By default, Bob automatically calculates the Display name combining the following fields:
- First name
- Middle name
- Last name
As long as the Display name matches this combination, it remains automatically linked to those fields.
What Happens During a Name Change
When an employee updates their:
- First name
- Middle name
- Last name
Bob checks whether the Display name was following the automatic naming logic up to that point.
If it was, the Display name is automatically updated to match the new values.
Example
Original values:
- First name: John
- Middle name: —
- Last name: Doe
- Display name: John Doe
Updated values:
- First name: John
- Middle name: Michael
- Last name: Smith
Because the Display name was matching the First, Middle and Last names up to that point, Bob automatically updates it to:
- John Michael Smith
How to Prevent the Display Name From Updating Automatically
To stop the Display name from combining the First, Middle, and Last name fields, the Display name must be manually customized, whether in the profile or via a People Data Update flow.
Simply leaving the existing value unchanged is not enough if it still matches the automatic naming logic. Instead:
1. Clear the Display name field
2. Manually type the preferred Display name
3. Save and submit the flow
This breaks the automatic link between the Display name and the other name fields.
After that, future changes to First, Middle, or Last name will no longer overwrite the Display name automatically, as long as it remains different from the combined name values.