Your legal name is the name you used when you first made a purchase or verified your identity at Google. It may also be the name you used to sign up for certain business products or services.
Why Google requires a legal name
Google uses your legal name to comply with regulations, enforce our transparency policies, and prevent fraud.
Legal name & display name
Your legal name isn’t necessarily the same as your display name. Your display name is the name you chose to use when you created your Google Account.
Your display name and profile picture will show up on most Google services. Anyone can see your display name when they communicate with you or view content you create in Google services.
Tip: If you were previously required to verify your identity to use a Google product or service, your legal name may show as Verified.
Learn how to control what others see about you across Google services.
Who can see your legal name
Your legal name will only be visible to others in these places:
- In the Ads Transparency Center if you’ve purchased Google Ads
- In the Play Store if you’re the developer of a published app
Edit your legal name
Important: Your legal name should reflect your identity, such as the name on your government-issued ID.
- Go to myaccount.google.com.
- If you have more than one Google Account, make sure you’re signed in to the correct one.
- At the top left, select Personal info.
- Under “Basic info,” select Name.
- At the bottom, select Legal name
Change legal name.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
