Want your iPhone to show full names instead of just first names in Messages, Mail, or Phone? By default, iOS shortens contact names to keep things tidy on screen, but you can easily customize that. Here’s how to change how names appear in your iPhone’s Contacts, Messages, and more.
What Is “Short Name” in iOS Contacts?
The Short Name feature in iOS controls how contact names are displayed across Apple apps like Messages, Phone, and Mail. Instead of showing the full name, iOS uses a shorter format like just the first name or last name, to better fit smaller screens.
By default, Short Name is turned on. But you can change the display format—or turn it off entirely.
How to Change Short Name Display on iPhone 13
Follow these steps to access and customize the short name settings:
- Open the Settings app
- Scroll down and tap Contacts
- Tap Short Name
- Choose your preferred format:
- First Name & Last Initial
- First Initial & Last Name
- First Name Only
- Last Name Only
Your selection will instantly apply to all saved contacts across supported apps.
Prefer Nicknames Instead? Here’s How
If you’d rather see nicknames instead of formal names, you can enable that too:
- Go to Settings > Contacts > Short Name
- Toggle on Prefer Nicknames
This works as long as you’ve added nicknames to your contacts. You can add a nickname by editing a contact, scrolling to Add Field, and selecting Nickname.
Want to Turn Off Short Names Completely?
You can do that in one tap:
- Go to Settings > Contacts > Short Name
- Toggle Short Name OFF
This will force iOS to show full names instead of abbreviated ones.
Short Name Not Working? Try These Fixes
- Restart your iPhone – Quick reboots often clear minor glitches
- Re-toggle Short Name or Prefer Nicknames – Switching them OFF and ON again can refresh the feature
- Double-check that Nicknames are added in the Contacts app
Note: Short Name formatting does not affect Chinese, Japanese, or Korean names.