Setting a Preferred Name
What is a preferred name?
A preferred name may be used in place of your legal name at Yale to identify yourself regardless of whether you have legally changed your name. Students may only provide a preferred first name. Faculty and staff may provide a preferred full name.
Where can my preferred first name be used?
Students
-
- Yale email address (you may use either your first name or preferred first name)
- Yale ID card (you may use either your first name or preferred first name)
- Yale online directory
- Learning management systems (e.g., Canvas)
- Student advising systems
- Online Course Selection (OCS)
- Yale Degree Audit (Yale College & Law only)
- Diplomas (students should communicate directly with their registrar regarding this change)
Faculty and Staff
-
- Yale email address
- ID card
- Yale online directory
Where is my legal name used?
Students
-
- Yale email address (students may use either their first name or preferred first name, faculty and staff may use their preferred name)
- ID card (students may use either their first name or preferred first name, faculty and staff may use their preferred name)
- Student accounts and bills
- Student employment and paychecks
- Financial aid documents
- Enrollment and degree verification certificates
- Official transcripts
Faculty and Staff
-
- Yale email address
- ID card
- Benefit Vendors
- Payroll Documents (e.g., W-2 document)
How do I add, change, or delete my preferred first name in my system of record?
Edit your name in your system of record (Workday or Yale Hub).
Students
-
- Visit the Yale Hub website
- Click on the "Personal Data" menu
- Select "My Preferred Name"
- Complete the form and save
Faculty and Staff
-
- Login to Workday.
- Click the "Menu" in the top left.
- Click on "Personal Information".
- Click on "Preferred Name" in the Change section.
- Uncheck the "Use Legal Name As Preferred Name" box.
- Replace the name with the new desired name.
- Click Submit.
I changed my mind. How do I go back to using my legal first name?
Students
-
- Visit the Yale Hub website.
- Click on the "Personal Data" menu.
- Select "My Preferred Name".
- Remove the preferred name and save.
Faculty and Staff
-
- Login to Workday.
- Click the "Menu" in the top left.
- Click on "Personal Information".
- Click on "Preferred Name" in the Change section.
- Check the "Use Legal Name As Preferred Name" box.
- Click Submit.
Managing Email Addresses
Does changing my preferred first name automatically update my Yale email address?
No, additional action is required to updated your email address as well.
Students
-
- Select the Yes checkbox to use your preferred name for the email alias. This generates a request to the ITS Help Desk.
- If you select "Make Primary," the new email address will be the primary email address that displays in all Yale systems. You may change this preference anytime by visiting the Yale Hub website.
Faculty and Staff
What difference does it make which email address is primary?
Your primary email address appears in Yale systems, directories, and learning management systems.
What happens to my old email address after I change it?
You will continue to receive emails sent to both addresses, as long as you did not elect to remove your original primary email address.
Can students use different email addresses for different contexts?
Yes. Students using EliApps can send and receive emails from both addresses. Set this up by following the steps on Sending email from a different alias. Only @yale.edu email addresses are supported.
How do I change the name displayed next to my email address?
EliApps
After updating your preferred name in Yale Hub or Workday, follow the steps on changing the display name in EliApps.
Microsoft 365
The name updates automatically one day after changing it in the system of record.
How do I send mail from another email address in EliApps?
Follow the steps on Sending email from a different alias. Only @yale.edu email addresses are supported.
How do I change my email address back to my legal name?
Students
Faculty and Staff
What happens to an email sent to a deleted alias?
The sender receives a bounce notification. Please update your contacts to reflect the correct address. Reference our instructions for deleting auto-complete addresses in EliApps.