Yoodley is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Do you spend most of your time on social media apps, and WhatsApp is your most loved application? Does WhatsApp play a vital role in your day-to-day dealings, and you can’t imagine doing without it? Well, this is the case with millions of users these days.
If you don’t already know, the contact names you have saved in your phone book will appear as it is on your WhatsApp contacts log too. But unlike the default call log on your phone, you cannot edit contact names straight on WhatsApp.
So, if you want to change someone’s name on your WhatsApp, you can’t do it directly from the app. However, you can use multiple other methods to do the same.
We have compiled a detailed guide for you explaining some reasons that might compel you to change someone’s name on WhatsApp. We will also take you through some simple methods you can use to edit and change your contacts’ names on WhatsApp on both Android and iOS devices, along with some methods for you to change your display name.
Why Change Someone’s Name on WhatsApp?
Before moving towards the methods, you can use to change someone’s name on WhatsApp, let us first have a look at some situations and scenarios that might compel you to edit and change the name of your WhatsApp contacts.
-
Misspelling
Misspelling is one of the primary reasons that compel users to change someone’s name on WhatsApp. If, while saving someone’s name, you had misspelled it or weren’t aware of the correct spellings when you were saving it, you have to edit the contact and change it to the right spelling.
-
Nicknaming the Contact
Another reason you might need to change someone’s name on WhatsApp is that you have decided to nickname the concerned contact. It might be because of your relationship with that particular contact which has evolved over the past few months or days, and you now want to name it accordingly.
-
Additional Number
If your WhatsApp contact has recently got a new SIM and is now using two numbers, you might have to change his priorly saved WhatsApp name and number it as 1. This way, you won’t get confused while calling or texting them.
Changing Someone’s Name On WhatsApp
If this is your first time attempting to change someone’s name on WhatsApp and you have no idea how this process works, our 2 step-by-step methods will help you perform this task on both Android and iOS devices.
Method #1: Changing Someone’s WhatsApp Name on iPhone
Here are the steps you can follow to change someone’s name on your iPhone.
Step #1: Launch the App
Firstly, navigate to the WhatsApp application on your phone. If you haven’t updated the app for a while, you might have to wait a couple of seconds for the update to complete.
Step #2: Go to Chats
Once you are on the app, head to the “Chats” tab at the bottom. Select the “box with a pencil” icon on the top-right corner of the screen.
Step #3: Select the Contact
You will now see a pop-up screen containing all your WhatsApp contacts. Scroll down to find the contact you want to change the name of and select it.
Step #4: Choose “Edit”
On selecting the concerned contacts, your previous WhatsApp conversation with it will appear on the screen. Hit the “Contact name” at the top. On the next screen, tap “Edit.”
Step #5: Change the Contacts’ Name
You can now edit and change the name. The first field is for the first name, and the second is for the second name. Remove the current name and type in the one you want to change it to.
Step #6: Save the Contacts
Once you have edited the name, tap the “Save” option in the upper right corner to save the new name.
You have successfully changed the contact name on your WhatsApp.
Method #2: Changing Someone’s WhatsApp Name On Android
You need to go through the following steps to change someone’s WhatsApp name on your Android device.
Step #1: Open WhatsApp on Your Device
To begin with, locate and open the WhatsApp application on your Android device. Ensure that you are using the latest version of the app.
Step #2: Go to “Chats”
Tap on the “CHATS” tab at the top. You can find it next to the “STATUS” tab on the app. Here you can see all your WhatsApp chats and the contacts you have conversed with previously.
Step #3: Select a Contact
Scroll through the chats list and find the WhatsApp contact you want to change the name of.
Once you have located the desired chat, tap their “WhatsApp Display Picture.” On the screen popping up in front of you, select the “i” icon.
Step #4: Head to “Edit”
You will now be directed to the main profile of the selected contact. Choose the “three-dots” icon at the top-right corner.
From the drop-down menu, choose “Edit.”
Step #5: Edit & Change the Name
On the next screen, tap the contact’s name. Remove it from the field and enter the name you want to change it to.
Step #6: Save the Changes
When you are done changing the name to the one you desire, tap the “Save” option at the top. You can now see the edited name appear on your WhatsApp.
Note: If you are still seeing the old name even after changing it, close the WhatsApp application and open it again to see the changes.
You can check out this YouTube video for help if this is your first time trying to change someone’s name on WhatsApp.
Changing Your Display Name On WhatsApp
Now that you have gone through the methods to change the name of some other contact on WhatsApp let us take you through some methods you can use to change your display name on WhatsApp.
Method #1: Using Android Device
This method allows you to edit and change your WhatsApp display name on an Android device. Here are the steps you need to follow for this:
- Navigate to WhatsApp on your Android device.
- Once in the app, tap the “three-dot” icon at the top-right corner.
- Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
- Choose your “Profile Photo” from the Settings page.
- You will see an “Edit” icon near your display name.
- Hit the “Edit” icon.
- Remove your current display name and enter the new one.
- When done, select the “Save” option at the top to save all the changes.
You have successfully changed your WhatsApp display name on your Android device.
Method #2: Via iPhone
Here is what you need to do to change and update your WhatsApp display name on your iOS device.
- Head to WhatsApp on your iPhone.
- Select the “Settings” option at the bottom of the screen.
- On the Settings page, tap your WhatsApp display name at the top.
- Select your name and change it to the one you want.
- When done, select the “Done” option in the upper-right corner to save the changes.
Conclusion – How to Change Someone’s Name on Whatsapp?
In this guide, we have taken you to some simple step-by-step methods you can use to change someone’s contact name on WhatsApp. We have explored the methods for both Android and iOS devices, so you can seek help from this guide regardless of the device you own.
Hopefully, one of these methods will work for you, and you can now change other contacts’ names and your display name on WhatsApp.