Your Name on Records & Rosters - Office of the Registrar

Students can update their CalCentral account to provide the following:

A lived name (which is a self-chosen personal and/or preferred professional first, middle, and last name used instead of a legal name);
Select which name (lived or legal) they want each of their delegates to see; and
Indicate their gender identity, sexual orientation, and pronouns.

Our campus directory has also been updated, students now have the option to select how data is displayed in the directory by using a drop-down menu for each field. Options include:

Public (everyone can see this field, this is the default setting);
Logged in (only those logged in via CalNet can see this field); or
Not visible (no one can see this field)

It is important to note that unless there is an identified lived name, the name field will default to the legal name. Once you make these updates in CalCentral, this information will be synced across multiple University systems and you will see this reflected in your directory listing, bCourses, Google Workspace (bConnected, bCal, bMail, bDrive), and more.

How Do I…?

Current Students: How do I review or update my lived or legal name?
add
To view your name data, follow these steps:
- Go to CalCentral.
- Click your Avatar (in the top right corner).
- From the dropdown menu, select Personal Profile.
- On the Personal tab:
  - To update lived name, click on the lived name value, make edits to your first, middle, and/or last name, and then click save. You cannot use special (non-ASCII) characters in your lived name.
  - You cannot update your legal name on this page. Instead, follow the directions in the paragraph below: Change (or Correct) My Legal Name.
Note: Unless there is an identified lived name, the name field will default to legal name.

Change (or Correct) My Legal Name in CalCentral
add
If you have access to CalCentral you may change your legal name on University records by submitting a Legal Name Change Petition eForm. We have step by step instructions for active students and alumni.

If you do not have access to CalCentral, see the paragraph below Alumni without CalCentral access: How do I update my lived or legal name?

The turnaround time for changes to your name is up to 5 business days from when your paperwork is received by our office.

Alumni without CalCentral access: How do I update my lived or legal name?
add
- Alumni who graduated Fall 2016 and on can use this link to access the eForm to update their lived or legal name.
- Alumni who graduated before Fall 2016 will need to mail in a completed Petition for Change of Name after Awarding Degree along with proper documentation.

How do I update my Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and/or Pronouns? Where did the existing values come from and who can see them?
add
To view and update your Biographical data, including your Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Pronouns, follow these steps:
- Go to CalCentral.
- Click your Avatar (in the top right corner).
- From the dropdown menu, select Personal Profile.
- Click the Biographic tab.
  - Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation is initially populated with information provided on your University admission application. You can update it at any time.
- Selecting Pronouns is highly recommended and you can now add and update your Pronouns any time. Once selected, they will be displayed below your name on:
  - CalCentral > My Academics > Academic Profile
  - CalCentral > My Academics > Semesters card > View Academic Summary
- Review the information icons () on the pages to learn more.

How do I manage my delegates and which name they see?
add
- Add and manage your delegates under CalCentral > Avatar > Personal Profile > Delegate Access.
- All delegates you added prior to Oct. 8, 2023 will continue to see legal name. Update the Name to Display to this Delegate to lived name anytime.
- Any delegate you add on or after Oct. 8, 2023 will include the selection of either the legal or lived name to display to the delegate.
- Regardless of the choices above, delegates will see legal name in the payment system accessed via CalCentral > My Finances > Billing Summary > Make Payment button or View PDF Statement link

My name is a mononym (only one name). How can I save my name in CalCentral?
add
First and last name values are required in CalCentral. Populate your mononym in the last name field and enter a period “.” in the first name field.

If I have a role as a student and a staff member (e.g., student workers, Graduate Student Instructors, Graduate Student Workers), where can I update my name?
add
For students who have a dual role of student and staff, the primary location to update name and biographic data will be CalCentral. However, for employee-related updates such as benefits selections or direct deposit information, please log into the UCPath system.

How do I control what name appears in the campus directory?
add
The campus directory will reflect a student’s lived name as set within CalCentral, including first, middle, and last name. If you have not set a lived name the directory will display your legal name. To change your directory name listing, update your lived name in CalCentral following the steps outlined above.