Where to find your name settings in Gmail

Your Gmail display name — the name that appears when you send emails — lives in your Google Account settings, not in Gmail itself. You reach it by clicking your profile picture in the top right corner of Gmail, then selecting "Manage your Google Account." From there, click the "Personal info" tab at the top.

On the Personal info page, you'll see your name near the top. It's usually split into "First name" and "Last name" fields. Click on either field to edit it. The name you enter here is what recipients see in their inbox when you send them a message.

This is different from your Gmail address (your @gmail.com username), which cannot be changed. Only the display name that appears on outgoing emails can be updated.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name is stored in Google Account settings, not in Gmail itself — access it through your profile picture and "Manage your Google Account."
  • You can change your first and last name separately, and the new name appears on all emails you send going forward.
  • Changes take effect when ready, but recipients who have already saved your old name in their contacts will still see the old name until they update their contact card.
  • Your Gmail address (@gmail.com) cannot be changed, only your display name.
  • If you share a Google Account with others, anyone with access to that account can see and change the display name.

Step-by-step process to update your name

Open Gmail and click your profile picture in the top right corner. A small menu appears. Select "Manage your Google Account." This opens your full Google Account dashboard in a new tab.

Click the "Personal info" tab if it's not already selected. Scroll down until you see your name fields. Click on the "First name" field to edit it, type your new first name, then click outside the field or press Enter. Do the same for your last name if you want to change that too.

Google saves your changes automatically — you don't need to click a separate "Save" button. Within a few minutes, your new name will appear on all emails you send.

What happens to emails you've already sent

Changing your display name does not alter emails you've already sent. Recipients will still see your old name on those messages because the name is baked into the email once it's delivered. Only new emails going forward will show your updated name.

If someone has saved your email address in their contacts with your old name, their contact card won't update automatically. They'll need to manually edit their contact entry to see your new name. Until they do, their email client may still display the old name when they receive messages from you.

Changing your name across other Google services

The name you set in Google Account Personal info is used across all Google services tied to that account — YouTube, Google Drive, Google Calendar, and others. If you change your name, it updates everywhere at once.

If you want a different name for YouTube specifically, you can set a separate YouTube channel name. Go to YouTube, click your profile picture, select "Create a channel," and you can customize the channel name independently. But your Gmail display name will still be the one from your Google Account settings.

If you need to change your Gmail address itself

Your Gmail address (the part before @gmail.com) is permanent and cannot be changed. If you need a different email address, you have two options: create a new Gmail account, or add an alias to your current account.

An alias lets you send and receive email from a different address while keeping your original account. To add an alias, go to your Google Account settings, click "Personal info," scroll to "Email," and select "Add an email address." You can then use that alias to send mail, and replies to it will land in your main inbox.

Troubleshooting name changes that don't appear

If you've changed your name but it's still showing the old one on your emails, wait 15 to 30 minutes. Google sometimes takes a few minutes to sync the change across all its servers.

If it's been longer than an hour and your old name still appears, sign out of Gmail completely and sign back in. This forces your browser to refresh your account information. If the problem persists, try a different browser or clear your browser cache.

If you're using Gmail on a phone or tablet, the app may cache your old name. Close the Gmail app completely, wait a minute, and reopen it. The app should pull your updated name from the server.

Shared accounts and name changes

If multiple people have access to the same Google Account (a shared family account, for example), anyone with access can change the display name. There's no way to prevent this or set permissions on who can edit the name. If you share an account and want to protect the name setting, you'll need to use separate Google Accounts instead.

Each person should have their own Google Account so they can set their own display name and have separate email histories. You can still share files and calendars between accounts without sharing login credentials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have different names for different contacts?

No. Your Gmail display name is the same for everyone you email. However, recipients can edit how your name appears in their own contacts — they just can't change what you see on your end. If you need truly separate identities, you'll need separate Gmail accounts.

Will changing my name affect my Gmail password or security?

No. Your password and security settings are tied to your email address and phone number, not your display name. Changing your name has no effect on how you sign in or on your account security.

What if I change my name and then want to change it back?

You can change your name as many times as you want. Just go back to Google Account Personal info and edit the name fields again. There's no limit on how often you can update it.

Does my display name change affect my Google Meet or Classroom name?

Yes. Google Meet and Google Classroom pull your name from your Google Account settings, so changing it updates those services too. If you're a teacher and change your name mid-semester, students will see the new name in Classroom.

Can I use special characters or emojis in my Gmail name?

Gmail allows most letters, numbers, spaces, and common punctuation. Emojis and some special characters may not display correctly or may be rejected. Stick to standard letters, numbers, hyphens, and apostrophes for the most reliable result.