You can change a contact's display name in Snapchat, but not their username
Snapchat has two separate name fields: the username (the handle people use to add you, like @marcus.chen) and the display name (what appears above messages in your chat list). You cannot change someone else's username — only they can do that in their own account settings. What you can change is how their name appears to you personally in your chats and friend list.
This is useful when you want to organize your contacts by nickname, add context to a name you don't recognize, or straightforward make your chat list easier to scan. The change only affects what you see; the other person's actual account name stays the same, and they won't be notified that you renamed them.
Key Takeaways
- Open the chat with the person whose name you want to change, tap their name at the top, and select "Edit Name" to create a custom display name just for your view.
- The person's original username never changes — you are only renaming them in your own contact list.
- Custom names you create are visible only to you; the other person sees their own username in your chat.
- You can change a contact's name back to their original username at any time by clearing the custom name field.
How to rename a contact in a one-on-one chat
Open Snapchat and find the chat with the person you want to rename. Tap their name at the very top of the chat window — not the message area, but the header where their name appears. A menu will open showing their username and other options.
Look for the "Edit Name" button and tap it. A text field will appear with their current display name highlighted. Delete the existing text and type the new name you want to use. This can be a nickname, a descriptor, or anything else that helps you identify them in your chat list. Tap outside the field or press the checkmark to save the change.
How to rename someone in your friends list
If you want to rename someone without opening a chat, go to your main Snapchat screen and find their name in your friends list. Press and hold their name for about two seconds until a menu appears. Tap "Edit Name" from the options that pop up.
The same text field will open. Type the new name and confirm. This method is faster if you are organizing multiple contacts at once or if you do not have an active chat with that person yet.
What happens when you rename someone
The new name appears only in your own Snapchat account. When you open a chat with that person, you will see your custom name in the header. In your friends list, their custom name will appear instead of their username. However, the person you renamed will never know about the change — they see their own username in their account settings and in other people's chats.
If you send a message to a group chat that includes this person, their original username still appears to everyone else in the group. Your custom name is private to your account only.
How to remove or change a custom name
To go back to the person's original username, open the chat or friends list and tap or hold their name again. Select "Edit Name" and delete all the text from the field, leaving it blank. Tap outside the field to save. Snapchat will revert to showing their actual username.
You can also change the custom name to something different at any time using the same steps. There is no limit to how many times you can edit a contact's display name.
Why you might not see an Edit Name option
If you cannot find the "Edit Name" button, check that you are tapping the person's name in the correct location. In a one-on-one chat, tap the name at the top of the screen, not anywhere in the message area. In your friends list, press and hold the name for a full two seconds — a quick tap will not bring up the menu.
If you are trying to rename a group chat rather than an individual contact, the process is different. Group chats have their own naming system, and you can change the group name by tapping the group name at the top and selecting "Edit Group Name." This change is visible to everyone in the group, not just you.
Organizing your contacts with custom names
Custom names work best when you use them consistently. Some people add context like "Mom," "Work," or "College" to help them quickly identify who they are messaging. Others use nicknames they use in person. You might also add a last name if you have multiple people with the same first name in your contacts.
Keep in mind that custom names are stored only on the device where you set them. If you log into Snapchat on a different phone or tablet, the custom names you created will not transfer over. You would need to rename those contacts again on the new device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change someone's username on Snapchat?
No. Only the person who owns the account can change their own username. You can only change the display name that appears in your personal chat list and friends list. If you want someone to have a different username, they need to change it themselves in their account settings.
Will the person know I renamed them?
No. Snapchat does not notify users when someone renames them in their contact list. The person will only see their own username in their account settings and in other people's chats. Your custom name for them is completely private.
Do custom names show up in group chats?
No. In group chats, everyone sees the person's original username, not your custom name for them. Your custom name only appears in one-on-one chats with that person and in your friends list.
What if I forget what someone's real username is after renaming them?
Open the chat with that person and tap their name at the top. You will see their actual username displayed below the custom name you created. You can also find their username by searching for them in Snapchat's search bar.
Can I rename someone if I have not added them as a friend yet?
You can only rename people who are already in your friends list or who you have an active chat with. If someone has sent you a message but you have not added them back, you can rename them once you accept the chat or add them as a friend.