You can change the display name on most email accounts, but not the email address itself
The display name — the name that appears when you send an email — can be changed in your account settings on Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and most other providers. This is the name your recipients see in their inbox. You can update it in seconds without losing access to your account or your messages.
The email address itself (the part before the @ symbol) cannot be changed once it is created. If you need a different email address, you will need to create a new account. Some providers let you add an alias — an alternate address that sends and receives mail from the same account — but the original address remains tied to your account.
This guide covers how to change your display name on the major email providers, when you might want to create a new address instead, and what happens to your old messages and contacts.
Key Takeaways
- Your display name (what people see when you email them) can be changed in account settings; your actual email address cannot be changed after creation.
- Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo all let you update your display name in under a minute from the account settings menu.
- If you need a completely different email address, you must create a new account; the old one will still exist and receive mail.
- Adding an alias gives you a second sending address that uses the same inbox and contacts, without creating a separate account.
- Changing your display name does not affect your password, recovery options, or access to any of your stored messages.
How to change your display name in Gmail
Open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner, then select "See all settings." Go to the "Accounts and Import" tab. Under "Send mail as," you will see your current display name next to your email address. Click "Edit" next to your name.
Type the new name you want to use. You can use your full name, a nickname, a business name, or any text you choose. Click "Save changes" at the bottom. The new name will appear on emails you send from that moment forward. Emails you sent before the change will still show the old name in recipients' inboxes.
If you have multiple email addresses set up in Gmail (forwarding addresses or aliases), you can set a different display name for each one by editing them separately in the same "Send mail as" section.
How to change your display name in Outlook
Log into your Outlook account and click your profile picture or initials in the top right corner. Select "View account" or "Manage your Microsoft account." Click "Your info" on the left side. Under your name at the top, click "Edit name."
Type your new first and last name in the fields provided. Click "Save" when you are done. The change takes effect when ready, and your new name will appear on outgoing emails. If you use Outlook for work through a Microsoft 365 account, your administrator may have locked your name from changes — in that case, contact your IT department.
How to change your display name in Yahoo Mail
Sign into Yahoo Mail and click the account icon (your profile picture or initials) in the top right. Select "Account info." Click "Personal info" on the left side. Find the "Name" field and click "Edit." Type your new name and click "Save."
Yahoo will ask you to confirm the change by entering your password. Once confirmed, your new display name will appear on all emails you send. The change is when ready and does not affect your inbox or any other account settings.
When to create a new email address instead
If you want to change the actual email address (the part before the @), you cannot do that through settings. You will need to create a brand new account with the address you want. This is useful if your current address no longer fits your needs — for example, if you created an email with a nickname years ago and now want a professional address with your real name.
Before you create a new account, decide what you will do with the old one. You can set it to forward all incoming mail to your new address, keep it open to receive messages from people who still use the old address, or let it sit inactive. Most providers do not delete inactive accounts, so your old address will continue to exist and receive mail even if you stop using it.
If you have important contacts or messages in the old account, read or export them before you stop checking it regularly. Gmail and Outlook both have export tools in their settings menus.
Using an alias instead of creating a new account
An alias is a second email address that sends and receives mail from the same inbox and contact list. It is faster than creating a new account and keeps everything in one place. Gmail calls this "Send mail as," Outlook calls it "Add alias," and Yahoo calls it "Add alternate email."
To add an alias in Gmail, go to Settings > Accounts and Import > Send mail as, then click "Add another email address." Enter the new address you want to use. Gmail will send a confirmation link to that address — click it to verify. Once verified, you can send emails from either address, and replies to your alias will land in the same inbox.
Outlook and Yahoo have similar processes in their account settings. An alias is useful if you want a professional address and a personal address but do not want to manage two separate inboxes. You can choose which address to send from when you compose each email.
What does not change when you update your display name
Changing your display name does not affect your password, two-factor authentication, recovery phone number, or any security settings. Your inbox, contacts, calendar, and all stored messages remain exactly as they were. People who have your email address saved in their phone or contacts will still be able to reach you — the address itself never changes.
Old emails you sent before the name change will still show your previous name in recipients' inboxes. Only new emails going forward will display the updated name. If you are worried about consistency, you can mention the change in a message to frequent contacts, but it is not necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my email address to something completely different?
No, the email address itself cannot be changed. You must create a new account with the address you want. You can set your old account to forward mail to the new one, or keep both active. Many people keep their old address open to catch messages from people who still use it.
If I change my display name, will my contacts be notified?
No, your contacts will not receive any notification. They will only see the new name the next time you send them an email. If you want them to know about the change, you can send them a message explaining it.
Can I have two different display names for the same email address?
No, you can only have one display name per email address at a time. However, if you add an alias, you can set a different display name for each alias, so emails from your main address and your alias can show different names.
What happens to my old emails if I create a new email address?
Your old emails stay in your old account. They do not move to the new address automatically. You can read or export them from your old account and import them into the new one, or you can keep both accounts open and check both inboxes.
Can I delete my old email address and create a new one with the same name?
Most providers do not let you reuse an email address, even after deletion. Once an address is created, it is reserved. If you delete an account, that address typically cannot be used again by anyone, including you.