The quickest way to change your Gmail display name
Your Gmail display name is what appears in the "From" line when you send an email — not your email address itself. You change it in Gmail settings, not in your Google Account settings, and the change takes effect on new messages you send going forward.
Open Gmail in a web browser. In the top right corner, click the gear icon and select "See all settings." Click the "Accounts and Import" tab. Under "Send mail as," you'll see your current display name in parentheses next to your email address. Click "edit info" next to it. Type your new name in the "Name" field and click "Save changes."
The change appears when ready on emails you send after that moment. Old emails you already sent keep the name that was displayed when you sent them — changing your display name does not retroactively change what appears on past messages.
Key Takeaways
- Your display name is what shows in the "From" line of emails you send, separate from your actual Gmail address.
- You change it through Gmail settings under "Accounts and Import," not through your Google Account page.
- The change takes effect only on new emails you send, not on messages you've already sent.
- You can set up multiple "Send mail as" addresses, each with its own display name, if you manage more than one email account.
- If you want to change your actual Google Account name (the one tied to your profile across Google services), that's a separate process in your Google Account settings.
The difference between display name and Google Account name
Gmail has two separate names: your display name (what people see when you email them) and your Google Account name (what appears on your Google profile and across other Google services like Drive, Photos, and YouTube).
Changing your Gmail display name does not change your Google Account name, and vice versa. If you want both to match, you'll need to change them separately. The display name change happens in Gmail settings as described above. The Google Account name change happens in your Google Account settings at myaccount.google.com — click "Personal info," then "Name," then edit and save.
Setting up multiple display names for different email addresses
If you manage more than one Gmail address or have added other email addresses to your Gmail account, you can set a different display name for each one. This is useful if you use one address for work and another for personal messages.
In Gmail settings under "Accounts and Import," the "Send mail as" section lists every address you can send from. Each one has its own display name. Click "edit info" next to whichever address you want to change, update the name, and save. When you compose a new email, you can choose which address to send from using the dropdown in the "From" field — the display name will match whichever address you select.
What happens if you don't verify a new email address you add
If you add a new email address to your Gmail account to send mail from, Gmail asks you to verify it. You'll receive a confirmation email at that address with a link to click. Until you verify it, you can't actually send mail from that address, though it will still appear in your "Send mail as" list.
Verification usually takes a few minutes. If you don't see the confirmation email, check your spam folder or request a new verification link from Gmail settings. Once verified, you can send from that address and set its display name just like any other address.
Changing your display name on mobile Gmail
The Gmail app on phones and tablets doesn't have a settings menu for changing your display name. You'll need to use a web browser on any device — phone, tablet, or computer — to access Gmail settings and make the change. Once you've changed it in settings, the new name appears in the app on your next email.
If you're using Gmail through the Gmail app and want to change your display name, open a web browser, go to gmail.com, and follow the steps in the first section of this guide. The change syncs to your phone or tablet automatically.
Troubleshooting a display name that won't change
If you've changed your display name but old emails still show the previous name, that's normal — Gmail doesn't update the name on messages you've already sent. Only new emails going forward will show the updated name.
If your new display name isn't appearing on new emails either, try signing out of Gmail completely and signing back in. Clear your browser cache if the change still doesn't show. If you're using Gmail through a third-party email client (like Outlook or Apple Mail), that client may cache your display name separately — you may need to update it there as well, or remove and re-add your Gmail account to the client.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Gmail address itself, or just the display name?
You cannot change your Gmail address (the part before @gmail.com). You can only change the display name that appears next to it. If you need a different Gmail address, you'll need to create a new Gmail account. You can add that new address to your current account and set it as your primary sending address if you want to transition away from the old one.
Will changing my display name affect my password or security?
No. Your display name is purely cosmetic — it's what people see when you email them. Changing it does not affect your password, two-factor authentication, recovery email, or any other security setting. Your account security remains exactly the same.
What if I want to use my full legal name but Gmail is suggesting a nickname?
Gmail doesn't restrict what you can type in the display name field. If it's suggesting a nickname or shortened version, ignore the suggestion and type your full legal name instead. You can enter any text you want, including spaces, punctuation, and special characters.
Does my display name change affect emails I receive?
No. Your display name only affects what people see when you send them an email. It has no effect on emails you receive. Your inbox and incoming mail work exactly the same regardless of what display name you've set.