What changed: steps that look different now show our own iPhone 14 Pro on iOS 27.0.1, with the wording checked against that screen.

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-show-full-names-instead-of-short-names-on-an-iphone/ · Checked October 2026 · iPhone 14 Pro · iOS 27.0.1

In this guide

Open Settings and tap Apps
Tap Contacts
Scroll down and tap Short Name
Switch off Short Name, or keep it on
Choose the short form
Decide about nicknames
Good to know
Sources

Quick answer

Open Settings, tap Apps, then Contacts, scroll down and tap Short Name. Switch off Short Name to see full names, or choose which short form is used: first name and last initial, first initial and last name, first name only or last name only.

4 of 6 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device: iPhone
Shown on: iOS 27.0.1 (iPhone 14 Pro)
App: Settings
Path: Settings › Apps › Contacts › Short Name
Real screenshots: 4 of 6 steps
Checked: October 2026
Sources: 1 official, linked below

Step by step

Open Settings and tap Apps
Apps is near the bottom of the main Settings list.
Done
Tap Contacts
The apps are in alphabetical order, so Contacts is near the top, under C.
Done
Scroll down and tap Short Name
It is below Display Order, above My Info.
Done
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
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
Decide about nicknames
Prefer Nicknames is on at first. With it on, the iPhone always uses a nickname when a contact has one.
Done

What changed: steps that look different now show our own iPhone 14 Pro on iOS 27.0.1, with the wording checked against that screen.

About this guide

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.