You can change a Sim’s first and last name in The Sims 4 by editing them in Create A Sim with full-edit mode enabled — there is no simple rename button in the normal menus. On PC and Mac you enable the cas.fulleditmode cheat, then send your Sim to a dresser or mirror; this guide walks through every step, the console warning, and a mod alternative. While you plan the new name, browse our best Sims 4 names for a replacement you will love.
Before You Start: What Full-Edit Mode Actually Does
Normal gameplay lets you change outfits and some details, but a Sim’s name, traits, and body are locked outside of full-edit mode. The cas.fulleditmode cheat unlocks the complete CAS editor for an existing Sim, exactly as if you were creating them fresh. It is a normal, widely used part of Sims gameplay, but on consoles it comes with a catch covered below. Decide the new first and last name before you open CAS so the edit takes a minute, not an evening — the Sims 4 last name ideas list is handy if the whole family is getting a fresh surname.
Step by Step on PC and Mac
First, open the cheat console with Ctrl + Shift + C on PC, or Command + Shift + C on Mac. Type testingcheats on and press Enter where your game version requires it, then type cas.fulleditmode and press Enter. Close the console. Now you have two easy routes in. Click a dresser or mirror and choose the option to change or plan outfits so the household opens in CAS, or shift-click your Sim and choose Modify in CAS. Once inside, click the Sim’s name in the top-left panel, type the new first and last name, and confirm. Check every household member you wanted to rename, then click the tick to return to live mode — the new name now appears in panels, relationships, and the family tree.
Changing a Household Surname in Manage Worlds
If you are still hunting for that perfect replacement name, our Stylish Nickname Maker homepage gathers every generator in one place. If the goal is mainly the family name — after a wedding, an adoption storyline, or a legacy rebrand — household editing through Manage Worlds can handle the household side of things. Open Manage Worlds, select the household, and use the household editing options to adjust its details, then use full-edit CAS for any individual Sim whose personal name panel still needs updating. Doing both gives you a clean result everywhere: household menus, Sim panels, and family tree all agree.
Console Players: Read This Warning First
On PlayStation and Xbox you can open the cheat bar and use the same cas.fulleditmode approach, but enabling cheats in a save can disable achievements and trophies for that save. Console players who want to plan names without cheats can shortlist favourites with the username generator before creating each Sim. If trophies matter to you, rename carefully: either accept the trade-off, keep a separate pre-cheat save file untouched, or design Sims with final names from the start using a list like ours. There is no shame in a no-cheats save — it just rewards planning your names before you press play.
The Mod Alternative for PC Players
PC players who rename Sims often may prefer MC Command Center (MCCC), a popular mod that adds convenient Sim and household editing options through its menus. Mods are PC-only, need updating after game patches, and should always be downloaded from the creator’s official source. If you only rename a Sim once in a while, the built-in cheat above is simpler and needs no downloads at all.
Whichever route you chose, finish with a quick in-game check: hover over your Sim, open their profile, and glance at the household panel. Seeing the new name in all three places confirms the edit saved cleanly, and you can get straight back to the story — perhaps a wedding for the newly renamed founder you found in our random nickname generator naming session earlier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a rename button in The Sims 4 menus?
No, there is no simple in-menu rename button for an existing Sim. A full name edit requires full-edit mode in CAS, reached with the cas.fulleditmode cheat or a PC mod like MCCC.
Do I need testingcheats on for cas.fulleditmode?
On many versions and platforms, yes — enable testingcheats on first, then enter cas.fulleditmode. If Modify in CAS does not appear on shift-click, re-enter both cheats in that order.
Will cheats disable trophies on console?
Yes, enabling cheats can disable achievements and trophies for that save on PlayStation and Xbox. Keep a separate untouched save if you are trophy hunting.
Can I rename babies and children too?
Yes. Full-edit CAS lets you edit household members of any age, so a baby given a rushed random name can receive a proper family name at any point.
