Where to find the name settings on Tumblr

Your Tumblr account has two separate names you can change: your display name (what people see on your posts and profile) and your blog URL (the web address of your blog). Both live in the same settings area, but they work differently and have different rules about how often you can change them.

To reach these settings, log into your Tumblr account on a computer or mobile browser. Tap or click the account icon in the top right corner — it looks like a person's head and shoulders. From the menu that opens, select "Settings". You'll land on a page with tabs across the top. Click the "Account" tab to see your name and URL options.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name is what appears on your posts and can be changed as often as you want with no waiting period.
  • Your blog URL (the web address) can be changed once every 30 days, and old links to your blog will stop working after you change it.
  • The display name field accepts letters, numbers, spaces, and some punctuation, but the URL field only accepts letters, numbers, and hyphens.
  • If you change your URL, tell your followers the new address or they may lose track of your blog.

Changing your display name

In the Account settings tab, look for the field labeled "Display Name". This is the name that shows up when you reblog something, make a post, or someone visits your profile. Type in whatever name you want — there's no character limit, and you can use letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation marks like hyphens, apostrophes, and periods.

You can change your display name as many times as you want with no waiting period. The change takes effect when ready across your entire blog. If you've already posted content under an old display name, those posts will still show the old name in your archive, but your profile and new posts will show the new one.

Changing your blog URL

Your blog URL is the web address where people find your blog — something like yourname.tumblr.com. This is different from your display name. To change it, find the field labeled "URL" in the same Account settings tab. You can only change your URL once every 30 days. Tumblr will tell you when you're may be able to access to change it again if you've done it recently.

The URL field only accepts letters, numbers, and hyphens. You cannot use spaces, punctuation, or special characters. If you try to type something that isn't allowed, Tumblr will reject it. The URL must also be at least 3 characters long and cannot be a URL that Tumblr itself uses (like "dashboard" or "explore").

When you change your URL, your old web address stops working. Any links people saved to your old URL will break. If you have followers or if your blog is linked from other websites, tell people about the change so they can update their bookmarks and links.

What happens to your old URL

After you change your blog URL, the old one becomes available for someone else to claim after a waiting period. Tumblr does not keep your old URL reserved for you. If you change your mind and want to go back to an old URL, you may not be able to — someone else might have taken it.

For this reason, think carefully before changing your URL if your blog has been around for a while and has links pointing to it from other sites. You can always change your display name instead, which doesn't break any links and doesn't have a waiting period.

Changing your name on the Tumblr mobile app

The mobile app works the same way as the browser version. Open the app and tap the account icon (usually in the bottom right corner, depending on whether you're on iOS or Android). Tap "Settings", then "Account". You'll see the same Display Name and URL fields. Make your changes the same way you would on a computer.

The 30-day waiting period for URL changes applies whether you change it on mobile or on a computer. If you've already changed your URL on one device, you won't be able to change it again on another device until the 30 days are up.

Troubleshooting name changes that don't work

If you try to change your display name and nothing happens, make sure you've clicked the "Save" button after typing the new name. Sometimes the button is straightforward to miss. If the page doesn't seem to respond, try refreshing and logging back in.

If you're trying to change your URL and Tumblr says you can't, the most common reasons are: you changed it fewer than 30 days ago, the URL you want is already taken, the URL contains characters that aren't allowed, or the URL is too short. Try a different URL, or wait until the 30-day period is over if you've changed it recently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my display name and URL to the same thing?

Yes, but they serve different purposes. Your display name can have spaces and punctuation, while your URL cannot. For example, you could have a display name of "Sarah's Art" but a URL of "sarahs-art". They don't have to match.

If I change my URL, will my followers be notified?

Tumblr does not send a notification to your followers when you change your URL. Your followers will still follow you, but if they try to visit your old URL directly, they'll get an error. It's a good idea to post about the change on your blog so people know where to find you.

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

Display name changes take effect when ready. URL changes also take effect right away, but it can take a few minutes for the change to spread across Tumblr's servers, especially if your blog gets a lot of traffic.

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

You can use most punctuation marks and some special characters in your display name, but emojis may not display correctly depending on the device. Your URL cannot have any special characters — only letters, numbers, and hyphens.

What if the URL I want is already taken?

If someone else has the URL you want, you cannot use it. Try adding a number, a hyphen, or a different word to make it unique. You can also check back later — if the person who has it deletes their blog, the URL may become available again after a waiting period.