diff --git a/backend/__tests__/utils/validation.spec.ts b/backend/__tests__/utils/validation.spec.ts
index 1f5106c44..3176d4229 100644
--- a/backend/__tests__/utils/validation.spec.ts
+++ b/backend/__tests__/utils/validation.spec.ts
@@ -16,10 +16,6 @@ describe("Validation", () => {
         name: "valid-name",
         expected: true,
       },
-      {
-        name: "valid.name",
-        expected: true,
-      },
       {
         name: "thistagnameistoolong",
         expected: false,
@@ -97,7 +93,7 @@ describe("Validation", () => {
         expected: true,
       },
       {
-        name: "Fe-rotiq._123._",
+        name: "Fe-rotiq_123_",
         expected: true,
       },
       {
diff --git a/backend/src/api/routes/users.ts b/backend/src/api/routes/users.ts
index 1ccca515e..e889cf4a2 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/routes/users.ts
+++ b/backend/src/api/routes/users.ts
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ const usernameValidation = joi
     "string.profanity":
       "The username contains profanity. If you believe this is a mistake, please contact us ",
     "string.pattern.base":
-      "Username invalid. Name cannot use special characters or contain more than 16 characters. Can include _ . and - ",
+      "Username invalid. Name cannot use special characters or contain more than 16 characters. Can include _ and - ",
   });
 
 const languageSchema = joi
diff --git a/backend/src/utils/validation.ts b/backend/src/utils/validation.ts
index 26ee57e2a..fe44aec73 100644
--- a/backend/src/utils/validation.ts
+++ b/backend/src/utils/validation.ts
@@ -8,20 +8,13 @@ export function inRange(value: number, min: number, max: number): boolean {
   return value >= min && value <= max;
 }
 
-const VALID_NAME_PATTERN = /^[\da-zA-Z_.-]+$/;
+const VALID_NAME_PATTERN = /^[\da-zA-Z_-]+$/;
 
 export function isUsernameValid(name: string): boolean {
   if (_.isNil(name) || !inRange(name.length, 1, 16)) {
     return false;
   }
 
-  const normalizedName = name.toLowerCase();
-
-  const beginsWithPeriod = /^\..*/.test(normalizedName);
-  if (beginsWithPeriod) {
-    return false;
-  }
-
   return VALID_NAME_PATTERN.test(name);
 }