How to show full names instead of short names on an iPhone

2 min read · 6 steps · Updated 4 October 2026

Device

iPhone

Shown on

iOS 26.5 (iPhone 17)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Apps › Contacts › Short Name

Real screenshots

6 of 6 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Apps like Mail, Messages and Phone sometimes shorten the names of your contacts to fit more on the screen. At first the iPhone shows the first name only. With two people called Anna, that is not enough. The Short Name page lets you pick another form or switch the shortening off.

The screenshots show iOS 26.5 on an iPhone 17. On older versions the rows have the same names, with a slightly different look.

Step by step

1. 

   Open Settings and tap Apps

   Apps is near the bottom of the main Settings list.

   Done

2. 

   Tap Contacts

   The apps are in alphabetical order, so Contacts is near the top, under C.

   Done

3. 

   Scroll down and tap Short Name

   It is in the last group of the page, below Display Order.

   Done

4. 

   Switch off Short Name, or keep it on

   The switch at the top is on at first. Leave it on if you only want a different short form.

   Done

5. 

   Choose the short form

   There are four: First Name & Last Initial, First Initial & Last Name, First Name Only and Last Name Only. The tick is on First Name Only at first. The note below says Chinese, Japanese and Korean names are not affected.

   Done

6. 

   Decide about nicknames

   Prefer Nicknames is on at first. With it on, the iPhone always uses a nickname when a contact has one.

   Done

Good to know

The order of first and last name is set one row higher: how to show last names first in Contacts on an iPhone.

In short: Settings, Apps, Contacts, Short Name, switch off or choose a form.