Change your display name in Gmail settings

Your Gmail display name is what appears in the "From" line when you send an email. To change it, open Gmail, click the gear icon in the top right, and select "See all settings." Go to the "Accounts and Import" tab, then find the "Send mail as" section. Click "Edit info" next to your email address, type your new name in the "Name" field, and click "Save changes."

This change takes effect immediately for new emails you send. People who receive your messages will see the new name you entered. If you send emails from multiple addresses through the same Gmail account, each one can have its own display name — you choose which name appears when you send from each address.

The display name change does not affect your Gmail username or the email address itself. Your login credentials stay the same, and anyone who has your email address can still reach you at that same address.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Gmail display name is what shows in the "From" line of emails you send, and you change it through Settings > Accounts and Import > Send mail as.
  • The change takes effect immediately for new emails and does not affect your email address or login username.
  • If you send from multiple email addresses, each one can have its own display name.
  • Gmail does not let you change your actual Gmail username or email address through the display name setting — those require different steps.

Where to find the display name setting

Open Gmail in your web browser. In the top right corner, click the gear icon (it looks like a cog). A dropdown menu appears. Click "See all settings" at the bottom of that menu.

You are now in Gmail Settings. Click the "Accounts and Import" tab at the top. Scroll down until you see the section labeled "Send mail as." Your email address appears there with an "Edit info" link next to it. Click that link to open the name editor.

What happens when you change your display name

When you type a new name and save it, Gmail updates the "From" field on all emails you send going forward. Recipients see the new name immediately. Old emails you already sent still show the name you had when you sent them — Gmail does not retroactively change the sender name on past messages.

Your contacts and anyone in your email history can still find you by your email address. The display name is purely cosmetic; it does not change how email routing works or who can reach you.

Changing the name on multiple email addresses

If you have set up Gmail to send from multiple email addresses (a feature called "Send mail as"), each address can have its own display name. In the "Send mail as" section of Settings, you see a list of all the addresses you can send from. Click "Edit info" next to whichever address you want to rename.

This is useful if you manage a work email and a personal email from the same Gmail inbox, or if you send from an alias. Each one displays the name you choose for it, independently.

Changing your Google Account name instead

Your Gmail display name is separate from your Google Account name. If you want to change the name associated with your entire Google Account (which affects Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, and other Google services), go to myaccount.google.com, click "Personal info" on the left, and edit your name there. That change is broader and affects how your name appears across all Google services you use.

Most people only need to change their Gmail display name, not their full Google Account name. The display name is what shows on emails, while the Account name is your identity across Google's ecosystem.

What you cannot change through the display name setting

Your Gmail username — the part before @gmail.com — cannot be changed. Gmail does not offer a way to rename your email address itself. If you need a different email address entirely, you would need to create a new Gmail account.

You can, however, add alternate email addresses to your account and send from them using the "Send mail as" feature. This gives you the appearance of sending from different addresses without actually changing your primary Gmail address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Gmail username or email address?

No. Gmail does not allow you to change the username part of your email address (the part before @gmail.com). If you need a different email address, you must create a new Gmail account. You can add alternate addresses and send from them, but your primary Gmail address cannot be renamed.

Will changing my display name affect my password or login?

No. Your login credentials do not change. You still sign in with your email address and password exactly as before. The display name change only affects what people see when you send them an email.

Do old emails show my new name or my old name?

Old emails show the name you had when you sent them. Gmail does not update the sender name on past messages. Only new emails you send after the change will show your new display name.

Can I have different names for different email addresses I send from?

Yes. If you use Gmail's "Send mail as" feature to send from multiple addresses, each address can have its own display name. You set the name for each address separately in the "Send mail as" section of Settings.

How long does it take for the name change to show up?

The change is immediate. The next email you send will show your new display name. There is no waiting period or delay.