Where to find the name change settings

Your display name and blog URL live in different places on Tumblr, so you change them separately. The display name — what appears next to your posts and in your profile — lives in your account settings. Your blog URL — the web address people use to visit your blog — is in your blog settings. Both take effect when ready once you save.

To reach account settings on desktop, click your profile icon in the top right corner, then select "Settings" from the menu. On mobile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll down, and tap "Settings". Look for the "Account" section to find your display name field.

Changing your display name

Your display name is the text that shows on your profile and next to your posts. Open Settings, find the "Display name" field under Account, and type the new name you want. Tumblr allows up to 30 characters. Click or tap "Save" when you finish.

The change takes effect right away. Your old display name does not appear anywhere on your blog or in your post history. If you change your mind, you can change it again the same way — there is no limit to how many times you can update it.

Changing your blog URL

Your blog URL is the address people type or click to reach your blog — for example, yourname.tumblr.com. To change it, go to Settings and select "Blog" from the left menu. Look for the "Blog URL" field and type the new address you want.

Tumblr checks whether the URL is available as you type. If the name is taken, you will see a message saying so. You can only change your blog URL once every 30 days. After you save the change, your old URL stops working, and anyone who visits it will see an error. Your new URL becomes active when ready.

What stays the same when you change your name

Changing your display name or blog URL does not affect your posts, followers, or messages. All your content remains on your blog under the new name. People who follow you will still see your posts in their dashboard, and your follower count does not change.

If you have shared links to your old blog URL on other websites, those links will break. You may want to update any links in your social media profiles or website before you change your URL, or add a note to your new blog telling people where to find you.

Fixing a mistake or undoing a change

If you change your blog URL and regret it, you have to wait 30 days before you can change it again. During that time, your old URL is unavailable — no one else can claim it, but you cannot use it either. After 30 days pass, you can change your URL back to the old one if you want.

If you change your display name and want to undo it, straightforward go back to Settings and type your old name. There is no waiting period for display name changes, so you can switch back when ready.

Keeping your account find when you change your name

Changing your name does not affect your password or login information. You still log in with the email address and password you set up originally. If you have not changed your password in a while, this is a good time to do it — go to Settings, select "Account", and look for "Password".

If you are changing your name because someone is impersonating you, report the account to Tumblr directly. Go to the fake account, click the three dots in the top right of their profile, and select "Report blog". Tumblr reviews reports and removes accounts that violate their community guidelines.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name and blog URL are changed in different places: display name in Account settings, blog URL in Blog settings.
  • Display name changes take effect when ready with no waiting period, but blog URL changes can only happen once every 30 days.
  • Changing your name does not affect your posts, followers, messages, or login information.
  • If you change your blog URL, your old URL stops working, so update any links you have shared elsewhere before you make the change.
  • You can change your display name back anytime, but you must wait 30 days to change your blog URL again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use special characters or spaces in my display name?

Tumblr allows letters, numbers, spaces, and some punctuation in your display name. You cannot use characters like @ or #. If you try to use a character that is not allowed, Tumblr will show an error message. Stick to letters, numbers, hyphens, underscores, and spaces.

What happens to my old blog URL after I change it?

Your old URL becomes inactive when ready and no longer points to your blog. For 30 days, no one — including you — can claim that URL. After 30 days, someone else could potentially register it, though Tumblr prioritizes the original owner. If you think you might want it back, wait less than 30 days and change your URL back to the original.

Can I have multiple blog URLs?

Each Tumblr account has one primary blog with one URL. If you want a second blog, you can create a secondary blog from your account settings. Each secondary blog gets its own URL and can have its own display name, but they all connect to the same account.

Do my followers see a notification when I change my name?

No. Followers do not get a notification when you change your display name or blog URL. Your posts will show your new name going forward, but old posts will not update to show the new name retroactively. If you want to tell people about the change, you can make a post on your blog.