What a server nickname is and why you might change it
A server nickname is a name that appears only in one Discord server — it does not change how that person's username looks anywhere else. If someone joins your server as "xXDarkShadow420Xx" but you want them to show up as "Marcus" in your server's member list and chat, you can set a server nickname for them without touching their actual Discord account.
Server nicknames are useful when someone's username is hard to read, when you want consistency (like using real first names in a work server), or when someone's username does not fit the server's culture. The person can still see their own real username in their profile, and their username stays unchanged everywhere else on Discord.
Only people with the Manage Nicknames permission can change other people's server nicknames. Server owners and moderators usually have this permission by default. You cannot change your own server nickname this way — you change your own nickname through your user settings in that specific server.
Key Takeaways
- Server nicknames appear only in one server and do not affect a person's Discord username anywhere else.
- You need the Manage Nicknames permission to change someone else's nickname, which moderators and admins usually have.
- Right-click the person's name in the member list or in chat, then select "Change Nickname" from the menu.
- The person will see a notification that their nickname changed, and the change takes effect when ready in that server.
How to change a nickname using the member list
The fastest way is through the server's member list on the right side of your screen. Open the server, then look at the right panel where all members are listed. Find the person whose nickname you want to change and right-click their name.
A menu will appear with several options. Click "Change Nickname" — it is usually near the top of the menu. A text box will open where you can type the new nickname. Type what you want their name to be in this server, then press Enter or click the checkmark button to save it.
The nickname takes effect when ready. The person will see a notification in their notification center that their nickname was changed, and their name will update in the member list and in all messages they send in that server from that moment forward.
How to change a nickname from a message in chat
You can also change a nickname by right-clicking someone's message in the chat. Find any message they sent, right-click their username at the top of the message, and select "Change Nickname" from the menu that appears.
The same text box will open. Type the new nickname and press Enter. This method works the same way as using the member list — it is just another way to reach the same option if you happen to be looking at their message.
What happens if someone does not have permission
If you try to right-click someone's name and "Change Nickname" does not appear in the menu, you do not have the Manage Nicknames permission in that server. Only the server owner or someone with that specific permission can change nicknames.
If you are a server moderator and think you should have this permission, ask the server owner to check your role. They can add the Manage Nicknames permission to your role by going to Server Settings, then Roles, then clicking your role and toggling on "Manage Nicknames" under the Moderation section.
How to remove or reset a nickname
To remove a server nickname and let someone's username show instead, right-click their name again and select "Change Nickname". Delete all the text in the box so it is empty, then press Enter. Their server nickname will disappear and their actual Discord username will show in the member list and chat again.
Resetting a nickname does not notify the person the way setting a new one does — the change just happens silently. If you want them to know you removed their nickname, you will need to tell them in a message.
Nickname length and character limits
Discord server nicknames can be up to 32 characters long. This includes letters, numbers, spaces, and special characters like hyphens or underscores. If you try to paste a nickname longer than 32 characters, Discord will cut it off automatically.
You can use most characters, but Discord will reject nicknames that contain certain symbols or that are entirely blank spaces. If you get an error when trying to save a nickname, try removing special characters or shortening it.
What the person sees and what they can do about it
When someone's server nickname is changed, they will see a notification that says their nickname was changed in that server. They cannot undo the change themselves — only someone with Manage Nicknames permission can change it back or remove it.
The person can set their own server nickname if they want to override what you set. They do this by clicking their own name in the member list, selecting "Edit Server Profile", and typing a nickname in the "Server Nickname" field. If they set their own nickname, it will replace the one you set, and you can change it again if you have permission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my own server nickname?
Yes. Click your own name in the member list, select "Edit Server Profile", and type a new nickname in the "Server Nickname" field. You do not need any special permission to change your own nickname. If a moderator has set a nickname for you and you set your own, yours will show instead.
Will the person see who changed their nickname?
The notification they receive does not say who changed it, only that their nickname was changed in that server. If you want them to know it was you, you will need to tell them in a message or in person.
Can I change a server owner's nickname?
No. The server owner's nickname cannot be changed by anyone, including other admins. Only the owner can change their own server nickname. This is a built-in Discord protection to prevent someone from impersonating the owner.
What if someone keeps changing their nickname back?
If a person keeps overriding the nickname you set by changing their own, you cannot force them to keep a specific nickname. You can only set it again, but they can change it back. If this is a problem in your server, you may need to talk to them about following server naming rules or remove them if they refuse.
Do server nicknames show up in Discord's search or mentions?
When you type @ to mention someone, you can use either their server nickname or their actual username — Discord will find them either way. In the member list and in chat, the server nickname shows. Their actual username is still visible in their profile if someone clicks on them.