Change Your Display Name in Gmail Settings

Your Gmail display name is what appears in the "From" line when you send an email. To change it, open Gmail, click the gear icon in the top right, 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 name, type your new name in the box, and click Save changes.

The change takes effect when ready for new emails you send. Emails you already sent will still show your old name, because Gmail doesn't rewrite the past. People who have your contact saved under your old name won't see the update automatically — they'll see whatever name they saved in their own contacts.

If you have multiple email addresses set up in the Send mail as section, each one can have its own display name. You can change them independently without affecting the others.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name is what shows in the "From" line and is changed through Settings > Accounts and Import > Send mail as.
  • The new name appears only on emails you send after the change, not on past emails.
  • If you have multiple email addresses in Gmail, each can have its own separate display name.
  • Changing your display name does not change your actual Gmail address or password.
  • The change is visible to everyone you email, but people with your contact saved under your old name won't see an automatic update.

What Happens to Your Gmail Address

Your actual Gmail address — the part that ends in @gmail.com — does not change when you update your display name. If your address is john.smith@gmail.com, it stays john.smith@gmail.com no matter what name you put in the display field. People still email you at the same address, and your login credentials don't change.

This is an important distinction because some people confuse the display name (what people see) with the email address (how people reach you). The display name is cosmetic; the address is permanent.

Changing Your Google Account Name

If you want to change the name associated with your entire Google Account — not just how it appears in Gmail — you'll need to go to your Google Account settings instead of Gmail settings. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Personal info on the left, then click on your name at the top. Edit your first and last name, and click Save.

This change affects your name across all Google services: Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, YouTube, and any other Google product linked to that account. It's more comprehensive than changing only your Gmail display name, and it takes a few minutes to sync across all services.

If you change your Google Account name, your Gmail display name will update to match it — unless you've set a custom display name in the Send mail as section, which will override the account name.

Using Multiple Display Names in One Gmail Account

Gmail lets you set up multiple email addresses within a single account, each with its own display name. This is useful if you want to send professional emails from one address and personal emails from another, or if you manage email for a business or organization.

To add another email address, go to Settings > Accounts and Import > Send mail as, and click Add another email address. You'll enter the new address and can choose a different display name for it. Gmail will send you a confirmation email to verify you own that address before it becomes active.

Once confirmed, you can choose which address and display name to use each time you compose an email. The dropdown appears at the bottom of the compose window.

Troubleshooting Display Name Changes

If you changed your display name but it's not showing up in emails you send, wait a few minutes — Gmail sometimes takes a moment to sync the change. Then refresh your browser and try composing a new email. The new name should appear in the "From" line.

If the change still isn't showing, make sure you clicked Save changes after editing. Some users click Edit info, type the new name, and leave the page without saving, which doesn't explore the change.

If you're using Gmail on a phone or tablet, the change may take longer to appear because the app needs to refresh its data. Sign out and back in if you're still seeing the old name after several minutes.

When You Need to Contact Google Support

Most display name changes work without problems. However, if you can't access the Send mail as section, if the save button doesn't respond, or if your display name reverts after you change it, your account may have a technical issue that requires support.

Go to support.google.com, search for "change display name," and look for the option to contact Google Support. You'll describe the problem and Google will investigate. Response times vary, but you should hear back within a few business days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my display name affect my password or login?

No. Your password and login credentials stay exactly the same. You log in with your email address, and that never changes when you update your display name. Only what appears in the "From" line of your emails changes.

Can I use a display name that's completely different from my real name?

Yes. Gmail doesn't verify that your display name matches your legal name. You can use a nickname, a business name, a pseudonym, or anything else. The only limit is that it can't be blank.

If I change my display name, will people I've already emailed see the new name?

No. Old emails keep the name that was in the "From" line when they were sent. Only new emails going forward will show your updated display name. People who have you saved in their contacts will still see whatever name they saved, unless they manually update it.

Can I have different display names for different recipients?

Not automatically. However, if you set up multiple email addresses within your account (using Send mail as), each address can have its own display name. You choose which address to send from each time you compose an email.

What if I want to change my display name back to what it was before?

Go back to Settings > Accounts and Import > Send mail as, click Edit info, type your old name, and click Save changes. There's no limit to how many times you can change it.