Can you use a fake name against a WhatsApp contact?

[Walltowallwalrus]

If anyone knows how WhatsApp picks up the contact name I'd be grateful if you could explain.

Does it pick up the name from the actual contact on the other end, if that makes sense, or does it use the name as stored in DH's phone?

DH started WhatsApping a ex-colleague during lockdown (not many messages though so it was more like just catching up and checking in) and he also called her a couple of times during furlough. I didn't hear the conversations.

But I've now just noticed her WhatsApp profile pic on his phone isn't of the woman he'd previously pointed out was this colleague on FB.

I looked at the recent messages between them and nor does it sound like her either (I had spoken to her on the phone a couple of times years ago). The WhatsApp messages contain abbreviations (e.g. u for you) and a grammatical mistake which I would no way have thought this colleague would make.

Is it possible he put his old colleague's name against another woman's number?

Yes it is. It picks up YOUR contacts for the names. My best mate is under a certain name in my contacts and that's how it shows on my messages with her on WhatsApp.

Yes, it shows as what ever the number is stored as in the phone your looking at. So for example if I had my DH stored as ‘sexy DH’ that’s what his name would show as on what’sapp.

Only time the other person sets it is when the number isn’t stored in your phone, it shows as a phone number and on the profile the name they have set up on what’s app.

Thank you x

It shows as the contact in your phone. This caused confusion when I took over DH's old number and SILs hadn't deleted the old number. I showed up in a group chat and they thought I was DH.

I'm thinking, what do I do now.

Unpopular but I'd try and have a look before you confront him, screenshot and send it to yourself so you have evidence. Then speak to him.

Can you add the number on your what’s app to see what name it comes up with?

Ignore me, you can only what’s app people in your phone

You can change the name of a contact on your phone.

@FawnFrenchieMum

Ignore me, you can only what’s app people in your phone

She could delete the name it's under on DHs phone.

The conversation would still remain in WhatsApp and might show up with a different name if there is no contact for it on the phone.

The person whose number it is controls the profile pic.
Your H controls the name it is under in his phone.