How to Change Your Name in Gmail (Display Name, Sender Name & More)
When people talk about "changing your name in Gmail," they usually mean one of two different things — and Gmail treats them very differently. Understanding which one applies to you is the first step to getting it right.
What "Name" Actually Means in Gmail
Gmail separates two distinct identity elements:
- Your display name (sender name) — the name that appears in the "From" field when you send an email. This is what recipients see in their inbox before they open your message.
- Your Google Account name — the name tied to your Google profile, which affects not just Gmail but also Google Meet, Google Docs, YouTube, and other Google services.
Changing one doesn't automatically change the other, and the steps are completely different.
How to Change Your Gmail Sender Name (What Recipients See)
This is the most common request — you want people receiving your emails to see a different name. Here's how it works on desktop:
- Open Gmail and click the gear icon (Settings) in the top right
- Select "See all settings"
- Go to the "Accounts and Import" tab
- Under "Send mail as," find your email address and click "Edit info"
- Update the name field and click "Save Changes"
That name will now appear on every email you send going forward. Emails already sent are not affected.
On Mobile (Android or iOS)
The Gmail mobile app doesn't let you edit your sender name directly. You'll need to:
- Use a mobile browser and navigate to mail.google.com (switching to desktop view if needed), or
- Make the change on a desktop or laptop
This is a known limitation of the Gmail app — the setting simply isn't exposed in the mobile interface.
How to Change Your Google Account Name
If you want to update the name on your actual Google Account — the one that shows up across all Google products — the path is different:
- Go to myaccount.google.com
- Click on "Personal info"
- Under the Name section, click your current name
- Edit your first and/or last name, then click "Save"
This change propagates across Gmail, Google Meet, Drive, and other Google services. It's worth knowing that Google may limit how frequently you can change your account name — typically to a few times per year.
Gmail Aliases and Multiple Sender Names 🎭
If you manage multiple identities or use Gmail through Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), you have more nuanced options:
- Send mail as: Gmail allows you to add additional email addresses or aliases and assign each one a different sender name. This is useful if you want to send from a work address and a personal address from the same inbox.
- Google Workspace accounts: If your Gmail is administered by an organization (a business or school), your admin may control what names you can set. Some fields may be locked or require admin approval.
| Situation | Where to Change | Affects |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Gmail account | Gmail Settings → Accounts and Import | Outgoing email name only |
| Google Account profile | myaccount.google.com | All Google services |
| Workspace/Business Gmail | Gmail Settings + Admin Console | May require admin access |
| Additional alias name | Gmail Settings → Send mail as | That alias only |
What Doesn't Change (And What People Often Expect)
A common point of confusion: changing your sender name does not change your email address. Your @gmail.com address stays exactly the same. The name is purely cosmetic in terms of routing — it's metadata that email clients display, not something that affects delivery.
Similarly, if someone has already saved you as a contact in their own Gmail, their contact record will override your sender name in their view. They'll see whatever name they have stored for you, regardless of what you set on your end.
Factors That Affect How This Works for You
The right approach — and how smoothly the process goes — depends on several variables:
- Account type: Personal Gmail accounts have more self-service flexibility than Google Workspace accounts managed by an employer or school
- Device: Desktop gives you full access to settings; mobile browsers can work but may require switching to desktop view
- Whether you use aliases: Multiple sending addresses each need their sender name configured separately
- Admin restrictions: Workspace users may find certain name fields are read-only or gated behind organizational policy
- How frequently you've changed your account name: Google applies rate limits to Google Account name changes
The mechanics are straightforward when it's a standard personal Gmail account. But as soon as you're working within an organization, using multiple aliases, or operating on a device without desktop browser access, the process branches in ways that depend entirely on your specific setup. ✉️