Dynamic aliasing of multi-valued binary attributes in a directory. A plurality of binary attribute-values are stored in the directory that in the aggregate form the multi-valued binary attribute. For each binary attribute-value, there is stored metadata describing characteristics of the binary attribute-value with which it is associated. A preference is received from a user of the directory, the preference being based on the characteristics of the multi-valued binary attribute. The preference is associated with at least one binary attribute-value. A set of multi-valued binary attribute-values are associated for the user based on the preference received from the user and the set of multi-valued binary attribute-values are accessed.