What you can change about how your email name appears
Your email address itself — the part before the @ symbol — usually cannot be changed once you create it. Most email providers lock this in permanently. What you can change is your display name, which is the name that appears to other people when you send them a message. You can also change the name associated with your account, which is what you use to sign in and what appears in your account settings.
The display name is what matters most for organizing your own inbox and for how others see you. If your email address is john.smith.1987@gmail.com but your display name is "John Smith", people will see "John Smith" in their inbox when you email them — not your full address. Changing this takes two minutes and does not affect your actual email address or any messages you have already sent.
Where you make these changes depends on which email provider you use. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple Mail all have different menus, but the process is similar: you go to account settings, find the name field, and update it. The change takes effect when ready for new messages you send.
Key Takeaways
- Your display name is what other people see when you email them, and you can change it anytime without affecting your actual email address.
- Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple Mail each have a different location for the name setting, but all are found in account or profile settings.
- Changing your display name does not change your email address, does not affect old messages, and takes effect when ready on new ones.
- If you want to change your actual email address, you usually have to create a new account and forward mail from the old one, since most providers do not allow address changes.
How to change your display name in Gmail
Open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner. Select "See all settings" from the dropdown menu. Click the "Accounts and Import" tab at the top of the page. Under "Send mail as", you will see your current display name. Click "Edit info" next to it.
A box will open with a field labeled "Name". Delete what is there and type the name you want to appear when you send emails. You can use your real name, a nickname, a business name, or anything else. Click "Save Changes" at the bottom. The next time you send an email, your new name will appear to the recipient.
If you have multiple email addresses set up in Gmail, you can set a different display name for each one. Each address will show its own name when you send from that account.
How to change your display name in Outlook
Go to outlook.com and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "View account" or "Manage your Microsoft account". Click "Your info" on the left side. You will see a field with your name at the top of the page. Click "Edit name" or the pencil icon next to it.
Type your new name in the field that appears. Click "Save" when you are done. Outlook will update your display name within a few minutes. If you use Outlook through a work or school account, you may not be able to change your name — your organization controls that setting.
How to change your display name in Yahoo Mail
Sign in to Yahoo Mail and click the account icon (usually your initial or profile picture) in the top right. Select "Account info". Click "Personal info" on the left side. You will see your name field near the top. Click the pencil icon to edit it.
Type your new name and click "Save". The change takes effect when ready. Yahoo will show your new name on outgoing emails within a few minutes.
How to change your name in Apple Mail and iCloud
If you use iCloud Mail, go to iCloud.com and click "Account Settings" (the gear icon). Click "Personal Information" on the left. You will see your name field. Click "Edit" next to it, type your new name, and click "Save".
If you use Apple Mail on your Mac or iPhone, the display name is controlled through your iCloud account settings online, not through the Mail app itself. Changes made on iCloud.com will sync to your devices within a few minutes.
What happens when you change your display name
When you change your display name, the change applies only to new emails you send going forward. Any emails you have already sent will still show the old name to the people who received them — email providers do not go back and update old messages.
Your inbox and folders do not change. Your email address does not change. Your password does not change. Only the name that appears in the "From" line of new messages you send will be different. People who have you in their contacts will still see whatever name they saved for you, not your new display name, unless they update their contact.
If you change your display name and then change it back, there is no penalty or waiting period. You can change it as many times as you want.
If you want to change your actual email address
If you want a completely different email address — not just a different display name — you will need to create a new account. Most email providers do not allow you to change the address itself once it is created.
After you create the new account, set up mail forwarding from your old address to your new one. In Gmail, go to Settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP > Add a forwarding address. In Outlook, go to Settings > Mail > Forwarding. In Yahoo, go to Account Info > Account Security > Forwarding Address. This way, emails sent to your old address will automatically go to your new one while you transition.
Tell the people and organizations you email regularly about your new address. Update your address on any accounts that have it on file — banking, shopping, work, social media. Keep your old account active for at least a few months in case something important arrives there, then you can delete it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my email address to something completely different?
No, most providers do not allow address changes. You have to create a new email account with a new address. You can set up forwarding from the old address to the new one so you do not miss messages, and you can delete the old account after a few months once you have updated your address everywhere.
Will people see my old display name if I change it?
No. Emails you already sent will still show your old name to the people who received them, but any new emails you send will show your new name. People who have you saved in their contacts will see whatever name they saved, not your display name.
Can I have different display names for different email accounts?
Yes. If you have multiple email addresses, you can set a different display name for each one. In Gmail, you do this under "Send mail as". In Outlook and Yahoo, each account has its own name setting.
What if my email is through my work or school?
Your organization may control your display name and not allow you to change it. Check with your IT department or help desk. If they do allow changes, the process is usually the same as a personal account, but the setting might be in a different location.
Does changing my display name affect my password or security?
No. Changing your display name does not change your password, does not affect your security settings, and does not log you out of any devices. It only changes what name appears when you send emails.