In the latest beta version of the WhatsApp application for Android (2.23.11.15), we found mentions of a system of usernames that allows users to choose unique names for their accounts. About this writes WABetaInfo.
This function is not yet available to testers, but everything necessary for its operation is already in the application code. Users will be able to enter their username in the settings in the profile section.
Thanks to the choice of name, WhatsApp users will have the opportunity to add another level of privacy to their accounts. And instead of relying solely on phone numbers to identify contacts, they will be able to search and add people by a unique name, as in Telegram. It will be much easier to remember it than a set of numbers.
Since this feature is still in development and is not available for widespread testing, it is too early to talk about the timing of its implementation. This feature should become available with one of the messenger updates, which WhatsApp will probably announce officially.