How to Display Nicknames for Contacts on an iPhone

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to display contact nicknames on an iPhone. These nicknames will replace a contact’s first and last name anytime a contact calls, texts, or emails the iPhone.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Displaying Nicknames

1
Open your iPhone’s Settings. The icon will appear as a set of grey cogs located on one the home screens.
- If Settings isn’t present on a home screen, its icon may be located in the Utilities folder on one the home screens.
2
Scroll down and tap Contacts. It is located in the fifth set of menu options.

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3
Tap Short Name. It is located in the second group of menu options.
4
Switch the Prefer Nicknames button to “on.” The iPhone will now display the contact’s nickname when receiving a call or message from them.^{[1]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Adding a Nickname to a Contact

1
Open the Contacts app. The icon looks like a grey silhouette of a man and is located on one of the home screens.
2
Tap on a contact to edit. All of your contacts will be listed on the left side of the screen.
3
Tap Edit. This button is in the upper right corner of the screen.
4
Scroll down and tap Add Field. This button is right above the Linked Contacts section.
5
Scroll down and tap Nickname. It is located at the bottom of the first group of options in the popup menu. The popup menu will disappear.
6
Scroll up and tap on the Nickname field. It is near the top of the contact profile, underneath the contact’s first and last name.
7
Input a nickname.
8
Tap Done. This is in the upper right corner of the screen. The nickname will now replace the contact’s actual name and will appear anytime the contact is displayed during a phone call, text message, or email.