Getting started with WhatsApp display names

Understand how WhatsApp display names work, where they appear, and when they become visible to customers.

Display names replace your phone number with your business name, helping customers recognize and trust your messages.

Your display name is reviewed and approved by Meta, not Klaviyo.

What is a WhatsApp display name?

Your WhatsApp display name is the business name customers see when you message them.

Instead of showing a phone number, WhatsApp displays this approved name in chats and notifications. This improves recognition and credibility for your business.

Where your display name appears

When your display name is approved and your account is eligible, customers can see it in:

• Chat list: the main inbox view where all conversations are listed
• Conversation header: the top of an individual chat thread

If your display name is not active yet, customers will see your phone number instead. If a customer has set a different name for your business in WhatsApp, that name appears instead.

When your display name becomes visible

Your display name does not appear automatically after setup. Meta controls when it becomes visible.

Your display name shows only after both of the following are complete:

1. Your display name is approved by Meta.
2. Your business portfolio qualifies for a messaging limit of at least 2,000 unique customers in a moving 24-hour period.

Ways to qualify for higher messaging limits include:

• Verifying your Meta Business Portfolio
• Meeting Meta’s quality messaging requirements

Meta reviews your display name when your business qualifies for a higher messaging limit. The limit is shared across your business portfolio’s phone numbers and counts customers you can message outside a customer service window. You do not need to send 2,000 messages every day.

Until these conditions are met, your phone number appears instead of your display name.

Where to manage your display name

You can edit your display name in Klaviyo or Meta; however, Meta is always the one to approve any changes. Approvals may take a few days.

If your phone number has Official Business Account status, follow Meta’s instructions for changing its display name. For other phone numbers, use the steps below.

1. In Klaviyo, go to Settings > WhatsApp > Sender information.
2. Open the profile for your phone number. Select Edit, or open the number’s 3-dot menu and select Edit, View phone details, or View phone profile.

3. In the panel, edit the Display name field, then click its Save button.

Meta reviews your change before customers see it. If a review is already in progress, wait for it to finish before submitting another name.

Good to know

• Display names are set per phone number
• Each WhatsApp number has its own display name
• Meta reviews and approves all display names
• Any changes require re-approval before they take effect
• You can update your display name up to 10 times within a 30-day period

FAQs

My display name is approved, but customers still see my phone number

A name shown in your settings does not necessarily mean Meta has approved it.

Confirm both of the following:

• Meta has approved your display name.
• Your business portfolio has a messaging limit of at least 2,000 unique customers in a moving 24-hour period.

For details on checking or increasing your limit, see Meta’s messaging limit guidance.

Who controls display name approval?

Meta controls all display name reviews and approvals. Klaviyo does not influence this process.

Do I need to reapply if I change my display name?

Yes. Any update requires a new Meta review before it becomes visible.

Next steps

Now that you understand display names:

1. Set up and edit your display name.
2. Follow display name guidelines to avoid rejection.
3. Work toward eligibility requirements to make your display name visible.