Change your display name in Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and other email providers
Your email display name is the text that appears next to your email address when you send a message — it's what recipients see in their inbox, not your actual email address itself. You can change this name in almost every email provider without changing your email address or password. The steps differ slightly depending on which service you use, but the process takes less than five minutes in all of them.
This guide covers the four most common email providers: Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail. If you use a different provider, the same general principle applies: look for account settings or profile settings, find the section labeled "name," "display name," or "sender name," and edit it there.
Key Takeaways
- Your display name is what people see when you email them, separate from your actual email address.
- Gmail requires you to go to myaccount.google.com, click "Personal info," then edit the name field under "Name."
- Outlook users should open Settings, select "View your account," then change the name under "Account info."
- Yahoo Mail display names are changed in Account info under "Account details" in the settings menu.
- Changes take effect when ready in most providers, though it may take a few minutes for the change to show in emails already sent.
How to change your name in Gmail
Open a web browser and go to myaccount.google.com. Sign in with your Gmail address and password if you are not already logged in. On the left side of the page, click Personal info.
Look for the Name field near the top of the page. Click on it, and a text box will appear. Delete your current name and type the new name you want to display. You can use your real name, a nickname, a business name, or any combination — there are no restrictions. Click Save when you are done. The change takes effect when ready, and your new name will appear on emails you send from that moment forward.
If you have multiple Gmail addresses, you will need to repeat this process for each one. Each Gmail account has its own display name setting, so changing the name on one account does not affect the others.
How to change your name in Outlook
Sign in to your Outlook account at outlook.com or outlook.live.com. In the top right corner, click the gear icon to open Settings. From the dropdown menu, select View your account.
On the account page, click Account info on the left side. You will see a section labeled Name with your current display name. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type your new name in the field that appears, then click Save. Outlook will confirm the change, and your new name will appear on outgoing emails within a few minutes.
Outlook also allows you to set a different display name for each email address if you have multiple accounts linked to the same Microsoft account. Each address has its own name setting in the Account info section.
How to change your name in Yahoo Mail
Log in to your Yahoo Mail account at mail.yahoo.com. In the top right corner, click the account icon (usually your profile picture or initials), then select Account info.
On the Account info page, click Account details on the left side. Find the Name field and click on it to edit. Type your new display name and click Save. The change takes effect when ready, though it may take a few minutes to appear on emails you have already sent.
Yahoo allows you to use spaces, numbers, and special characters in your display name, so you have flexibility in how you format it. If you later want to revert to your original name, you can return to this same section and change it back at any time.
How to change your name in Apple Mail and iCloud
If you use an iCloud email address (@icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com), go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Click the account menu in the top right corner and select Account Settings.
Click Personal Information on the left side. Find the Name field and click Edit. Type your new display name and click Done. The change applies to all emails sent from your iCloud account and takes effect when ready.
If you use Apple Mail on your Mac or iPhone with a non-iCloud email account (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or another provider), you will need to change the display name through that provider's website instead. Apple Mail itself does not control the display name — the email provider does.
What happens after you change your display name
Your new display name appears on all emails you send from that moment forward. People who receive your emails will see the new name in their inbox. However, your email address itself does not change — recipients still reply to the same address they always have.
Emails you sent before the change will still show your old display name, because the name was part of the message when it was sent. Only new emails going forward will show the updated name. Your contacts do not need to update anything on their end — the change is automatic.
If you change your display name multiple times, each change takes effect when ready for new emails. There is no limit to how many times you can change it, and you can revert to a previous name whenever you want by following the same steps.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not confuse your display name with your email address. Changing your display name does not change your email address, and people will still send messages to your original address. If you need to change your actual email address, that is a different process handled separately in your account settings.
Do not assume the change is broken if it does not appear when ready on emails you sent seconds before. Most providers update the display name within a few minutes, but there can be a slight delay. Wait a few minutes and send a test email to confirm the new name appears.
Do not use your display name field to store passwords, account numbers, or other sensitive information. Your display name is visible to everyone you email, so keep it to something you are comfortable sharing publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use special characters or emojis in my display name?
Most email providers allow letters, numbers, spaces, and common punctuation marks like hyphens and apostrophes. Emojis and unusual symbols may not work or may be stripped out by the email system. Test your chosen name by saving it and sending a test email to see how it displays.
Will changing my display name affect my password or login?
No. Your display name and your login credentials are completely separate. You log in with your email address and password, which never change when you update your display name. Your password remains the same.
What if I want different display names for different recipients?
Standard email providers do not support different display names for different people. Your display name is the same for everyone you email. Some advanced email clients or business email systems may offer this feature, but consumer email services like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo do not.
How long does it take for the new name to show up?
The change takes effect when ready in your account settings. New emails you send will show the updated name right away. Older emails you sent before the change will still display your old name, since the name was recorded when the email was sent.
Can I change my display name on my phone or tablet?
Yes, but it depends on your email provider. Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo all allow you to change your display name through their mobile apps or mobile websites. Open your email app, go to settings or account info, and follow the same steps as on a computer. Apple Mail on iPhone requires you to change the name through iCloud.com on a web browser.