`. - Headings and other text on the home page. Google says WebSite structured data matters most if you want to state a preference. It also says it cannot change a site name by hand. You can only give its system better signals. ## Choose a name Google can use Google’s guidelines for choosing a site name are short: - **Be unique and accurate.** The name should reflect your site and not mislead. - **Be concise.** Use the name people know. Google’s example is “Google” instead of “Google, Inc.” - **Avoid generic names.** A name like “Best Dentists In Iowa” is unlikely to be chosen unless it is a well-known brand. - **Be consistent.** Use the same name in your markup, home page title, headings, and logo text. - **Offer an alternative.** An acronym or a shorter version gives Google a fallback. ## How to add WebSite structured data Add the markup to your home page only. You do not need it on every page. The required properties are `name` and `url`. The `alternateName` property is optional and can list more than one name, in order of preference. Some technical rules apply: - **One name per site.** A site is a domain or subdomain. Google treats www and m subdomains as the same as the root domain. - **No subdirectory names.** example.com/news cannot have its own site name. - **The home page must be crawlable.** If it is blocked, Google may not be able to generate a site name. - **Duplicate home pages need the same markup.** If you have http and https or www and non-www versions, use the same structured data on all of them. - **Use one WebSite node.** If you already have WebSite markup, add the name there instead of adding a second block. If your home page also carries Organization markup, keep the names consistent across both. The [guide to Organization schema markup](https://www.getdexseo.com/blog/structured-data-for-seo/organization-schema-markup/) explains that markup and how it fits with your brand details. ## Test the markup Google says site names are not supported in the Rich Results Test. Use a schema testing tool, such as the Schema Markup Validator, to check the syntax. Then use the URL Inspection tool in Search Console to see how Google views your home page, and request a recrawl. Google notes that recrawling can take from a few days to a few weeks. ## When the wrong name appears Sometimes Google shows a different name, your domain, or an old brand. Google says this can happen when its system is less confident in the name you provided. Work through the checklist at the end of this guide. If your preferred name still does not appear, Google suggests two steps: 1. Add an alternative name with `alternateName`. Google says its system strongly considers this when it is not confident in your first choice. 2. Add your domain in lowercase, such as `example.com`, as the last alternative name. As a last resort, Google says you can use the domain as your main name. Inner pages can lag behind the home page. If the home page shows the right name, allow time for Google to recrawl your other pages. ## Site name and favicon work together The favicon sits right next to the site name in results. Both identify your site, and both are set at the site level. If one is wrong, check the other. The [favicon guide](https://www.getdexseo.com/blog/seo-titles-and-snippets/favicon-google-search/) lists Google’s requirements. A blocked or noindexed home page can stop both from updating. Snippet rules such as `nosnippet` work on a different part of the result: the text below the title. The [guide to nosnippet and snippet controls](https://www.getdexseo.com/blog/seo-titles-and-snippets/nosnippet-snippet-controls/) explains what each rule does. ## Where DEX fits DEX connects search research, content planning, article writing, and publishing on the connected site. Site name markup is a home page setting. Check it with your developer when you set up or rename a site. ## Example: WebSite JSON-LD for a fictional brand _Fictional example._ North Cup is an imaginary shop at northcup.example. ``` <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "North Cup", "alternateName": ["NorthCup", "northcup.example"], "url": "https://www.northcup.example/" } </script> ``` The home page title starts with “North Cup,” the logo text says “North Cup,” and the main heading uses the same name. ## Symptom-to-fix checklist | Symptom | Check | Fix | | --- | --- | --- | | Google shows your domain instead of your name | Is WebSite markup on the home page, without errors? | Add or fix the markup; add an `alternateName` | | Google shows an old brand name | Does the home page title, heading, or `og:site_name` still use it? | Update every home page source to the new name, then request a recrawl | | Google shows an acronym you did not choose | Is the acronym more common on the web than your full name? | List your preferred order in `alternateName` | | A section has no name of its own | Is it a subdirectory, such as /blog? | Subdirectories cannot have their own site name; use a subdomain if that is truly needed | | Name is right on home page but not inner pages | Has Google recrawled those pages? | Allow time; Google processes inner pages later | | No change after weeks | Is the home page crawlable and indexable? | Remove blocks in robots.txt, noindex, or login walls on the home page | | Duplicate home pages disagree | Do http, https, www, and non-www versions share the same markup? | Use the same WebSite markup on all versions | ## FAQ ### Can I change my site name in Google directly? No. Google picks it automatically, but WebSite markup on your home page states your preference. ### Can a subdirectory have its own site name? No. Google supports site names for domains and subdomains only. ### How do I test site name markup? Use a schema validator and the URL Inspection tool; the Rich Results Test does not support it. ## Sources - [Provide a site name to Google Search](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/site-names) — Google - [Introducing site names on Search](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2022/10/introducing-site-names-on-search) — Google - [Influencing title links in Google Search](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/title-link)

# Site Name in Google Search: How to Set It and Fix the Wrong One > Set your preferred site name in Google Search with WebSite structured data, and fix a wrong or missing name with a symptom-to-fix checklist. Canonical: https://www.getdexseo.com/blog/seo-titles-and-snippets/site-name-google-search/ Author: Dex SEO, Editorial team Published: Oct 22, 2026 · Updated: Oct 22, 2026 ## Key takeaways - The site name is set for the whole site, not each page. - WebSite structured data on the home page states your preference. - Add an alternateName when Google picks a different name. The site name is the name Google shows above each result from your site. It is set for the whole site, not for each page. You cannot type it into a field at Google. But you can state your preference with WebSite structured data on your home page, and you can fix the common reasons Google picks a different name. This guide explains how Google chooses the site name, how to set your preference, and what to do when the wrong name appears. It ends with a symptom-to-fix checklist and a JSON-LD example. For the page-level title that appears below the site name, see the [guide to SEO titles and meta descriptions](https://www.getdexseo.com/blog/seo-titles-and-snippets/). ## Site name vs title link A Google result has two names. The site name tells people which site the result comes from. The title link tells them what the page is about. Google’s [site names documentation](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/site-names) makes this split clear: title links are for each page, while the site name is for the entire site. This matters when you write page titles. If Google already shows your brand as the site name, you can keep the brand in each title short. The [guide to brand names in title tags](https://www.getdexseo.com/blog/seo-titles-and-snippets/brand-name-in-title-tag/) covers where the brand should go on each page type. Google first introduced site names in October 2022, as its [Search Central blog announcement](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2022/10/introducing-site-names-on-search) explains. The current documentation says they are available in all languages where Google Search is available, on mobile and desktop. ## How Google picks the site name Google’s process is automated. It looks at content on your home page and at references to your site across the web. It considers: - WebSite structured data on the home page. - The `og:site_name` tag. - The home page ``. - Headings and other text on the home page. Google says WebSite structured data matters most if you want to state a preference. It also says it cannot change a site name by hand. You can only give its system better signals. ## Choose a name Google can use Google’s guidelines for choosing a site name are short: - **Be unique and accurate.** The name should reflect your site and not mislead. - **Be concise.** Use the name people know. Google’s example is “Google” instead of “Google, Inc.” - **Avoid generic names.** A name like “Best Dentists In Iowa” is unlikely to be chosen unless it is a well-known brand. - **Be consistent.** Use the same name in your markup, home page title, headings, and logo text. - **Offer an alternative.** An acronym or a shorter version gives Google a fallback. ## How to add WebSite structured data Add the markup to your home page only. You do not need it on every page. The required properties are `name` and `url`. The `alternateName` property is optional and can list more than one name, in order of preference. Some technical rules apply: - **One name per site.** A site is a domain or subdomain. Google treats www and m subdomains as the same as the root domain. - **No subdirectory names.** example.com/news cannot have its own site name. - **The home page must be crawlable.** If it is blocked, Google may not be able to generate a site name. - **Duplicate home pages need the same markup.** If you have http and https or www and non-www versions, use the same structured data on all of them. - **Use one WebSite node.** If you already have WebSite markup, add the name there instead of adding a second block. If your home page also carries Organization markup, keep the names consistent across both. The [guide to Organization schema markup](https://www.getdexseo.com/blog/structured-data-for-seo/organization-schema-markup/) explains that markup and how it fits with your brand details. ## Test the markup Google says site names are not supported in the Rich Results Test. Use a schema testing tool, such as the Schema Markup Validator, to check the syntax. Then use the URL Inspection tool in Search Console to see how Google views your home page, and request a recrawl. Google notes that recrawling can take from a few days to a few weeks. ## When the wrong name appears Sometimes Google shows a different name, your domain, or an old brand. Google says this can happen when its system is less confident in the name you provided. Work through the checklist at the end of this guide. If your preferred name still does not appear, Google suggests two steps: 1. Add an alternative name with `alternateName`. Google says its system strongly considers this when it is not confident in your first choice. 2. Add your domain in lowercase, such as `example.com`, as the last alternative name. As a last resort, Google says you can use the domain as your main name. Inner pages can lag behind the home page. If the home page shows the right name, allow time for Google to recrawl your other pages. ## Site name and favicon work together The favicon sits right next to the site name in results. Both identify your site, and both are set at the site level. If one is wrong, check the other. The [favicon guide](https://www.getdexseo.com/blog/seo-titles-and-snippets/favicon-google-search/) lists Google’s requirements. A blocked or noindexed home page can stop both from updating. Snippet rules such as `nosnippet` work on a different part of the result: the text below the title. The [guide to nosnippet and snippet controls](https://www.getdexseo.com/blog/seo-titles-and-snippets/nosnippet-snippet-controls/) explains what each rule does. ## Where DEX fits DEX connects search research, content planning, article writing, and publishing on the connected site. Site name markup is a home page setting. Check it with your developer when you set up or rename a site. ## Example: WebSite JSON-LD for a fictional brand _Fictional example._ North Cup is an imaginary shop at northcup.example. ``` <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "North Cup", "alternateName": ["NorthCup", "northcup.example"], "url": "https://www.northcup.example/" } </script> ``` The home page title starts with “North Cup,” the logo text says “North Cup,” and the main heading uses the same name. ## Symptom-to-fix checklist | Symptom | Check | Fix | | --- | --- | --- | | Google shows your domain instead of your name | Is WebSite markup on the home page, without errors? | Add or fix the markup; add an `alternateName` | | Google shows an old brand name | Does the home page title, heading, or `og:site_name` still use it? | Update every home page source to the new name, then request a recrawl | | Google shows an acronym you did not choose | Is the acronym more common on the web than your full name? | List your preferred order in `alternateName` | | A section has no name of its own | Is it a subdirectory, such as /blog? | Subdirectories cannot have their own site name; use a subdomain if that is truly needed | | Name is right on home page but not inner pages | Has Google recrawled those pages? | Allow time; Google processes inner pages later | | No change after weeks | Is the home page crawlable and indexable? | Remove blocks in robots.txt, noindex, or login walls on the home page | | Duplicate home pages disagree | Do http, https, www, and non-www versions share the same markup? | Use the same WebSite markup on all versions | ## FAQ ### Can I change my site name in Google directly? No. Google picks it automatically, but WebSite markup on your home page states your preference. ### Can a subdirectory have its own site name? No. Google supports site names for domains and subdomains only. ### How do I test site name markup? Use a schema validator and the URL Inspection tool; the Rich Results Test does not support it. ## Sources - [Provide a site name to Google Search](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/site-names) — Google - [Introducing site names on Search](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2022/10/introducing-site-names-on-search) — Google - [Influencing title links in Google Search](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/title-link) — Google