You can change your Pokémon GO name once every 30 days through the in-game settings menu

Open Pokémon GO and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Select the settings gear icon, then tap "Change Nickname." Type your new name (up to 16 characters), confirm it, and submit. The change takes effect immediately. You'll see a message confirming the update, and your new name will appear to other players in gyms, raids, and PvP battles.

Niantic, the company that makes Pokémon GO, enforces a 30-day waiting period between name changes. If you've changed your name recently, the app will tell you exactly when you can change it again. This cooldown applies whether you changed your name intentionally or had it reset by Niantic's moderation system.

The name you choose must follow Pokémon GO's community guidelines. Niantic will reject names that contain profanity, impersonate other players, reference hate speech, or violate their terms of service. If your name gets flagged, you'll be forced to change it, and you may lose the ability to change it again for 30 days after that forced reset.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to your profile, tap settings, select "Change Nickname," type your new name, and confirm the change in the app itself.
  • You can only change your name once every 30 days, and the app will show you when your next change becomes available.
  • Names must be 16 characters or fewer and cannot contain profanity, impersonation, or hate speech.
  • If Niantic flags your name as a violation, you'll be forced to change it and the 30-day timer resets from that point.

What happens if you forget your old name

Your old name is gone once you change it. Pokémon GO does not show you a history of previous usernames, and there is no way to recover or revert to an old name through the app. If you changed your name and now regret it, you'll have to wait 30 days and then change it again to something new.

Write down or screenshot your new name immediately after changing it so you have a record. This is especially useful if you play in groups or raids where other players need to find you by name.

Why Niantic might force you to change your name

Niantic's automated system and human moderators scan for names that violate their community guidelines. If your name gets reported by other players or caught by their filters, you'll receive a notification in the app telling you to change it. You typically have a set time to make the change yourself before Niantic forces a reset.

Common reasons for forced name changes include profanity, references to real people or celebrities, numbers that spell offensive words, or attempts to impersonate official Pokémon GO accounts or well-known players. Even if you didn't intend offense, the name may still be flagged if it could be interpreted as violating the rules.

If your name is forced to change, you lose your choice in what the new name becomes—Niantic assigns you a temporary placeholder name like "Trainer" plus random numbers. You then have 30 days before you can pick a new name yourself.

Character limits and special characters

Your Pokémon GO name can be up to 16 characters long. This includes letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks. Underscores, hyphens, and periods are generally accepted, but Niantic's system may reject names with unusual symbols or characters from non-Latin alphabets depending on how their filter is configured.

If you try to use a character the system doesn't recognize, you'll get an error message when you try to confirm the change. Try removing special characters or replacing them with numbers or hyphens instead. Keep the name simple and readable to avoid triggering the moderation system.

Changing your name on different devices

Whether you play on iPhone or Android, the process is identical. Tap your profile, go to settings, select "Change Nickname," and confirm. Your new name syncs across all devices tied to your Pokémon GO account. If you play on multiple phones or tablets, the name change will appear on all of them within a few minutes.

Make sure you're logged into the same Pokémon GO account on each device. If you have multiple accounts, each one has its own 30-day cooldown timer, so you can change the name on one account while still waiting to change another.

What other players see when you change your name

Other players see your new name immediately in gyms, raids, PvP battles, and on your trainer card. There is no transition period or delay—as soon as you confirm the change, everyone else sees the new name. Players who had you added as a friend will see the updated name in their friends list.

Your old name does not appear anywhere in the game after the change. Other players have no way to know what your previous username was unless you tell them. This is useful if you want to rebrand or distance yourself from an old identity in the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my name more than once every 30 days?

No. Pokémon GO enforces a strict 30-day cooldown between name changes. The app will show you the exact date and time when you can change your name again. This limit applies to all players and cannot be bypassed.

What if someone else is using the name I want?

Pokémon GO allows multiple players to have the same username. There is no uniqueness requirement, so you can choose any name that follows the community guidelines, even if another player already has it. You won't see a conflict or error message.

Can I change my name if I'm banned or suspended?

If your account is suspended or banned, you cannot access the settings menu or make any changes. You'll need to resolve the suspension with Niantic support first. Contact them through the in-game help menu or their website to appeal or learn why your account was restricted.

Does changing my name affect my Pokémon, items, or progress?

No. Your name is purely cosmetic. Changing it does not affect your level, Pokédex, items, buddy Pokémon, or any other game data. Everything stays exactly as it was before the name change.

What if I want to use a name with spaces or numbers?

Spaces and numbers are allowed in Pokémon GO names. You can include them as long as the total name is 16 characters or fewer and does not violate the community guidelines. Names like "Trainer 123" or "Red Blue" are perfectly valid.