The two names in your Gmail account and which one you can change

Gmail has two separate names: your Google Account name (the one tied to your account recovery and security settings) and your display name (what people see when you send them an email). You can change your display name whenever you want. Your Google Account name — the one you use to sign in — cannot be changed, but you can create a new Google Account with a different name if you need to.

Most people want to change their display name, which is the straightforward process. That is what this guide covers. If you need a completely different email address or account name, you would need to create a new Google Account instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name is what recipients see in the "From" field when you send email, and you can change it anytime from Gmail settings.
  • The change takes effect immediately for new emails you send, but recipients who already have your old name in their contacts may still see it until they refresh.
  • You can set up multiple display names and choose which one to use for each email you send.
  • Your Google Account name (the one you sign in with) cannot be changed, but it is separate from your display name and not visible to most people.

How to change your display name in Gmail

Open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner. Select See all settings. Click the Accounts and Import tab. Under "Send mail as," you will see your current display name. Click Edit info next to it.

Type your new name in the "Name" field. You can use your full name, a nickname, a business name, or anything else you want people to see. Click Save Changes at the bottom. The next email you send will show your new name in the "From" field.

If you have multiple email addresses set up in Gmail, you will see each one listed under "Send mail as." You can edit the display name for each address separately, so you could have one address show "Jane Smith" and another show "Jane Smith, Freelance Editor."

What happens when you change your name

The change is immediate for emails you send going forward. Anyone who receives an email from you after the change will see your new name. However, people who already have your contact saved in their phone or email client may still see your old name until they manually refresh their contacts or delete and re-add you.

The change does not affect any emails you have already sent. Old emails in your recipients' inboxes will still show your previous name. This is normal and expected — Gmail cannot retroactively change the name on emails that were already delivered.

Setting up multiple display names

You can have Gmail show different names depending on which email address you are sending from. This is useful if you use one Gmail address for work and another for personal email, or if you manage email for a business or organization.

In the same Accounts and Import settings tab, look for "Send mail as." If you have added other email addresses to your account, each one will be listed separately. Click Edit info next to any address to set or change its display name independently. When you compose a new email, you can click the "From" field to choose which address and name to send from.

If you want a completely different email address

Changing your display name only changes what people see — your actual Gmail address stays the same. If you need a different email address entirely (for example, changing from firstname.lastname@gmail.com to a different Gmail address), you cannot do that with your current account.

You would need to create a new Google Account with a new Gmail address. You can then set up Gmail to send and receive from both addresses in the same inbox if you want, so you do not have to check two separate accounts. To do this, create the new account, then add it to your current Gmail using the "Add another email address" option in Accounts and Import settings.

Troubleshooting display name changes

If you changed your display name but it is not showing up in emails you send, make sure you clicked Save Changes at the bottom of the edit screen. Sometimes the page does not visibly confirm the save, so scroll down to verify the button was active.

If recipients are still seeing your old name, ask them to delete your contact and let Gmail re-add it from your next email, or have them manually refresh their contacts. This is especially common on phones and in older email clients that cache contact information.

If you cannot find the "Send mail as" section in settings, make sure you are in the Accounts and Import tab, not the General or Labels tabs. The location has stayed the same for several years, but Gmail occasionally reorganizes its settings interface.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Gmail address itself, not just the display name?

No, your Gmail address cannot be changed once it is created. If you need a different address, you must create a new Google Account. However, you can add that new address to your current Gmail account so both addresses appear in your "Send mail as" list, and you can receive emails sent to either address in the same inbox.

Will changing my display name affect my password or how I sign in?

No. Your display name is completely separate from your sign-in credentials. You sign in with your email address and password, which never change when you update your display name. The display name only affects what people see when you send them email.

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

Yes. Your display name can be anything you want — your full legal name, a nickname, a business name, initials, or any other text. Gmail does not verify that the name matches your identity. However, if you use Gmail for work or school, your organization may have policies about what names are acceptable.

If I change my display name, will old emails show the new name?

No. Emails that were already sent and delivered will always show the name you had at the time you sent them. Only new emails going forward will show your updated display name. This is how email works across all providers.

Can I have different display names for different recipients?

Not automatically. Your display name applies to all emails you send from that address. However, if you have multiple Gmail addresses set up in your account, you can give each one a different display name and choose which address to send from for each email.