Change your Tumblr name from your account settings

To change your Tumblr blog name, log into your account, click your profile icon in the top right corner, select "Settings," then choose the blog you want to rename. Under "Blog title," type your new name and save. The change takes effect when ready, though it may take a few minutes to update across Tumblr's servers.

Your blog URL (the web address people use to find you) is separate from your blog title. If you want to change the URL instead—the part that reads yourblog.tumblr.com—you'll need a different process, which is covered in the section below.

Key Takeaways

  • Your blog title and blog URL are two different things; changing one does not automatically change the other.
  • Blog titles can be changed as many times as you want with no waiting period or restrictions.
  • Blog URLs can only be changed once every 30 days, and you get one free URL change per blog.
  • If you change your URL, your old URL becomes available for anyone else to claim after 30 days.
  • Changing your name does not affect your followers, posts, or messages—those stay attached to your blog.

The difference between blog title and blog URL

Tumblr uses two separate names for your blog. The blog title is the display name people see at the top of your blog and in your profile. The blog URL is the web address—for example, coolblog.tumblr.com. You can change your title as often as you want, but your URL has restrictions.

If you only want to change how your name appears to other people, change the blog title. If you want to change the actual web address people type to reach your blog, you need to change the URL instead. Many people change the title but keep the same URL so their followers don't lose the link.

How to change your blog URL

To change your blog's web address, go to Settings for the blog you want to rename. Scroll down to "URL" and click "Change URL." Type your new address and click "Change." Tumblr will tell you if the name is already taken. If it is, try a different variation.

You can change your URL once every 30 days. Your first URL change on any blog is free; additional changes may cost money depending on your account type. After you change your URL, your old address becomes available for other people to claim after 30 days, so if you think you might want it back, note the date.

What happens to your blog when you change the name

Your followers, posts, messages, and likes all stay with your blog no matter what name you give it. People who follow you will still see your posts in their dashboard even if you change your title or URL. Your blog history and archive remain exactly the same.

If you change your URL, any links people shared to your old address will stop working after 30 days. If you have a large following or your blog is linked from other websites, changing your URL can break those links. For this reason, many people change only their blog title and keep the same URL.

Changing your primary blog name versus secondary blogs

If you have multiple blogs on one Tumblr account, you can change the name of any of them individually. Your primary blog (the one created when you made your account) has a slightly different name structure—it uses your account name as part of the URL. Secondary blogs have more flexibility with URL changes.

To switch between your blogs before changing a name, click your profile icon, then select the blog you want to edit from the dropdown menu. Make sure you're editing the correct blog before you save any changes, because each blog's settings are separate.

Common mistakes to avoid when renaming

The most common mistake is changing your URL when you only meant to change your title. If your followers use the old URL to reach you, changing it will break their bookmarks and links. Test the new URL before you finalize the change by typing it into your browser to make sure it's available and spelled the way you want.

Another mistake is changing your URL and then when ready changing it again. Remember that you can only change your URL once every 30 days. If you make a typo or change your mind, you'll have to wait a month before you can change it again. Take a moment to double-check the spelling before you click the final save button.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

If you changed your blog title, you can change it back anytime by going to Settings and typing the old name. If you changed your URL, you can reclaim the old URL only if no one else has claimed it in the 30 days after you changed it. After 30 days, anyone can take that URL, and you would have to wait for them to abandon it.

Will my followers be notified when I change my blog name?

Tumblr does not send a notification to your followers when you change your blog title. If you change your URL, followers may notice the change in their dashboard, but Tumblr does not explicitly alert them. If you want people to know about the change, you can post an announcement on your blog.

What if the name I want is already taken?

If a blog URL is already in use, Tumblr will tell you when you try to claim it. You'll need to choose a different name. Try adding numbers, underscores, or hyphens to your preferred name. You can also check if a URL is available before you go through the full change process by typing it into your browser.

Does changing my name affect my tags or search results?

Changing your blog title does not affect your tags or how your posts appear in search results. Changing your URL might affect search results over time as search engines update their indexes, but your posts will still be findable by their tags and content. The change is usually reflected within a few days to a week.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my blog name?

Blog titles can include spaces and most special characters. Blog URLs can only use letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores—no spaces or other special characters. If you want spaces in how your name appears, use the blog title. Use hyphens or underscores in the URL instead.