If you’ve been playing League of Legends for a few years, there’s a good chance your summoner name no longer fits who you are. Maybe you picked it when you were 12 and thought edgy, all-caps names with Xs on either side were the peak of cool. Maybe it references an inside joke no one in your current friend group gets, or even an ex you’d rather not think about every time you log on. If you’re asking can i change my name on league of legends, the short answer is yes, but there are a few important rules, costs, and restrictions you need to know before you commit to a new alias.
Official Rules for Changing Your LoL Summoner Name
Riot has clear, consistent guidelines for summoner name changes to keep the game’s community fair and respectful for all players. First, you don’t have to meet any level or rank requirements to change your name – even brand new level 1 accounts can request a name change as soon as they have the required currency to pay for it. You can only change your summoner name once every 30 days, so you don’t want to pick a random name on a whim and regret it 24 hours later. That cooling off period also prevents players from changing their name constantly to avoid bans or harass other players without being identified.
It’s also important to note that name changes are tied to your entire Riot account, not just your League of Legends profile. If you play other Riot titles like Valorant, Teamfight Tactics, or Legends of Runeterra, your name will update across all of those games at the same time. That’s a plus if you want a consistent alias across all your games, but it also means you can’t have separate names for different Riot titles under the same account.
Can I Change My Name on League of Legends for Free?
Most of the time, you will have to pay to change your summoner name, but there are a very small number of exceptions to this rule. The only time Riot will offer a free name change is if your current name violates their community guidelines, and they require you to change it. If you receive an official notification from Riot saying your name is inappropriate, you’ll be given a one-time free change to pick a new, compliant name. If you don’t pick a new name within the given timeframe, Riot will assign you a random generic name for your account.
For all other name change requests, you’ll need to pay one of two currency options. 13,900 Blue Essence or 1,300 RP is the standard cost for a summoner name change in all regions, though prices may vary slightly depending on your local currency if you’re buying RP directly. Many players prefer to use Blue Essence for name changes, since you earn it for free by playing matches, opening loot boxes, and disenchanting champion shards. It takes a little time to save up that much Blue Essence if you’re also using it to unlock new champions, but it’s a good option if you don’t want to spend real money on a name change.
There’s no permanent free name change option for regular players, even if you’ve had your account for 10 years or spent hundreds of dollars on skins. Riot occasionally runs promotional events where name changes are discounted, but those are rare and usually only run for a few days at a time. You don’t want to wait around for a sale if you’re eager to ditch a name you hate, but it’s worth keeping an eye on official announcements if you’re not in a rush.
Step-by-Step Process to Change Your LoL Summoner Name
Changing your summoner name is a quick, straightforward process that only takes a few minutes if you already have the required currency saved up. You don’t have to submit a support ticket or wait for approval, as long as your desired name meets Riot’s guidelines. Follow these simple steps to complete your name change:
Once you submit your request, your name will update immediately in most cases. You may need to log out of the Riot Client and log back in for the change to show up in game if you’re already logged in when you make the change. Your new name will apply across all Riot games linked to your account, including Valorant and Teamfight Tactics, so double check that you’re happy with the name for all your games before you confirm the purchase.
You won’t lose any of your account data when you change your name, either. You won’t lose any of your match history, rank, skins, or in-game progress when you change your summoner name, and all of your existing friends will still have you on their friend list – they’ll just see your new name instead of your old one. It’s still a good idea to send a quick message to your regular play group after you change your name, so they don’t get confused and remove you from their list thinking you’re a random stranger who added them by mistake.
Common Restrictions and Issues to Avoid When Changing Your Name
Before you pick your new summoner name, there are a few restrictions you need to keep in mind to avoid wasting your Blue Essence or RP on a name that will get removed. Riot’s community guidelines apply to all summoner names, and they actively moderate names to remove any that violate the rules. First, your name can’t include any hate speech, slurs, references to violence, or content that targets other players based on their identity, background, or ability. Names that include hate speech, personal information, or impersonation of public figures will be removed without refund, so you won’t get your Blue Essence or RP back if Riot forces you to change a name you picked that breaks the rules.
You also can’t use your summoner name to share personal information like your full name, address, phone number, or social media handles, for your own safety and the safety of other players. Impersonation is another common reason names get removed. You can’t pick a name that pretends to be a Riot employee, professional LoL player, streamer, or other public figure, even if it’s meant as a joke. If Riot determines your name is meant to mislead other players into thinking you’re someone you’re not, they’ll force you to change it with no refund.
If the exact name you want is already taken by another player, you have a few options to adjust it. You can add numbers, special characters like underscores or periods, or adjust the spelling slightly to make it unique. If your desired name is taken, you can add special characters or adjust spelling, but avoid misleading other players into thinking you’re the original owner of the name you wanted. You also can’t buy or trade names with other players, as that violates Riot’s terms of service and can lead to your account being banned permanently.
At the end of the day, if you’ve been wondering can i change my name on league of legends, the process is simple as long as you follow Riot’s rules and have the required currency saved up. Take a little time to brainstorm a name you’ll be happy with for at least 30 days, double check that it meets all the community guidelines, and don’t forget to let your friends know you’re switching aliases so they don’t kick you from the next group flex queue. A new summoner name can feel like a fresh start, whether you’re trying to leave a cringey old username behind or just want something that fits your current playstyle better.