Change your Gmail display name in two minutes
Your Gmail display name is the text that appears next to your email address when you send a message. You can change it without changing your actual email address. Open Gmail, click your profile picture in the top right corner, select "Manage your Google Account," then go to the "Personal info" tab. Click "Name" and type in your new name, then click "Save."
This change takes effect when ready for new emails you send. Old emails you already sent will still show your previous name, but recipients will see the new name on anything you send going forward.
Key Takeaways
- Your Gmail display name is separate from your email address and can be changed without losing your account.
- The change happens in your Google Account settings under "Personal info," not in Gmail itself.
- The new name shows on emails you send after the change, but does not affect emails already sent.
- You can use your full name, a nickname, a business name, or any text you want as your display name.
Step-by-step: changing your display name
Start by opening Gmail in your web browser. Click your profile picture — a small circle in the top right corner of the screen. A menu will drop down with several options.
Select "Manage your Google Account" from that menu. This opens your Google Account settings in a new tab. You will see several tabs across the top: "Overview," "Personal info," "Security," and others. Click the "Personal info" tab.
On the Personal info page, look for the "Name" field near the top. Click on it. A box will open where you can edit your first and last name, or type whatever name you want to display. Click "Save" when you are done. Google will ask you to confirm the change by entering your password.
What happens to your email address
Your actual email address — the part before the @ symbol — does not change. If your email is sarah.okafor@gmail.com, it stays that way no matter what name you put in your display field. Only the name that appears next to your address in sent emails changes.
This means people can still reach you at the same email address. Your contacts, your inbox, your sent folder, and all your Gmail data remain exactly the same. You are only changing how your name appears to other people when they receive your messages.
Using a business name or nickname instead
You do not have to use your legal name. The display name field accepts any text — a business name, a nickname, initials, or a pen name. If you run a small business and want emails to come from "Sarah's Consulting" instead of your personal name, you can do that. If you prefer to go by a nickname, that works too.
Keep in mind that the name you choose is visible to everyone who receives your emails, so pick something you are comfortable with in a professional or personal context, depending on how you use the account.
Changing your name on a mobile phone
You can change your display name on a phone, but the Gmail app does not have a direct link to this setting. Instead, open Gmail on your phone's web browser (not the app), then follow the same steps: tap your profile picture, select "Manage your Google Account," go to "Personal info," and edit your name.
Alternatively, you can use the Google Account app if you have it installed. Open it, tap "Personal info," then "Name," and make your change there. Both methods work the same way and take about the same amount of time.
If you want to change your actual email address
Changing your display name is not the same as changing your email address itself. If you want a different email address — for example, switching from sarah.okafor@gmail.com to a new address — that is a separate process and more complicated. You would need to create a new Gmail account and forward your old mail to it, or set up an alias.
Most people find it easier to keep their email address and just change the display name. But if you need a completely different email address, you can create a new Gmail account and then set up forwarding from your old account to catch any messages that still come to the old address.
Troubleshooting: name change not showing up
If you changed your display name but it is not showing on emails you send, wait a few minutes and refresh your browser. Sometimes the change takes a moment to sync across Google's servers. Close Gmail completely and open it again in a fresh browser tab.
If the name still is not showing after an hour, check that you actually clicked "Save" after typing the new name. Go back to "Personal info" and verify that your new name is there. If it is saved in your account but not showing in Gmail, sign out of Gmail completely, clear your browser cache, and sign back in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my display name as many times as I want?
Yes. Google does not limit how often you change your display name. You can change it back and forth as much as you need to. There is no waiting period or restriction on the number of changes you can make.
Will changing my name affect my Gmail password or recovery options?
No. Your password, recovery email, and recovery phone number stay the same. Changing your display name does not touch any of your security settings. You will still log in with the same email address and password.
Do people I email see my old name or my new name?
People see your new name on emails you send after the change. Emails you sent before the change still show your old name in their inbox. The change only affects future messages, not past ones.
Can I use special characters or emojis in my display name?
You can use most letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation marks. Emojis may not work in all email clients, so it is safer to stick with standard characters. Test it by sending yourself an email and checking how it appears on the receiving end.
What if I share my Gmail account with someone else?
If multiple people use the same Gmail account, changing the display name changes it for everyone. All emails sent from that account will show the new name. If you need separate names, you should each have your own Gmail account instead.