Can I change how my name appears in a Google review?

Can You Customize Your Name in Google Reviews?

If you’ve ever left a review on Google Maps and later wished you’d used a different name, you’re not alone. The good news is, yes — you can change how your name appears, but with some limitations.

You pick one nickname — and it applies to all your reviews. Google doesn’t allow multiple personas or different names for individual reviews. Once you enable the “Use a custom name & picture for posting” option in your Google Maps settings, you set a single nickname that becomes public across every review you’ve written and will write in the future.

This works behind the scenes as a privacy feature, letting users share feedback without exposing their full identity. Whether you go by “Alex in Austin” or “Traveling Tina,” that chosen nickname sticks consistently. It’s important to note that this setting doesn’t create separate profiles — it’s a one-size-fits-all alias for your entire reviewing history.

Changing your nickname is simple and can be done anytime. Just head to your Google Maps profile settings, update your custom name, and the change rolls out across all your existing reviews. But remember: it won’t happen retroactively per review — it updates uniformly.

While it might feel limiting not to tailor your name per review, the system is designed to keep things transparent and secure. After all, Google wants to maintain trust in its review ecosystem while still offering a layer of personal privacy.

So if you're not happy with how your name shows up, take a minute to tweak it. Just keep in mind: whatever you choose becomes your public voice on Google Maps — consistently, and across the board.