What you can change and what you cannot
Gmail lets you change the name that appears when you send emails, but not the username itself — the part before @gmail.com. If your Gmail address is sarah.okonkwo@gmail.com, you can change what shows up as "From: Sarah Okonkwo" to anything you want. You cannot change sarah.okonkwo to something else without creating a new account.
The name you see in your own inbox (your account display name) is separate from the sender name. You can have different names for each, which matters if you use Gmail for work and personal mail from the same account.
If you need to change your actual Gmail address, you will need to create a new account and forward mail from the old one, or use Google's account recovery process if your current address is compromised. This guide covers changing the name people see when you email them.
Key Takeaways
- You change your sender name in Gmail Settings under the "Accounts and Import" tab, not in your profile.
- The change takes effect on new emails you send, but does not change the name on emails already sent.
- Your account display name (what you see at the top left of Gmail) is a separate setting from your sender name.
- If you use Gmail through work or school, your administrator may have locked this setting and you will need to contact them to change it.
- The change is instant and does not require you to sign out or restart your browser.
Steps to change your sender name in Gmail
Open Gmail in a web browser 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 page.
Under the section labeled "Send mail as", you will see your current email address and the name next to it. Click "Edit info" next to that address. A box will open where you can type a new name. Type what you want to appear as your sender name, then click "Save changes" at the bottom of the box.
Gmail will ask whether you want to use this as your default sender name. If you have multiple email addresses set up in this account, you can choose to use different names for each one. Click "Yes" to confirm, and the change takes effect immediately on new emails.
Changing your account display name
Your account display name is what appears at the top left of Gmail, next to your profile picture. This is different from your sender name and is what other Google services (like Google Drive or YouTube) may show as well.
To change this, click your profile picture in the top right corner of Gmail and select "Manage your Google Account". Click the "Personal info" tab. Find "Name" and click on it. Type your new name and click "Save".
This change affects how your name appears across Google services, not just in Gmail. If you only want to change how your name looks to people receiving your emails, use the sender name setting instead.
What happens if your Gmail is through work or school
If your Gmail address ends in your company or school domain (like sarah@company.com instead of @gmail.com), your administrator may have restricted who can change sender names. You will see a message saying "Your administrator has turned off this setting" when you try to edit.
Contact your IT department or administrator to request the change. They can either unlock the setting for you or change it themselves. Some organizations require sender names to match your legal name for compliance or security reasons, so they may deny the request.
Changing your name on the Gmail mobile app
The Gmail app on Android and iPhone does not have a settings menu for changing your sender name. You must use a web browser to make this change. Open Gmail.com in Safari, Chrome, or your default browser and follow the steps above.
Once you change your sender name on the web, it will appear correctly on emails you send from the mobile app. The app will use whatever sender name you set in the web version.
Troubleshooting common problems
If you do not see an "Edit info" button next to your email address, your account may be managed by an organization. Check whether your Gmail address belongs to a company, school, or other institution. If it does, contact your administrator.
If you changed your sender name but it is not showing up on emails you send, wait a few minutes and send a test email. Sometimes Gmail takes a moment to apply the change across all servers. If it still does not work after 10 minutes, sign out of Gmail completely and sign back in.
If you see multiple email addresses under "Send mail as" and you are not sure which one to edit, click "Edit info" next to the address you use most often. That is usually the one people see when you email them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my name affect emails I already sent?
No. Your sender name only changes on new emails going forward. People who received emails from you before the change will still see your old name on those messages. The change does not apply retroactively.
Can I use a fake name or nickname as my sender name?
Yes, Gmail allows any text as your sender name. However, if your account is through work or school, your administrator may require your legal name. Some email providers may also flag messages from accounts where the sender name does not match the account holder's identity.
What if I have multiple email addresses in one Gmail account?
You can set a different sender name for each email address. In the "Send mail as" section, click "Edit info" next to the specific address you want to change. Each address can have its own name, and you choose which one to use when composing each email.
Can I change my Gmail username (the part before @gmail.com)?
No. Gmail usernames cannot be changed once created. If you need a different email address, you must create a new Gmail account. You can set up forwarding from your old address to your new one so you do not miss messages.
How long does it take for the name change to show up?
The change is instant. New emails you send will show your new sender name immediately. You do not need to restart Gmail or your browser for the change to take effect.