Setting your Caller ID Name (CNAM)

Recipients are more likely to answer a call when they see a business name instead of a raw phone number. Here's how to set yours.

Written By Catherine Weir

Last updated About 3 hours ago

Caller ID Name — usually called CNAM — is the short text label that appears next to your phone number when you call someone. A CNAM that reads "ACME DENTAL" is far more likely to be answered than a bare 10-digit number.

Best practices

  • Use a name your recipients will recognize — usually your brand

  • Keep it to 15 characters or fewer for consistent display across devices

  • Use uppercase letters

  • No phone numbers, URLs, or special punctuation beyond a hyphen

Important to know

  • CNAM is optional but highly recommended

  • CNAM is turned off by default when your numbers are first provisioned — we recommend turning it on

  • Not every phone or carrier displays CNAM, but most do

  • A "Spam Likely" label overrides CNAM. CNAM doesn't prevent spam labeling — it just helps reduce it

How to set it

Go to your dashboard → Phone Numbers → select the number → Caller ID. Type in your business name and save. The update typically shows within 24 to 48 hours.