# Smart Custom Display Name

> Smart Custom Display Name has 200+ active installs, a 5/5 rating from 5 reviews and 84 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 38/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Consider an alternative.** Smart Custom Display Name shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 200+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 2 years ago, and scores 38/100 on our health check.

**The Smart Custom Display Name Plugin allows you to set your Display Name to anything you like**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 200+
- **Total downloads:** 10,711
- **Downloads (30 days):** 84 (-1.2% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** 5/5 from 5 reviews
- **Health score:** 38/100 (At risk)
- **Version:** 5.0.3
- **Last updated:** Apr 17, 2024
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 6.3.12
- **Requires:** WordPress 4.0+, PHP 7.0+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** Peter Raschendorfer (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/petersplugins/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/smart-custom-display-name/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [author](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/author/) | #38 | 201 |
| [authors](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/authors/) | #12 | 73 |
| [name](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/name/) | #5 | 10 |
| [user](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/user/) | #52 | 295 |
| [users](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/users/) | #53 | 312 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| author | >100 | 8,932 |
| authors | >100 | 8,936 |
| name | >100 | 10,000 |
| user | >100 | 10,000 |
| users | >100 | 10,000 |

## Version adoption

- 5.0: 88.2%
- 4: 11.8%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Edit Author Slug](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/edit-author-slug/) | 100K+ | 4.8/5 (84) | May 27, 2025 | 57/100 |
| 2 | [WP Meta and Date Remover](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-meta-and-date-remover/) | 90K+ | 4.2/5 (71) | May 31, 2026 | 77/100 |
| 3 | [Hide/Remove Metadata](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/hide-metadata/) | 20K+ | 3.6/5 (14) | May 27, 2026 | 64/100 |
| 4 | [Disable Author Archives](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/disable-author-archives/) | 10K+ | 4.4/5 (7) | Aug 21, 2026 | 79/100 |
| 5 | [Meks Smart Author Widget](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/meks-smart-author-widget/) | 10K+ | 4.5/5 (8) | Jul 23, 2024 | 29/100 |
| 6 | [VK Post Author Display](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/vk-post-author-display/) | 10K+ | 4.5/5 (8) | Aug 24, 2026 | 79/100 |
| 7 | [Starbox – the Author Box for Humans](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/starbox/) | 10K+ | 4.5/5 (203) | May 9, 2025 | 43/100 |
| 8 | [WP Author, Date and Meta Remover](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-author-date-and-meta-remover/) | 10K+ | 3.2/5 (25) | Jan 25, 2021 | 38/100 |
| 9 | [Guest Author](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/guest-author/) | 5K+ | 4.2/5 (13) | Aug 16, 2026 | 81/100 |
| 10 | [Authors List](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/authors-list/) | 5K+ | 5/5 (22) | Nov 24, 2025 | 50/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smart Custom Display Name free?
Yes. Smart Custom Display Name is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is Smart Custom Display Name safe to use in 2026?
Smart Custom Display Name shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 200+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 2 years ago, and scores 38/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use Smart Custom Display Name?
Smart Custom Display Name is active on 200+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 10,711 times since it launched in August 2015. It was downloaded 84 times in the last 30 days.

### Does Smart Custom Display Name work with WordPress 7.1?
Smart Custom Display Name is officially tested up to WordPress 6.3.12, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### What PHP version does Smart Custom Display Name need?
Smart Custom Display Name requires PHP 7.0 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.

### When was Smart Custom Display Name last updated?
The latest version, 5.0.3, was released on April 17, 2024 (2 years ago).

### Who makes Smart Custom Display Name?
Smart Custom Display Name is developed and maintained by Peter Raschendorfer.

### What are the best alternatives to Smart Custom Display Name?
The most popular alternatives to Smart Custom Display Name are Edit Author Slug (100K+ installs), WP Meta and Date Remover (90K+ installs) and Hide/Remove Metadata (20K+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/smart-custom-display-name/ · Generated 2026-09-27 17:41 UTC by PageForge