Gmail Sender Name vs Google Profile Name: Change the Right One

The name beside an outgoing Gmail message and the name on your Google profile can be controlled in different places. Changing the wrong setting may leave the name your recipients see unchanged.

Change the outgoing Gmail sender name

1. On a computer, open Gmail for the intended account.
2. Select Settings → See all settings.
3. Open Accounts and Import or Accounts.
4. Under Send mail as, select Edit info beside the relevant address.
5. Enter the intended sender name and select Save changes.

Google’s instructions specify the computer version of Gmail; this name change is not available through the Gmail app’s settings. If you send from several configured addresses, check the relevant entry rather than assuming one edit affects every From identity.

Change the Google profile name

For your broader Google identity, open Google Account Personal info → Name, edit the name, and save. This is separate from a legal name used for particular verified or payment-related services. It also does not rename the email address itself.

Google notes that changing the Google Account name or picture does not change the YouTube channel name or picture. A channel has its own identity settings.

Check with a new message

Send a non-sensitive test message after saving the change. Inspect the new message’s sender details, ideally with a recipient who can distinguish the message’s From name from a saved contact label.

Historical emails retain the name used when they were sent. Another person’s address book may also keep an old name that your account edit cannot replace. If only one recipient sees the old label, ask them to check their contact entry rather than repeatedly renaming your account.

Allow for propagation without resetting everything

Google says profile changes can take a few days to appear across products. First confirm that the setting was saved and that the correct account and sending address are selected. Broadly clearing browser data signs you out of unrelated services and does not update somebody else’s contacts. For managed accounts, ask the administrator if the relevant editing control is unavailable.

Official references

• Change the name on your Gmail account
• Change your Google Account picture, name & other info

Reviewed against Google’s official guidance on October 27, 2026. Available options and screen labels can vary by account, device, region, and organization policy.