Where to find your name settings in Gmail

Your Gmail name appears in the "From" line when you send email and in your Google Account profile. To change it, go to myaccount.google.com and sign in. On the left side, click Personal info. You'll see your name at the top of the page — click on it to edit.

Gmail pulls your name from your Google Account, not from Gmail itself. This means changing it in one place changes it everywhere you use that account: Gmail, Google Drive, YouTube, Google Calendar, and any other Google service linked to the same login. If you only want to change how your name appears in Gmail specifically, you'll need to use a different method, which we cover below.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Gmail display name comes from your Google Account settings at myaccount.google.com, not from Gmail itself.
  • Changing your name in Google Account affects all Google services you use with that login, including Drive, Calendar, and YouTube.
  • You can set a different "From" name just for Gmail by creating a custom sender name in Gmail settings without changing your account name.
  • The change takes effect when ready in new emails you send, but old emails you already sent keep the old name.

Editing your name through Google Account

Once you click your name in Personal info, a box appears with your first and last name in separate fields. Edit either or both, then click Save. The change happens right away. The next time you send an email, the new name will appear in the "From" line.

If you use your Google Account for work, school, or a managed organization, you may not be able to change your name this way. Your administrator controls it. Contact your IT department or manager to request a change.

Setting a different sender name just for Gmail

If you want to keep your Google Account name the same but use a different name only when sending Gmail, you can set a custom sender name. Go to Gmail settings (click the gear icon in the top right, then See all settings). Click the Accounts and Import tab. Under "Send mail as," you'll see your current email address.

Click Edit sender name next to your address. Type the name you want to appear in the "From" line. Check the box that says Reply from the same address if you want replies to come back to your main inbox. Click Save Changes. You can now send from this address with the new name without changing your account name everywhere else.

What happens to old emails after you change your name

Emails you already sent keep the old name they were sent with. Only new emails going forward will show your new name. People who received your old emails won't see the name change — those messages are already in their inbox with the original sender name.

If you're worried about confusion, you don't need to be. Recipients see the name that was on the email when they got it. There's no retroactive update across the internet.

Changing your name back or making multiple changes

You can change your name as many times as you want. Go back to myaccount.google.com, click Personal info, click your name, and edit it again. There's no limit on how many times you can do this, and no waiting period between changes.

If you use multiple email addresses with the same Google Account, each one can have its own sender name through the "Send mail as" feature in Gmail settings. This is useful if you have a work email and a personal email linked to the same account and want them to show different names.

Removing your last name or using a nickname

Gmail and Google Account both accept first name only, nicknames, or any text you want in the name field. You don't have to use your legal name. Type whatever you want in the first name field and leave the last name blank, or put your nickname in either field.

If you're changing your name for safety reasons — to avoid showing your real name online — using the custom sender name in Gmail settings (rather than changing your full account name) keeps your account name private while still controlling what people see in your emails.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my Gmail name affect my email address?

No. Your email address (the part before @gmail.com) stays the same. Only the display name — what appears in the "From" line — changes. People still send emails to your address the same way.

Can I have different names for different email addresses?

Yes, if you have multiple email addresses in Gmail. Each one can have its own sender name through the "Send mail as" feature in Gmail settings. Your main account name stays the same, but each address you send from can show a different name.

What if I can't find the name field in my Google Account?

If you're using a work or school account, your administrator may have locked the name field. Contact your IT department or manager. If it's a personal account, make sure you're signed in and at myaccount.google.com, not gmail.com.

Will my contacts see the name change?

Your contacts will see the new name the next time you send them an email. Old emails they already have will still show the old name. If they have you saved in their contacts with a nickname, that won't change — they'll still see whatever they named you in their phone or contact list.