_EXECUTABLE=~/.vcprompt/bin/vcprompt