Want to control what appears in the “From:” line when you send an email—and add your brand name, for instance, or a nickname? Find out here how to change your name on Yahoo Mail for sending email (even for alias addresses).
First, Have You Thrown the Whirlo-Way?
“Whirlo-Way” is just one name the inventor had tried for a concoction that eventually became known, beloved, and thrown with a name not picked (or liked) by the inventor himself.
Among the other names Frederick Morrison gave a whirl for the “frisbee” are “Flyin‘ Saucer”, “Flyin‘ Cake Pan” and “Pluto Platter”.
With that in mind, how about an alluring alliteration for your email sending name on Yahoo?
How to Change Your Name on Yahoo Mail for Sending Email
Time needed: 3 minutes
To change the name that appears when you send an email using your Yahoo Mail account:
- Click the Settings Menu gear icon in Yahoo Mail’s desktop version.
- Choose More Settings.
- Go to the Mailboxes category.
Yahoo Mail shortcut: You can open Yahoo Mail settings directly in your browser.
- Choose the account and address for which you want to change the sending name under Mailbox list.
Linked accounts: You can change the name for the account’s address as well as for linked Yahoo Mail accounts; do select the account in the Mailbox list.
Aliases: You can also change the name for a Yahoo email alias address; see below. - Type the name you want to appear in the From: address when you send an email under Your name.
- Click Save at the bottom.
Change the Name for an Alias Address
To change the name used in the From: line when you send an email using a Yahoo email alias:
- Go to your Yahoo Mail settings’ Mailboxes category. (See above.)
- Click the alias address for which you want to change the sending name under Disposable email address.
- Enter the name you want to use under Sending Name.
- Click Save.
How to Change Your Name on Yahoo Mail: FAQ
What characters can I use in my Yahoo Mail sending name?
You can use any Unicode characters and special characters such as "%\ and =, for instance.
Does that mean I can use emoji characters in my email sending name?
Yes. Yahoo Mail lets you use emojis in your name and will encode them properly. Do not, of course, that some email programs—especially older ones—may display the entire name as code or jumbled if you use emoji characters.
Can I edit the name for sending in the Yahoo Mail app?
Alas, no.
The Yahoo Mail app for iOS and Android does not allow you to edit the sending name directly, but it will synchronize with name changes in the web-based version.
To pick the sending name for your Yahoo Mail address or alias in the Yahoo Mail app:
- Open Yahoo Mail in a desktop browser.
On the desk’s top: Sadly, opening the desktop version in a mobile browser is not possible without considerable hoops; simply masquerading the mobile browser as a desktop browser and handing Yahoo Mail a large enough virtual screen size is not enough. - Change the name as desired.
Will changing the sending name also change the name for the Yahoo account?
No. If you edit your name for sending (for an account or for a Yahoo Mail alias), it will only appear changed in the “From:” line of emails you send.
(How to change your name on Yahoo Mail for sending tested in a desktop browser; updated March 2024)