Change Your Display Name in Gmail Settings

Your Gmail display name is what appears next to your emails when you send them. To change it, open Gmail, click the gear icon in the top right corner, and select See all settings. Go to the Accounts and Import tab, then find the section labeled Send mail as. Click Edit info next to your email address, type your new name in the Name field, and click Save changes.

This change takes effect when ready on new emails you send. Old emails you already sent will still show your previous name—Gmail does not retroactively update the sender name on past messages. The display name you set here is separate from your Google Account name, which controls how your name appears across other Google services like YouTube or Google Drive.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Gmail display name is changed in Settings under Accounts and Import, in the Send mail as section.
  • The change affects only new emails you send, not emails you have already sent.
  • If you have multiple email addresses set up in Gmail, you can set a different display name for each one.
  • Changing your display name does not change your actual Gmail address or your Google Account name.

If You Have Multiple Email Addresses in Gmail

Gmail lets you send from multiple email addresses within the same account. If you have set up more than one address, each one can have its own display name. In the Send mail as section of Settings, you will see all your addresses listed. Click Edit info next to whichever address you want to change, update the name, and save.

When you compose a new email, you can choose which address to send from using the From dropdown at the bottom of the compose window. The display name that appears will match whichever address you selected.

Changing Your Google Account Name Instead

If you want to change the name associated with your entire Google Account (not just your Gmail display name), that is a separate process. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Personal info on the left, then click Name. Type your new first and last name and click Save. This change affects your name across all Google services—Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive, and others.

Be aware that changing your Google Account name takes a few hours to show up everywhere. During that time, some services may still display your old name. If you only want to change how your name appears on emails, stick with the Gmail display name method instead.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most frequent mistake is changing your Google Account name when you only meant to change your Gmail display name. These are two different things. If you only want people to see a different name when you email them, use the Send mail as setting. If you want your name changed across YouTube, Google Drive, and other services too, change your Google Account name instead.

Another common error is expecting old emails to show your new name. Gmail does not update the sender name on messages you have already sent. Only new emails going forward will display the updated name. If you need your old emails to show a different name, you would have to resend them, which is usually not practical.

What Happens When You Change Your Display Name

When you update your Gmail display name, the change is when ready for new emails. Recipients will see your new name on any message you send after the change. However, if someone replies to an old email you sent under your previous name, their reply will still be addressed to your old name—they are responding to what they see in the original message.

Your email address itself never changes. If your address is yourname@gmail.com, it stays that way no matter what display name you set. The display name is just the label that appears next to your address when you send mail.

If You Cannot Find the Send Mail As Section

If you do not see a Send mail as section in your Settings, you may be using a work or school Gmail account that has restrictions. Some organizations disable the ability to change your display name or send from different addresses. Contact your IT department or account administrator to ask if this feature is available on your account.

You can also check whether you are signed into the right account. If you have multiple Google accounts, make sure you are in the Settings for the Gmail account you actually want to change. Click your profile picture in the top right and verify which account is currently active.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my Gmail display name change my email address?

No. Your email address stays the same. Only the name that appears next to your address when you send emails changes. If your address is john.smith@gmail.com, it will always be john.smith@gmail.com, regardless of what display name you set.

Will my old emails show my new name?

No. Only emails you send after making the change will show your new name. Emails you sent before the change will continue to show your old name in the sender field. Gmail does not update past messages.

Can I have different names for different email addresses?

Yes. If you have multiple addresses set up in your Gmail account, each one can have its own display name. Set each name separately in the Send mail as section of Settings.

What is the difference between my display name and my Google Account name?

Your Gmail display name controls how your name appears on emails you send. Your Google Account name is your name across all Google services—Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive, and others. Changing one does not change the other.

How long does it take for the name change to show up?

Gmail display name changes are when ready. The new name appears on emails you send right away. If you changed your Google Account name instead, it can take a few hours to show up across all services.