Force First and Last Name as Display Name

Description

This plugin hides the “Display Name” field on the Edit Profile screen for all users. Instead of allowing users to set this field, the plugin will always set the User field display_name to their first and last name. If these field are empty, display_name will be set to their username.

Display names are set when the user registers as well as when a user’s profile is updated via the WordPress admin.

The plugin includes a batch process to update the display name for existing users. Navigate to Settings > Force First Last in the WordPress admin to run the update.

Installation

Download, Install and Activate!

Upload force-first-last to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress.
Visit Settings > Force First Last to run an initial update for all of your users.

Screenshots

Display Name field is removed from the User Profile in WordPress admin.

Faq

How do I update existing display names on my site?

Navigate to Settings > Force First Last to run a script that will update all existing users.

In my location, names are formatted as LAST FIRST. How do I switch the order?

You will need to use a custom filter to adjust the display order. See this code for an example: https://gist.github.com/kimcoleman/dc3227b9cebec79fa983261827df7485.

Reviews

Отлично!

By Andrew (papex) on September 4, 2023

То, что надо!
Одной кнопкой изменяет для всех сразу отображаемое имя. Сразу навёл порядок.

Great plugin

By Lucas (Luquerias) on February 24, 2023

It does what it is supposed to do. Good plugin.

a must have

By Suki (sukinoz) on June 30, 2025

What is really useful is that it HIDES THE “PUBLIC DISPLAY NAME” FIELD WHEN EDITING USER

NOTE: If only the “Last name” is filled in, it takes the username.

Great plugin!

By emarketingclusters on September 21, 2021

It works great with WordPress 5.8.1. Thank you!

Used to work but stopped WP 5.6.1

By lefonk on February 16, 2021

Unfortunately it doesn't work with new user registrations.

Still works for the most part. If you want woocommerce support do this.

By hotcooler on April 6, 2020

Replace one hook with another Find add_action("user_register", "ffl_fix_user_display_name", 20); replace with add_action("woocommerce_created_customer", "ffl_fix_user_display_name", 20);

Doesn't work anymore & support

By Peter-VARGA (cbdfactum) on November 29, 2019

It is pity but it doesn't work and apparently the developer stopped supporting it.

Works fine with 5.2 - take a backup first though, eh?

By websitedeptuk on July 5, 2019

Helpful plugin, thanks.

Excellent

By denizci88 on April 15, 2018

It is working perfectly 🙂

Great

By Rahim (rahimvaziri) on April 7, 2018

This plugin works great.

Changelog

1.2.2 – 2024-11-13

ENHANCEMENT: Update tested up to WordPress 6.7.
ENHANCEMENT: Preparing plugin to be transferred.

1.2.1 – 2023-03-14

SECURITY: Added nonce to bulk “Update Existing Users” admin page to protect from CSRF vulnerability. (Thanks, @mikhail-net)

1.2 – 2021-03-12

ENHANCEMENT: Added ffl_display_name_order filter to allow custom code to change display name to last first.
ENHANCEMENT: Tested up to WordPress 5.7.

1.1 – 2020-08-13

ENHANCEMENT: Adding support for the Paid Memberships Pro frontend member profile edit screen.
ENHANCEMENT: Improving the settings page appearance.
ENHANCEMENT: Tested up to WordPress 5.5.
ENHANCEMENT: Added pmpro_ffl_hide_display_name_profile filter. Set to return false if you’d like the display name field to show up on the edit user page in the WP dashboard.

1.0

Change priority of the user_register hook to 20 so it will run after plugins setting first/last name etc.
Let’s call this official at 1.0

.2

Added settings page to update existing users.
Hiding display name dropdown on profile page.

.1

Initial version.