You can change the name that appears when you send emails without creating a new Gmail account

Gmail lets you change the display name — the name recipients see when you send them a message — through your account settings. This is different from changing your Google Account name or your Gmail address itself. The display name change takes effect immediately for new emails you send, though emails you have already sent will still show your old name.

The process takes about two minutes and requires you to be signed into your Gmail account. You do not need to contact Google support or verify your identity to make this change.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your display name in Gmail settings under "Personal info," not in the email composer.
  • The new name appears on emails you send going forward, but does not change emails already sent.
  • You can have multiple display names if you manage more than one Gmail account, and switch between them by signing out and back in.
  • Changing your display name does not change your Gmail address or affect your account security.
  • If you want to change your actual Gmail address (the part before @gmail.com), you will need to create a new account and forward mail from the old one.

Steps to change your display name in Gmail

Open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner. 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 will see your current email address and display name. Click "Edit info" next to your email address. A box will pop up with a field showing your current name. Delete the old name and type in the new one you want to use. Click "Save changes" at the bottom of the box.

Gmail will ask you to confirm the change by sending a verification email to your Gmail address. Check your inbox for a message from Google, open it, and click the confirmation link. Once you confirm, the new name is active and will appear on all emails you send from that point forward.

What happens to emails you have already sent

Changing your display name does not affect emails in your sent folder or emails that recipients have already received. Those messages will continue to show the name you used when you sent them. Only new emails you compose after making the change will display your new name.

If you sent emails under your old name and want recipients to know you have a new name, you will need to tell them separately — the change does not retroactively update past messages.

If you want to change your actual Gmail address

Your Gmail address is the part before @gmail.com (for example, sarah.okonkwo@gmail.com). You cannot change this directly. If you need a different Gmail address, you must create a new Gmail account with the address you want.

To move your mail from the old address to the new one, set up forwarding in the old account's settings. Go to "Forwarding and POP/IMAP," click "Add a forwarding address," and enter your new Gmail address. Gmail will send a confirmation email to the new address — click the link to confirm. After that, all new mail arriving at your old address will automatically forward to the new one. You can keep the old account active for forwarding, or delete it after you have moved everything you need.

Managing multiple Gmail accounts with different names

If you have more than one Gmail account, each one can have its own display name. When you sign into one account, that account's display name is what appears on your sent emails. To switch between accounts, click your profile picture in the top right corner and select the account you want to use, or sign out and sign back in with a different email address.

You can also add other email addresses to a single Gmail account if you want to send from multiple addresses without managing separate accounts. In settings under "Send mail as," click "Add another email address" and follow the verification steps. Then when you compose an email, you can choose which address to send from using the "From" field in the compose window.

Troubleshooting common issues

If the "Edit info" button does not appear next to your email address, you may be using a Google Workspace account (a business Gmail account) rather than a personal Gmail account. Workspace accounts have different settings controlled by your administrator. Contact your IT department or account administrator to request a display name change.

If you do not receive the verification email after clicking "Save changes," check your spam folder. If it is not there, wait a few minutes and try again. You can also go back to settings and click "Edit info" again to request a new verification email. If you still cannot find it after 10 minutes, sign out of Gmail, clear your browser cache, and sign back in to try once more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my display name affect my password or security?

No. Your password and account security settings remain unchanged. The display name is only what appears on outgoing emails — it does not affect how you sign in or protect your account.

Can I use a fake name or nickname as my display name?

Yes. Gmail does not require you to use your legal name. You can use any text you want as your display name, including nicknames, business names, or initials.

Will my contacts see the new name if they have my old emails saved?

No. Emails already in their inbox will show the name you used when you sent them. They will only see your new name on emails you send after you make the change.

What if I change my mind and want to go back to my old name?

You can change your display name as many times as you want by going back to settings and repeating the same steps. There is no limit on how often you can make this change.