How to Change Your Name in Gmail (Display Name, 2026)
The name on your Gmail messages — the part recipients see before your address, like Jordan Lee <jordan@example.com> — is your display name. Changing it doesn’t change your email address. Where you change it depends on which address it’s for.
1. Change the Name on Your Primary Gmail Address
For personal Gmail, the display name on your main address is tied to your Google Account name, not a Gmail setting. Change it there:
- Go to myaccount.google.com.
- Click Personal info in the left sidebar.
- Under Basic info, click Name.
- Click the pencil icon, edit your first and/or last name.
- Click Save.
This name now appears on outgoing Gmail — and across other Google services (Drive, Calendar, YouTube comments, etc.), so pick something you’re comfortable showing everywhere.
Google limits how often you can change your account name (roughly a few times per period). If the field is greyed out, you’ve hit the limit — wait and try again later.
2. Change the Name for a “Send Mail As” Address
If you send from additional addresses (an alias or another account added under Send mail as), each has its own editable display name — and these aren’t locked to your Google Account name:
- Open Gmail → gear icon → See all settings.
- Go to the Accounts and Import tab.
- Under Send mail as, find the address and click edit info.
- Enter the name you want recipients to see.
- Click Save changes.
This is also the workaround if you want a different display name than your Google Account name on your primary address — though it requires the address to be configured under “Send mail as.”
3. Change Your Name in the Mobile App
The Gmail app has no name field of its own — it follows your Google Account. To change it on a phone:
- Open the Gmail app → tap your profile picture → Manage your Google Account.
- Tap Personal info → Name.
- Edit and Save.
(Or just open myaccount.google.com in any browser.)
4. Google Workspace: Name May Be Locked
On a work or school account (Google Workspace), your display name is often set by your admin through the organization’s directory. If the Name field is locked or your changes revert, contact your IT admin — only they can update it. Some organizations allow self-service name changes; many don’t.
5. What Changing Your Name Does Not Do
| Change this | To do this |
|---|---|
| Display name (this guide) | Update the name recipients see |
| Email address itself | Not possible on personal Gmail — create a new account or use an alias |
| Signature | Edit under Settings → General → Signature |
| Profile photo | Google Account → Personal info → Photo |
Display name changes apply to new outgoing email only. Messages you already sent keep showing the old name in recipients’ inboxes.
If keeping your professional details consistent across email is the goal, Carly is an AI assistant that drafts and sends email on your behalf — handling replies and scheduling so your correspondence stays polished without manual upkeep.
More on Gmail: How to add a signature in Gmail · How to add another email account to Gmail · How to set out of office in Gmail · Best email management tools
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