I don't understand the question. Edit: Thank you for the clarification (reply), I was not aware of the term "dead-name" refering to that. I still am not exact

I don't understand the question. Edit: Thank you for the clarification (reply), I was not aware of the term "dead-name" refering to that. I still am not exactly sure what you are asking though. If a replier wrote the original username in an old reply that was written before the name change? In that extremely rare case, it might cause some confusion if a third person reads the old thread, in which case perhaps the user initiating the name change could use the search function for any instances of that, and then email the HN admin?