You can't change Siri's name, but you can change what Siri calls you

Apple's voice assistant is always called Siri — that's built into the system and doesn't change. What you can change is what Siri calls you. When you tell Siri your name, it uses that name in responses and when addressing you directly. This is separate from your Apple ID or device name, and changing it takes about two minutes.

The process differs slightly between iPhones, iPads, and Macs, but the core idea is the same: you're editing your contact card in Siri's settings, not renaming the assistant itself. If you've never set a name for Siri to use, it won't call you anything specific — it will just respond to your requests without a personal address.

Key Takeaways

  • Siri's name cannot be changed; it is always Siri, but you can tell Siri what name to call you.
  • On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > Siri & Search > My Information and tap your contact card to edit your name.
  • On Mac, open System Settings > Siri & Spotlight > My Information and select your contact card to change your name.
  • The name you set here is only used by Siri and does not affect your Apple ID, device name, or contacts list.
  • If you leave the My Information field blank, Siri will not address you by any name in its responses.

How to change your name on iPhone or iPad

Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Siri & Search. Tap it, then look for My Information near the top of the screen. You'll see your contact card listed there — tap it to open your contact details.

Once your contact card opens, tap Edit in the top right corner. Find the First name and Last name fields and change them to whatever you want Siri to call you. You can use your real name, a nickname, a single name, or anything else. When you're done, tap Done to save the changes.

Siri will start using the new name the next time you interact with it. If you set only a first name, Siri will use just that. If you set both first and last names, Siri may use both depending on context.

How to change your name on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions). Search for Siri & Spotlight or scroll to find it in the sidebar.

Look for My Information and click the contact card next to it. Your contact details will open in a new window. Click Edit and change the First name and Last name fields to what you want Siri to call you. Click Done when finished.

The change takes effect immediately on your Mac. If you use Siri on multiple Apple devices, you may need to repeat this process on each one, since the setting is stored locally on each device rather than synced through iCloud.

What happens if you don't set a name

If you leave the My Information field empty or never set it up, Siri will still respond to your requests — it just won't address you by name. Instead of saying "Here's what I found for you, Sarah," Siri will say "Here's what I found for you" without the personal touch.

This doesn't affect Siri's functionality at all. It's purely about whether you want that personal address in responses. Some people prefer the directness of Siri not using a name, while others like the conversational feel of being addressed by name.

Why Siri uses the name from your contact card

Siri pulls the name from your contact card because Apple designed it to treat you like any other contact in your phone. Your contact card is the central place where your personal information lives on your device — your phone number, email, address, and name. When you set My Information in Siri settings, you're essentially telling the system "this is my contact card," and Siri reads the name from there.

This is also why changing your name in Siri settings will update how your contact card appears to you and to Siri, but it won't change your Apple ID name or your device name. Those are separate settings stored in different places.

Troubleshooting: Siri still isn't using your new name

If you've changed your name but Siri still isn't using it, try restarting Siri. The easiest way is to restart your device — turn it off completely and turn it back on. This clears Siri's cache and forces it to reload your settings.

If that doesn't work, double-check that you actually tapped Done after editing your contact card. Sometimes the changes don't save if you exit the edit screen without confirming. Go back into Settings > Siri & Search > My Information and verify that your name change is still there.

On Mac, if Siri still isn't using the new name after a restart, try signing out of iCloud and signing back in. Go to System Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out, wait a few seconds, then sign back in with your Apple ID. This refreshes your contact information across the system.

The difference between Siri's name and your device name

Your device name (the name that appears in Settings > General > About on iPhone, or System Settings > General > About on Mac) is what other people see when they connect to your device via Bluetooth or AirDrop. Changing what Siri calls you does not change your device name, and vice versa.

Similarly, your Apple ID name is the name associated with your account across Apple services like the App Store, iCloud, and Apple Music. Changing what Siri calls you does not affect your Apple ID. These are three completely separate settings, and changing one does not touch the others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make Siri call me something completely different from my real name?

Yes. Siri will use whatever name you put in the First name and Last name fields of your contact card. You can use a nickname, a single word, a made-up name, or anything else. Siri doesn't validate the name against anything — it just reads what you type.

If I change my name in Siri settings, will it change my name everywhere on my phone?

No. Changing your name in Siri settings only affects what Siri calls you. Your Apple ID name, your device name, and how your name appears in other apps remain unchanged. The My Information setting is specific to Siri.

Do I need to change my name on every device, or does it sync?

You need to change it on each device separately. Siri's name setting is stored locally on each iPhone, iPad, or Mac and does not sync through iCloud. If you use Siri on multiple devices and want it to call you the same name on all of them, you'll need to set it up on each one.

What if I want Siri to stop using my name altogether?

Go back to Settings > Siri & Search > My Information (or System Settings > Siri & Spotlight > My Information on Mac), tap your contact card, tap Edit, and delete the text from the First name field. Leave it blank and tap Done. Siri will no longer address you by name.

Can I change Siri's voice or accent?

Yes, but that's a separate setting from the name. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Siri on iPhone or iPad, or System Settings > Accessibility > Siri on Mac. There you can choose a different voice, accent, and language for Siri to use. That's different from changing what Siri calls you.