How To Change The Send Mail As Name In Gmail Easily

You set up Gmail to send from your business address or an old alias, but recipients see the wrong name next to it. Maybe it shows your personal name instead of your company, a nickname from years ago, or a misspelled version. That display name shapes how professional every message looks.

Thankfully, Gmail lets you edit the name for each “send mail as” address separately. The steps are quick, but there are a few places where people get stuck, especially with Google Workspace and non-Gmail addresses.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

In Gmail, open Settings, go to See all settings, then the Accounts and Import tab, and find the Send mail as section. Click edit info next to the address, type the name you want recipients to see, select that name option, and save. The new name applies to new emails you send from that address.

What the “Send Mail As” Name Actually Is

Every email carries two pieces of sender identity: the email address and a display name. The display name is the friendly text shown in the inbox list, such as “Sarah Khan – Bright Studio” instead of just the raw address. Gmail stores a display name for your main account and for each alias or connected address you add under “send mail as”.

Changing this name does not change your email address, your username, or your Google Account name everywhere. It changes only what recipients see for mail sent from that specific address in Gmail. If you also send from a phone app or another program, you may need to update the name there too.

Before You Start: Pick the Right Name

For a personal address, use your real full name so people recognize you.
For a business address, use your name plus the business, or the business name alone for shared inboxes.
Keep it short. Very long names get cut off in mobile inboxes.
Avoid symbols, emojis, and all capital letters, which look like spam.
Use the same spelling and style across all your tools for a consistent brand.

Step-by-Step: Change the Name on a Computer

Open Gmail in your browser and sign in to the account you send from.
Click the gear icon in the top-right corner to open Quick settings.
Click See all settings at the top of that panel.
Open the Accounts and Import tab, called Accounts in some personal accounts.
Scroll to the Send mail as section, which lists your main address and any aliases.
Find the address you want to fix and click edit info on the right.
A small window opens showing your current name and an empty field next to a second option.
Select the option with the empty text field and type the new display name exactly as recipients should see it.
Click Save Changes at the bottom of the window.
Click Save Changes again on the main settings page if prompted.
Send a test email to another account you own and check the name shown in the inbox.

Google documents this same setting in its help article about sending mail from a different address or alias, which also covers adding new aliases.

Changing the Name for Your Main Gmail Address

Your primary address appears in the same Send mail as list, and the edit info steps above work for it in Gmail. However, be aware that your main Gmail display name is closely tied to your Google Account name. If the name keeps reverting, or you want the change to apply across Google services, update your account name directly: open your Google Account, go to Personal info, and edit the Name field. That broader change affects other Google products too, so choose it only if that is what you want.

Names for Google Workspace and Domain Addresses

If your address belongs to a company or school Google Workspace account, you can normally edit your send mail as name with the same steps. Some organizations restrict this. If edit info is missing, greyed out, or your changes do not stick, your admin may control names centrally through the admin console to keep a standard company format. In that case, ask the admin to update your name, and mention the exact format you need.

Directory details can also play a part. In some workplaces, the name shown to people inside the same organization comes from the company directory, while external recipients see your send mail as name. Test both inside and outside if it matters.

Sending From a Non-Gmail Address

Many people connect a domain address, Yahoo address, or other mailbox so Gmail sends on its behalf. The name for that address is stored in the same edit info window, so the steps above still apply. Two extra points matter here:

Gmail may ask you to verify ownership of the address again if you change its server settings, though a name-only edit normally does not need this.
If you chose the option to reply from the same address a message was sent to, make sure each alias has the right name, not just the main one.

If your connected address forwards through your domain provider, our guide to configuring Gmail send mail as for a custom domain helps if the alias itself needs setting up from scratch.

Why the Old Name Still Shows After You Changed It

Recipients Have You Saved as a Contact

If someone saved you in their contacts under a name, their mail app often displays that saved name instead of yours. This is the most common reason for confusion. The fix is on their side, and it proves your setting is fine if a fresh test account shows the new name correctly.

You Tested From the Wrong Address

If you have several aliases, the compose window may default to a different From address. When testing, click the From field in the compose window and deliberately pick the address you edited.

The Change Only Affects New Mail

Old emails keep the name they were sent with. Nothing rewrites history, so always judge the fix using a brand-new test message.

Another App Has Its Own Setting

The Gmail app, Apple Mail, Outlook, and a desktop client each can store their own display name for an account. If web Gmail is correct but phone emails are wrong, update the account name inside that app.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Typing the name but not selecting its option: If the old name’s option stays selected, your typed text is ignored. Click the radio button beside the new name field.
Forgetting to save: Both the small edit window and sometimes the main settings page need saving.
Editing the wrong alias: Accounts with many addresses are easy to mix up. Match the full email address.
Making the name a sales pitch: Names like “Best Cheap Deals – Buy Now” trigger spam filters and annoy readers.
Expecting contacts to update automatically: People who saved your old name will keep seeing it until they edit their contact.
Changing only the Google Account name: Alias names live in Gmail settings and may need a separate edit.

Conclusion

The name recipients see is a small setting with a big effect on trust. Open Gmail’s full settings, edit the name beside the correct send mail as address, select the new name option, and save. Then verify with a fresh test from the right From address. If it still looks wrong, think contacts, other apps, or Workspace admin controls before repeating the steps. Once fixed, every new email carries the professional identity you intended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the send mail as name change my email address?

No. Your address stays exactly the same. Only the display name shown next to it in recipients’ inboxes changes, such as from a nickname to your full professional name.

Can I use a different name for each alias?

Yes. Each address in the Send mail as list has its own edit info link and its own name. This is useful if one address is personal and another represents your business.

Why does my Gmail app still show the old name?

Mobile and desktop mail apps can store a separate display name for the account. Update the name in that app’s account settings as well, then send a fresh test.

Can my admin stop me from changing my name?

Yes, on Google Workspace accounts an admin can manage names centrally. If your edit does not save or the option is missing, ask your admin to make the change for you.

How quickly does the new name appear for recipients?

It applies as soon as you save, for new messages. Send a test right away; if a brand-new recipient account shows the old name, re-check that you selected the new name option and edited the correct alias.