How to Change Your Name on LinkedIn & Why You’d Want To

Your name and photograph comprise your personal brand’s foundation online (LinkedIn, social media, etc.).

As your life evolves, you might find yourself “rebranding” with a new name. When that happens, you need to know how to change your name on LinkedIn. 

Why People Change Their Names

I got curious about what motivates people to change their names.

Google gave me a load of answers:

anonymity, assimilation, avoiding debt collectors, divorce,
avoiding embarrassment, financial gain, hiding from someone,
joining the Witness Protection Program, liking a particular name,
marriage, political statements, religious reasons, simplicity, spelling,
transgender identity, un-assimilation, whim, and more 

As you can see, people have many compelling reasons to change their names. In essence, they’re rebranding themselves for the lives they want.

How to Change Your Name on LinkedIn

Thus, it makes sense to understand how to change your name on LinkedIn. 

You have 4 options. Three of them pertain to LinkedIn’s name fields. The 4th concerns how you choose to display your last name on LinkedIn.

You can:

1. Change either or both your first and last name using LinkedIn Help’s simple instructions. 
2. Further establish your brand by adding credentials to your last name.
3. Add a maiden or former name.
4. Abbreviate your last name to its initial.

Abbreviating Your Last Name on LinkedIn

LinkedIn lets you hide your last name from people who aren’t your connections. However, your full name is always visible to your connections. 

To do this:

1. Click your mini “Me” photo on the top horizontal rail of your profile.
2. Click “Settings & Privacy.”
3. Click “Visibility” on the left vertical rail. 
4. Scroll down to “Who can see your last name” in the right vertical rail and click.
5. Choose your name and your last initial. 

That’s it; you’ve abbreviated your last name on LinkedIn. Only your 1st-degree connections can see your full name.

Why People Hide Their Last Names on LinkedIn

I write for active and passive job seekers. Thus, it’s hard for me to understand why anyone would hide their last name on LinkedIn. I reached out for help and got these reasons:

1. Didn’t realize it was hidden (LinkedIn coach Andy Foote).
2. Protect privacy (resume writer Annette Richmond). 
3. Avoid recruiters (legal recruiter Wendy Schoen).
4. Prevent discrimination (developer Todd Lovett).
5. Avoid connection requests (sales trainer John Marrett).
6. Avoid people who might be dangerous (coach Lauchlan Mackinnon).
7. Lack of confidence (LinkedIn trainer Irving Frydman).

We see overlaps when we look at why people change their names and hide their last names on LinkedIn. For many reasons, some people want to be present but don’t want to be seen by certain people. 

Lisa Rangel, a resume writer, observed, “Not everyone on LinkedIn is using it for exposure. Some people only connect with people they know well and use that philosophy effectively.” 

Does Hiding Your Last Name on LinkedIn Work?

However, does hiding your last name help you accomplish your goal?

Brian Stewart, a recruiter, noted people can often find your last name in your profile’s URL.

Your original LinkedIn URL contains your name.

If you haven’t changed it, LinkedIn will do so when you go private with your name. However, if you have a custom URL that contains your last name, you’ll need to update it. LinkedIn won’t change it for you.  

Beyond that, hiding your last name puts people off. Several people mentioned they wouldn’t connect with anyone who hides their last name.

So, if you invite someone to connect, add a brief note that includes your last name. Also, share your reason for the invitation. 

Irving Frydman suggested getting comfortable with LinkedIn incrementally. If the site makes you uneasy, that’s a great approach.

First, hide your public profile page from Google and other search engines. Next, limit your contact information’s visibility. Then, open up as you get more familiar and feel more comfortable with the platform. 

What’s in a Name?

As you can see, when it comes to LinkedIn, names are complicated.

The conversations described above mostly took place in a LinkedIn thread. They gave me a richer understanding of what names mean and accomplish on LinkedIn.

Use the platform in a manner that helps you achieve your goals.

If you’re a job seeker, establish your personal brand, including your last name(s), unless you feel at risk by doing so.

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Updated January 2023

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