What you're actually changing

When you change your email's display name, you're changing what appears in the "From" line when someone receives your message — not your email address itself. If your email address is jane.smith@gmail.com, you might display it as "Jane Smith" or "JS" or "Jane at Work". The address stays the same; only the label changes.

This is different from changing your email address entirely, which is a separate process. Changing your display name is faster and doesn't affect your inbox, contacts, or any messages you've already sent.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name is what appears in the "From" line of your emails, separate from your actual email address.
  • Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple Mail all let you change this in account settings, though the exact steps differ by service.
  • Changes usually take effect within minutes, but may take up to an hour to show on emails you've already sent.
  • You can set up multiple display names if you use the same email for different purposes, like work and personal.

Changing your name in Gmail

Open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner, then select "See all settings". Go to the "Accounts and Import" tab. Under "Send mail as", you'll see your current email address. Click "Edit info" next to it.

In the window that opens, change the name field to whatever you want to display. You can use your full name, a nickname, a business name, or anything else. Click "Save changes" at the bottom. The new name will appear on emails you send from that point forward.

If you have multiple email addresses set up in Gmail, you can set a different display name for each one by repeating these steps for each address under "Send mail as".

Changing your name in Outlook (Microsoft)

Sign into your Outlook account online. Click your profile picture or initials in the top right corner and select "View account". On the left side, click "Your info".

You'll see your name at the top of the page. Click "Edit name" and type in the name you want to display. Click "Save" when you're done. If you use Outlook on your computer or phone, the change will sync within a few minutes.

For Outlook desktop users: open Outlook, go to File, then Account Settings, then Account Settings again. Select your email account and click "Change". You can edit the name field there, though the web version is usually faster.

Changing your name in Yahoo Mail

Log into Yahoo Mail and click the account icon in the top right. Select "Account info". On the left side, click "Personal info".

Find the "Name" field and click the pencil icon next to it. Type your new display name and click "Save". Yahoo will ask you to confirm your identity — you may need to enter a verification code sent to your phone or recovery email. Once confirmed, your new name will appear on outgoing emails.

Changing your name in Apple Mail and iCloud

If you use iCloud Mail, sign into iCloud.com and click "Account Settings". Under "Personal Information", you'll see your name. Click "Edit" and change it to what you want to display. Click "Save".

If you use Apple Mail on your Mac or iPhone, the change will sync automatically from iCloud. On a Mac, you can also go to Mail > Preferences > Accounts, select your iCloud account, and edit the "Full Name" field directly — but the iCloud website method is more reliable.

For non-iCloud email accounts in Apple Mail, right-click your account in the sidebar, select "Account Settings", and look for the name field in the account details.

When the change takes effect

Most email services update your display name within minutes. However, there's a lag between when you change it and when it appears on emails already in someone's inbox — those messages were sent with your old name and won't change retroactively.

If you're sending an important email and just changed your name, send a test message to yourself first to confirm the new name is showing. This takes 30 seconds and prevents surprises.

Using multiple display names from one email

Gmail and Outlook both let you send from the same email address using different display names. In Gmail, you can add multiple "Send mail as" entries under Settings > Accounts and Import. In Outlook, you can set up multiple sending identities under Account Settings.

This is useful if you use one email for both work and personal messages, or if you run a business and want to send under a company name while keeping your personal email address private. When you compose a message, you'll see a dropdown to choose which name to send from.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my display name affect my email address or inbox?

No. Your email address stays exactly the same, and all your messages and contacts remain untouched. Only the name that appears in the "From" line changes.

Can I change my display name back to what it was before?

Yes, anytime. Go back to the same settings where you changed it and type in your old name. There's no limit to how many times you can change it.

Why do some of my old emails still show my old name?

Emails you've already sent keep the display name that was active when you sent them. Only new emails going forward will use your updated name. This is normal and not a problem.

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

Yes. Your display name can be anything you want — your real name, a nickname, a business name, initials, or anything else. Email services don't verify that it matches your actual identity.

What if I can't find the name settings in my email?

Check that you're in the full settings area, not just quick settings. Most services hide the name field in "Account Settings", "Personal Info", or "Accounts and Import" — not in the main inbox view. If you're still stuck, search your email provider's help center for "change display name" or "change sender name".