What you're actually changing when you update your Gmail name

When you change your name on Gmail, you're updating the display name — the name that appears to other people when you send them an email. This is different from your Gmail address itself, which stays the same. Your address (the part before @gmail.com) cannot be changed once the account is created.

The display name is what shows up in the "From:" field of your emails and in your Gmail contacts. You can change it as many times as you want, and the change takes effect immediately for new emails you send. Old emails you've already sent will still show your old name, but going forward, recipients will see the new one.

This is useful if you've gotten married, divorced, legally changed your name, or simply want to use a different name professionally or personally. It's also separate from your Google Account name, which is the name associated with your entire Google account (used for things like Google Drive, YouTube, and other Google services).

Key Takeaways

  • Your Gmail display name is what appears in the "From:" field when you send emails, and you can change it without changing your email address.
  • The change takes effect immediately for new emails but does not retroactively change the name on emails you've already sent.
  • You can update your display name through Gmail settings in about two minutes on a computer or phone.
  • If you want to change your actual Gmail address, you'll need to create a new account and forward mail from the old one.

Changing your display name on a computer

Open Gmail in your web browser and sign in if you're not already logged in. In the top right corner, click the gear icon (⚙️) and select See all settings from the dropdown menu.

Click the Accounts and Import tab at the top of the settings page. Under the section labeled "Send mail as," you'll see your current email address and display name. Click the Edit info link next to your email address (or the pencil icon if you see one).

A box will pop up with a field labeled "Name." Clear the current name and type in the new name you want to use. Click Save changes at the bottom of the box. Gmail will ask you to confirm your password — enter it and click Verify. Your new display name is now active.

Changing your display name on a phone or tablet

Open the Gmail app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner. Scroll down and tap Settings. Tap your email address at the top of the list.

Tap Manage your Google Account, then tap the Personal info tab. Tap Name and edit the name field. Tap Save when you're done. This updates your Google Account name, which will also update how your name appears in Gmail.

If you want to change only the display name for sending emails (rather than your full Google Account name), go back to the Gmail app settings, tap your email address, then look for Change display name or Edit display name — the exact wording varies by phone model and Gmail app version.

What happens after you change your name

The new name appears in the "From:" field of every email you send from that moment forward. People in your contacts will see the updated name when you email them. If someone has you saved in their phone or email contacts under your old name, their device won't automatically update — they would need to manually change it themselves.

Any emails you sent before the change will still display your old name in their inboxes. The change only affects outgoing mail, not your inbox or the emails you've received. Your Gmail address itself remains exactly the same, so people can still reach you at the same email address.

If you need to change your actual Gmail address

Your Gmail address (the part before @gmail.com) cannot be changed. If you need a different email address entirely, you'll need to create a new Gmail account. You can then set up mail forwarding so emails sent to your old address automatically go to your new one.

To set up forwarding, go to your old Gmail account's settings, click the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab, and click Add a forwarding address. Enter your new Gmail address and follow the confirmation steps. Gmail will send a confirmation email to your new address — open it and click the confirmation link. After that, all new emails to your old address will automatically forward to the new one.

Keep in mind that forwarding only works for new emails. Old emails in your original account won't move to the new one. If you need to keep those, you can download them or use Gmail's built-in tools to transfer your data to a new account.

Common issues and what to do about them

If you don't see the "Edit info" option in the "Send mail as" section, you may be using a work or school Gmail account (Google Workspace). These accounts sometimes have restrictions on name changes set by your organization's administrator. Contact your IT department or administrator to request the change.

If you change your name but it doesn't appear in emails you're sending, try signing out of Gmail completely and signing back in. Sometimes the change takes a few minutes to sync across Google's servers. If it still doesn't show after 15 minutes, clear your browser's cache and cookies, then sign back in.

If you see multiple email addresses in the "Send mail as" section, you can set which one is your default by clicking the radio button next to it. This determines which address appears in the "From:" field when you send emails.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have different display names for different email addresses?

Yes. If you have multiple email addresses set up in your Gmail account (under "Send mail as"), each one can have its own display name. When you click "Edit info" next to each address, you can set a different name for each one.

Will changing my Gmail display name affect my Google Account name?

Not necessarily. Your Gmail display name and your Google Account name are separate. Changing one doesn't automatically change the other, though some updates to your Google Account name may show up in Gmail after a delay.

Can I change my Gmail address to something completely different?

No. Your Gmail address cannot be changed once it's created. If you need a different address, you'll need to create a new Gmail account and set up forwarding from your old one.

How long does it take for the new name to show up in emails I send?

The change is usually immediate. Emails you send after making the change will show your new name in the "From:" field. If it doesn't appear right away, try refreshing the page or signing out and back in.

What if I change my name back and forth — will that cause problems?

No. You can change your display name as many times as you want without any issues. There's no limit to how often you can update it.