Change your summoner name through the League of Legends client

To change your summoner name in League of Legends, open the League client, click the profile icon in the top right corner, and select "Summoner Name" from the menu. A window will appear showing your current name and a text field where you can enter a new one. Type your desired name, check that it meets the game's naming rules, and click the button to confirm the change. The system will process the request when ready if the name is available.

The first name change is free. After that, each subsequent change costs 1,300 Riot Points (RP), which is the premium currency in League of Legends. You can purchase RP through the client using a credit card, debit card, or other payment methods available in your region. If you do not have RP on hand, you will need to buy some before proceeding with a paid name change.

Your new summoner name takes effect right away. Other players will see the updated name in their friend lists, in-game, and on your profile. You cannot change your name again for 30 days after a successful change, so choose carefully before confirming.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the League client, click your profile icon, and select "Summoner Name" to begin a name change.
  • Your first summoner name change is free; all changes after that cost 1,300 Riot Points each.
  • New summoner names take effect when ready and appear to all other players right away.
  • You must wait 30 days after a name change before you can change your name again.
  • Summoner names must be between 3 and 16 characters, contain only letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens, and cannot be offensive or already taken by another player.

Naming rules and restrictions

League of Legends has specific rules for what a summoner name can contain. Your name must be between 3 and 16 characters long and can include letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens only. You cannot use special characters like underscores, periods, or symbols. The system will reject any name that violates these rules before you can submit it.

Riot Games also blocks names that are offensive, contain slurs, or reference hate speech. The filter is automated, so if your chosen name is flagged, you will see an error message and will need to pick a different one. Names that are already taken by another player will also be rejected. If you see a message that a name is unavailable, someone else owns it, and you will need to choose something different.

Names that reference real people, celebrities, or famous figures are sometimes allowed, but Riot reserves the right to force a name change if it violates their policies. If you are unsure whether a name will be accepted, try entering it in the client—the system will tell you when ready whether it passes.

What to do if your desired name is taken

If the summoner name you want is already in use, you have a few options. You can try a variation of the name by adding numbers, hyphens, or spaces. For example, if "Shadowblade" is taken, you might try "Shadow-blade", "Shadowblade7", or "Shadow blade" instead. These are treated as different names and may be available.

You can also check whether the account using that name is still active. If an account has been inactive for a very long time, Riot may eventually free up the name, but there is no set timeline for this, and you cannot request it directly. The best approach is to choose a name variation that you like and move forward with that instead of waiting.

Purchasing Riot Points for name changes

If you have already used your free name change and want to change your name again, you will need to purchase Riot Points. Open the League client and click the RP icon in the top right corner. This will open the store where you can see RP packages and their prices. Select the package that contains at least 1,300 RP and choose your payment method.

Riot Points are sold in bundles ranging from small amounts to large packages. The larger bundles often offer slightly better value per point, but you only need 1,300 RP for a name change. Payment methods vary by region but typically include credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and regional payment systems. After your purchase completes, the RP will appear in your account when ready, and you can proceed with your name change.

Changing your name on a smurf account

If you have a secondary League account (often called a smurf), you can change the summoner name on that account the same way you would on your main account. Open the client while logged into the smurf, go to your profile, and select "Summoner Name". The first name change on any account is free, so if your smurf has never had a name change, you can do it without spending RP.

Each account tracks its own name change history separately. This means your main account and your smurf account each get one free name change. After that, each account requires 1,300 RP per change. The 30-day cooldown between changes also applies per account, so you can change your main account's name and your smurf's name at the same time if you want.

What happens to your rank and progress after a name change

Changing your summoner name does not affect your rank, your match history, your champions, your skins, or any other progress on your account. Everything stays exactly as it was—only the name displayed to other players changes. Your rank will still show on your profile, and your past games will still be visible in your match history under your new name.

Other players will see your new name in their friend lists and in-game, but the change is purely cosmetic. Your account ID (a number assigned to your account) never changes, so the game's backend always knows who you are. If someone had you added as a friend before your name change, you will still appear in their friend list with your new name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my summoner name back to what it was before?

Yes, you can change your name back to a previous name as long as no one else has claimed it in the meantime. However, you will have to pay the RP cost (1,300 RP) unless it is your first name change. If someone else took your old name, you cannot reclaim it.

What if I change my name and then want to change it again right away?

You must wait 30 days after a name change before you can change your name again. This cooldown applies to every account and cannot be skipped. If you try to change your name before 30 days have passed, the client will show you how many days remain.

Do I lose my skins or champions when I change my summoner name?

No. Changing your summoner name does not affect your inventory, your ranked rating, your match history, or anything else on your account. Only the name displayed to other players changes. All your skins, champions, and progress remain exactly the same.

What if the name I want contains a space or hyphen?

Spaces and hyphens are allowed in summoner names. You can type them directly into the name field. The system will accept them as long as the total length is between 3 and 16 characters and the name does not violate other rules.

Can Riot force me to change my summoner name?

Yes. If your summoner name violates Riot's policies—such as containing offensive language, hate speech, or impersonating a real person—Riot can force you to change it. You will receive a notification in the client explaining why, and you will have a set amount of time to choose a new name before one is assigned to you.