Change your display name in Gmail settings

Your Gmail display name is the name that appears to other people when you send them an email. It is separate from your Gmail address itself — you cannot change the address part (the part before @gmail.com) without creating a new account. To change only the name people see, go to Gmail.com, click the gear icon in the top right, and select "See all settings."

On the "Accounts and Import" tab, find the section called "Send mail as." Your primary email address will be listed there. Click "Edit info" next to it. A box will open where you can type a new display name. Type what you want people to see, then click "Save changes" at the bottom. The change takes effect when ready on new emails you send.

If you have multiple email addresses set up in Gmail (forwarding addresses or other accounts), you can set a different display name for each one. Click "Edit info" next to whichever address you want to change, and repeat the process.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Gmail display name is what other people see when you email them, and you change it in Settings under "Send mail as," not in your account profile.
  • The Gmail address itself (the part before @gmail.com) cannot be changed without creating a new account.
  • Changes to your display name take effect on new emails when ready and do not affect emails you have already sent.
  • If you have multiple email addresses in Gmail, you can set a different display name for each one separately.

Where to find the display name setting

The display name setting is not in your Google Account profile — it is only in Gmail settings. Many people look in the wrong place first. Open Gmail, click the gear icon in the top right corner of the page, and select "See all settings." Do not click your profile picture; that takes you to your Google Account, which is different.

Once you are in Gmail settings, click the "Accounts and Import" tab at the top. Scroll down until you see "Send mail as." Your email address will be listed with an "Edit info" link next to it. That is where you change the display name.

What you can and cannot change

You can change the display name — the words that appear in the "From" line of your emails. You cannot change the Gmail address itself (the part before @gmail.com) through settings. If you need a different Gmail address, you must create a new Gmail account.

You can, however, add other email addresses to your Gmail account and set different display names for each one. This is useful if you have a work email, a personal email, or a nickname you use. Each address can have its own display name, and you can choose which one to send from when you compose an email.

How long the change takes

The display name change is when ready. As soon as you click "Save changes," the new name will appear on any email you send from that moment forward. Emails you sent before the change will still show the old name — Gmail does not go back and update past messages.

If you are sending an email to someone and they have not yet received it, they will see the new display name. If they have already received an email from you with the old name, that email will not change.

Changing your name in Google Account (different from Gmail display name)

Google Account has a separate name setting that affects other Google services like YouTube, Google Drive, and Google Photos. This is not the same as your Gmail display name. If you want to change the name on your entire Google Account, click your profile picture in the top right of any Google page, select "Manage your Google Account," and go to the "Personal info" tab.

Click "Name" and type your new name. This change will affect all Google services you use, but it may take a few hours to show up everywhere. Your Gmail display name (the one in "Send mail as") will not change automatically — you still need to update that separately in Gmail settings if you want it to match.

If you use Gmail through work or school

If your Gmail account is through a workplace or school (a Google Workspace account), you may not be able to change your display name yourself. Your organization's administrator controls some account settings. Try the steps above first. If the "Edit info" button is grayed out or missing, contact your IT department or administrator to request the change.

Some organizations allow you to change your display name but not your email address. Others lock both. Ask your administrator what you are allowed to change in your specific account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Gmail address (the part before @gmail.com)?

No. The Gmail address itself cannot be changed. If you need a different address, you must create a new Gmail account. You can set up forwarding from the old address to the new one so you do not miss messages, but the original address stays the same.

Will changing my display name affect my password or security?

No. Your display name is only what appears in the "From" line of your emails. It has nothing to do with your password, two-factor authentication, or account security. Changing it does not make your account more or less find.

Can I use a fake name or nickname as my display name?

Yes. Gmail does not require you to use your real name. You can use a nickname, a business name, or any text you want. Other people will see whatever you type in the display name field.

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

No. Emails you have already sent will continue to show the name you used when you sent them. Only new emails going forward will show your updated display name. The recipient's inbox will not change past messages.

Can I have different display names for different people?

No, not with a single email address. Everyone who receives an email from you will see the same display name. However, if you add multiple email addresses to your Gmail account, you can set a different display name for each address and choose which one to send from when composing an email.