Where to find the name change setting in Gmail

Your Gmail display name — the name that appears when you send emails — lives in your Google Account settings, not in Gmail itself. Open Gmail, click your profile picture in the top right corner, and select Manage your Google Account. This takes you to your account dashboard. Click the Personal info tab at the top.

On the Personal info page, you'll see your name near the top. Click on it to edit. You can change your first name, last name, or both. Type your new name and click Save. The change takes effect when ready, though it may take a few minutes to show up in all Google services.

This is the official way Google lets you change what appears in the "From:" line of your emails. If you've created multiple email addresses under the same account, each one can have its own display name — you change them one at a time from this same screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Gmail display name is stored in Google Account settings, not in the Gmail app itself, so you must go through your account dashboard to change it.
  • The change takes effect when ready in Gmail, though it may take a few minutes to appear in other Google services like Google Drive or YouTube.
  • If you have multiple email addresses, each one can have a different display name, and you change them individually from the Personal info tab.
  • Changing your display name does not change your actual Gmail address — only what appears in the "From:" field when you send mail.
  • You can change your name back to anything else at any time; there is no limit on how often you can edit it.

What happens to your old name after you change it

Once you save a new name, your old name stops appearing in outgoing emails. However, emails you already sent with your old name will still show that old name in the recipient's inbox — Gmail does not retroactively update the sender name on past messages.

People who have you in their contacts will see your new name going forward, but only if their contact list is synced with Google Contacts. If they have your name saved locally on their phone or in another contact system, they will still see the old name until they manually update it.

Changing your name on a work or school Gmail account

If your Gmail address is managed by your employer or school, you may not be able to change your display name yourself. Many organizations lock this setting so that all employees or students have a consistent naming format — usually "First Last" or "Last, First".

If you try to edit your name and the field is grayed out or locked, contact your IT department or help desk. They control the setting and can change it for you, or they can explain whether your organization allows name changes at all.

Changing your Gmail address itself (not just the display name)

The display name and the actual email address are two different things. Changing your display name does not change your Gmail address. If you want to change the address itself — the part before the @ sign — you cannot do that directly in Gmail.

Google does not allow you to change your existing Gmail address. If you need a different email address, you must create a new Gmail account. You can then forward mail from your old address to your new one, or set up both addresses in the same Gmail inbox so you can send from either one.

To send from multiple addresses in the same inbox, go back to the Personal info tab in your Google Account, scroll down to Email addresses, and click Add another email address. You can then choose which address appears in the "From:" line for each email you send.

If your name change is not showing up

Sometimes the change takes longer than a few minutes to appear everywhere. Gmail itself usually updates right away, but other Google services — YouTube, Google Drive, Google Photos — may show your old name for up to 24 hours.

If your new name still is not showing after a day, sign out of Gmail completely and sign back in. Clear your browser cache if you are using Gmail in a web browser. If you use the Gmail app on your phone, close it completely and reopen it. These steps force your device to fetch the latest version of your account information.

If the name field itself will not let you type or save, check whether you are signed into the right account. Some people have multiple Google accounts and accidentally edit the wrong one. Look at your profile picture and email address in the top right corner to confirm you are in the correct account.

Changing your name in Gmail on a phone or tablet

You can change your display name from the Gmail app on your phone, but the process is the same: tap your profile picture, select Manage your Google Account, go to Personal info, and edit your name. The Gmail app does not have a separate name-change feature — it always directs you to your Google Account settings.

On iPhone, iPad, or Android, make sure you are signed into the correct Google account before you start. If you have multiple accounts set up in the Gmail app, tapping your profile picture will show you which account you are currently using.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my name affect my Gmail password or security?

No. Your password, two-factor authentication, and all security settings remain exactly the same. Changing your display name is purely cosmetic — it only changes what other people see in the "From:" line of your emails.

Can I use special characters or emoji in my Gmail display name?

Google allows most letters, numbers, spaces, and common punctuation marks in your display name. Emoji and some special characters may not work or may display differently depending on the email client the recipient uses. Stick to standard letters and numbers if you want your name to appear the same way for everyone.

If I change my name, will my contacts be notified?

No. Google does not send a notification to your contacts when you change your display name. They will only see the new name the next time you send them an email, or if they look at your contact card in Google Contacts.

Can I have different display names for different contacts?

No. Your display name is the same for everyone you email. If you need to use different names for different purposes, you would need to create separate Gmail accounts.

How often can I change my Gmail display name?

You can change it as often as you want. There is no limit on how many times you can edit your name or how long you have to wait between changes.