Gmail Alternate Username

Question

On my Google Account link https://www.google.com/settings/personalinfo

My core Google account of coreAddressLongSilly@gmail.com

lists an Alternate username of alterUser

Primary email coreAddressLongSilly@gmail.com

Question: how can I get access to the email of alterUser@gmail.com ?

I try to mail myself (to alterUser@gmail.com) but it bounces:

Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently:

 alterUser@gmail.com

Technical details of permanent failure: The email account that you tried to reach does not exist. Please try double-checking the recipient's email address for typos or unnecessary spaces. Learn more at http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?answer=6596

I try to create a new Gmail account with that username, but

https://accounts.google.com/SignUp?service=mail&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail&hl=en

Tells me

Someone already has that username. Try another?

Answer 1

Here has "If you previously used Gmail but decided to delete it from your Google Account, your old Gmail username will still appear on your Google Dashboard. You can still sign in with this username, but you won't be able to access your inbox."

Recovering deleted username has:

As long as you haven't deleted your entire Google Account, you may be able to regain use of your Gmail username by following these steps:

1. Sign in at https://www.google.com/accounts using the email address currently associated with your Google Account. Note: If you deleted Gmail from your account, but didn't delete your entire account, you'll most likely still be able to sign in with what was your alternate email address (now your primary username). If you're not able to sign in with this email address, you may have deleted your entire account. In this case, you won't be able to recover your Gmail username.

2. While still signed in to your Google Account, visit the Gmail sign-up page and your old Gmail username will be pre-populated in the username field.

3. Complete the form, enter your existing Google Account password, and click Continue.