You can change the name that appears when you send emails, but not the actual Gmail address itself

Gmail lets you change the display name — the name people see when they open your email — without touching your actual email address. That address (the part before @gmail.com) stays the same for security and account recovery reasons. If you want a completely different email address, you would need to create a new Gmail account, though you can keep both active and switch between them.

The display name change takes effect when ready in new emails you send. Old emails you already sent will still show the old name, but going forward, recipients see the new one. This is the simplest way to update how you present yourself without disrupting your account or losing access to services tied to your Gmail address.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Gmail address (username@gmail.com) cannot be changed, but the display name people see when you email them can be changed in seconds.
  • The display name change applies only to new emails you send, not to emails already in your inbox or sent folder.
  • If you need a completely different Gmail address, you must create a new account and can manage both from the same device.
  • Services and accounts linked to your Gmail address will continue working after you change your display name.
  • You can change your display name back anytime, or set up multiple display names for different purposes.

How to change your display name in Gmail

Open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner, then select See all settings. Go to the Accounts and Import tab. Under "Send mail as," you will see your current email address and display name. Click Edit info next to it.

In the box that opens, change the name in the Name field to whatever you want people to see. You can use your full name, a nickname, a business name, or anything else. Click Save Changes at the bottom. The new name will appear on emails you send from that moment forward.

If you have set up multiple email addresses to send from in Gmail (a feature called "Send mail as"), you can give each one a different display name. Just repeat the process for each address you want to customize.

What happens to your actual Gmail address

Your Gmail address — the username@gmail.com that people use to reach you — does not change. This address is locked to your account for security. It is how Google verifies your identity if you ever need to recover your account, and it is what you use to sign in. Changing your display name has no effect on any of this.

Services you have connected to your Gmail account (like Spotify, Slack, or banking apps) will continue to work without interruption. They are tied to your email address, not your display name. You can change your display name as many times as you want without affecting these connections.

If you want a completely different Gmail address

If you need an entirely new email address rather than just a new display name, you must create a new Gmail account. Go to accounts.google.com, click Create account, and follow the steps to set up a new address. You can then add this new account to Gmail's account switcher so you can toggle between both accounts without signing out.

To add a second account to Gmail, click your profile picture in the top right, then click Add another account. Sign in with your new Gmail address. Now you can switch between accounts by clicking your profile picture and selecting which account to use. Both accounts remain active and separate.

Keep in mind that creating a new account means starting fresh with contacts, labels, and email history. If you just need a different name on your current account, changing the display name is much simpler and keeps all your existing emails and settings intact.

Using multiple display names with one account

Gmail allows you to set up multiple "Send mail as" addresses, each with its own display name. This is useful if you want to send professional emails under one name and personal emails under another, all from the same inbox. To do this, go to Settings > Accounts and Import > Send mail as and click Add another email address.

You can add email addresses you own (like a work email or a custom domain) or create additional Gmail addresses and link them to your main account. Each one can have a different display name. When you compose an email, you choose which address and name to send from using the dropdown menu.

Common reasons the display name change does not appear

If you changed your display name but it is not showing up in emails you send, wait a few minutes — the change sometimes takes a moment to sync across Google's servers. If it still is not working, sign out of Gmail completely and sign back in. This forces your browser to refresh your account settings.

If you are using Gmail through a work or school account (Google Workspace), your administrator may have locked the display name so you cannot change it. Contact your IT department to see if they can unlock it or change it for you. Personal Gmail accounts have no such restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my display name affect my password or sign-in?

No. Your password and sign-in remain exactly the same. You sign in with your email address (username@gmail.com), which never changes. The display name is only what appears in the "From" field when you send emails.

Can I change my Gmail address from @gmail.com to something else?

No, you cannot change the @gmail.com part. If you own a custom domain (like yourname.com), you can set up email forwarding or use Google Workspace to send from that domain, but your original Gmail address stays the same.

If I change my display name, will old emails show the new name?

No. Emails you already sent will continue to show the old display name. Only new emails you send after the change will show the new name. Emails in your inbox are not affected at all.

Can I have different display names for different people?

Not for a single email address. Everyone sees the same display name when you email them. However, if you set up multiple "Send mail as" addresses linked to your account, each can have its own display name, and you choose which one to use when composing each email.

What if I forget what my original display name was?

Go back to Settings > Accounts and Import > Send mail as and click Edit info. You will see whatever name is currently set. You can change it to anything you want at any time.