How to add a first name to an email, SMS, or push message
Estimated 2 minute read
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Updated Sep 4, 2025, 12:00 AM EST
You will learn
Learn how to add a variable that dynamically populates a recipient’s first name in an email, SMS, or push message. These are supported in campaigns and flows, the body of any message, and an email’s subject line.
Add a first name variable
- Open a message (i.e., email, SMS, or push) in Klaviyo.
- Click the personalization icon from a text field's formatting bar.
- Select First name from the list.
- Optional: in the Default text field, add text to display to recipients whose first name is not set. For example, if you have a line that says "Hey FIRST_NAME," you can use there as the default text.
- If a recipient’s first name is not set, their message will read "Hey there," instead of "Hey FIRST_NAME,".
- Optional: Choose an optional from the Capitalization menu:
- As typed
The recipient's name will appear as it appears on their profile. - Ag (i.e., title case)
The recipient's name will be converted to title case (i.e., the first letter will be capitalized and all other letters will be lowercase). - AG (i.e., upper case)
The recipient's name will be converted to all upper case letters. - ag (i.e., lower case)
The recipient's name will be converted to all lower case letters.
- As typed
- Click Insert.
- Note the tag that appears:
{{ first_name|title|default:'there' }}(if you set there as the default text and choose Ag (i.e., title case).
When you send the message, this tag will be replaced with each recipient’s name.
Customize your first name variable
In the example above, |default:'there' and |title are filters. Klaviyo offers a wide range of filters to customize how variables appear. Learn more about using filters in Klaviyo.
Additional resources
- Message personalization reference
Learn how to use Klaviyo’s personalization variables, or tags, to customize the experience for your customers.
- How to use the preview panel for message personalization
Learn how to use the preview panel to understand the personalization data available for your messages and how to access personalization variables. Use the preview modal as your source of truth for personalization options.
- Guide to the email template editor
Learn about Klaviyo’s drag-and-drop email template editor, including how to use template styles and configure each block type.
- SMS marketing strategies for all levels [+12 Pro tips]
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