Personal Finance Tips

How to change your name on PayPal?

Adam Rozsa

08.06.22 (updated more than 1 year ago)

Read time 2 minutes

Wondering how to change your name on PayPal? This guide is for you.

Whether you need to make a minor correction to your name to bring it in line with your government issued photo ID, or you’re looking to change your PayPal username for your business account, we have the answers.

We’ll also touch on how you could save on fees when sending and receiving payments in foreign currencies, with Wise.

Can I change my name on PayPal?

Yes. You can change your name on PayPal if you need to correct a typo or if you’ve legally changed your name.

You won’t be able to change your PayPal account into someone else’s name, and if you’re changing your PayPal because you have a new legal name, you’ll probably need to provide legal documentation as proof of the change.

If you have a PayPal business account, you’ll also be able to change your PayPal account’s name if you can legally show your business name has changed.

Once again, you’ll need to prove that your business has legally changed name, and your linked bank account will need to show the same business name as your PayPal account.

How to change PayPal name - PayPal personal

Here’s how to change your name on your personal PayPal account¹:

Log in to the PayPal website - you can’t change your name on the PayPal app
Click on Settings
Click Change Name beside your name
Select the appropriate option to fit why you’re changing your PayPal account name

Depending on the situation, you might have to upload images of a document to show your name has really changed. This might be a government issued photo ID if you’ve legally changed your name, or a marriage certificate, for example. Make sure you include photos of both the front and back of your valid ID.

Can you change your name on a PayPal business account?

Changing your PayPal business account name is very similar to altering your name on a PayPal personal account. To change your business name²:

Log in to PayPal on a web browser and go to Account Settings
Click Business Information and then click Update
Select Edit
Click Change which you’ll find under your business name

This process only applies if you’ve changed the registered name of your business, and can provide legal documents to show this has happened. If you’re creating an account for a new business, open a new PayPal business account rather than updating the business name on an existing account.

Sending and receiving payments in foreign currencies? Choose Wise to save 6x compared to old school banks

PayPal offers some great options for shopping online and sending domestic payments within the US. But when it comes to anything international, PayPal’s fees can be high, with a steep markup every time you need to switch currencies. Beat high fees and bad exchange rates with Wise.

Open a Wise account to hold 50+ currencies, send payments to 80+ countries, get paid fee free from 30+ countries, and spend all over the world with your linked international debit card. You’ll get the real exchange rate with no markups and no foreign transaction fees, no monthly costs, and low, transparent charges for the services you use.

See how much you can save with Wise today:

The true cost of sending USD to EUR

Sources:

All sources checked on 8 June 2022

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.