Summary
Using emojis in the email 'from name' is generally considered a risky practice due to potential deliverability issues, compatibility problems across email clients, and security concerns. While some tests suggest it might be safe in certain circumstances, the consensus leans towards caution. Emojis might increase engagement, but they can also trigger spam filters, render incorrectly, or be exploited in display name attacks. Major email providers and email marketing experts recommend thorough testing, considering brand alignment, and prioritizing compatibility over visual appeal. Stick to standard ASCII characters whenever possible, and educate users to verify the sender's actual email address.
Key findings
- Deliverability Risk: Emojis can increase the likelihood of being flagged as spam, especially if irrelevant or overly promotional.
- Compatibility Problems: Not all email clients and devices render emojis correctly, leading to display issues and a poor user experience.
- Security Vulnerability: Unicode characters, including emojis, can be exploited in display name attacks for phishing purposes.
- Brand Perception: Emojis might be perceived as unprofessional if they don't align with the brand's identity.
- Testing Inconclusive: Inbox placement tests show mixed results, indicating that emoji safety varies by email provider.
Key considerations
- A/B Testing: Always conduct A/B tests to assess the impact of emojis on deliverability, open rates, and overall campaign performance.
- Email Client Testing: Thoroughly test how emojis render across different email clients (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.) and devices.
- Brand Alignment: Ensure that emojis align with your brand's voice, target audience, and overall marketing strategy.
- User Education: Educate users to carefully verify the sender's actual email address and report suspicious emails.
- Stick to Standard Characters: Prioritize using standard ASCII characters in the 'from name' for maximum compatibility and security.
What email marketers say
11 marketer opinions
Using emojis in the email 'from name' field is generally considered risky. While emojis can attract attention, they may negatively impact deliverability due to compatibility issues across email clients and the potential for triggering spam filters. Some email providers may not display emojis correctly, leading to rendering problems or a perception of unprofessionalism. Testing, considering brand alignment, and audience preferences are crucial.
Key opinions
- Deliverability Risk: Emojis in the 'from name' can increase the likelihood of emails being flagged as spam.
- Compatibility Issues: Not all email clients support emojis, leading to display problems and rendering inconsistencies.
- Brand Perception: Emojis can be perceived as unprofessional if not aligned with the brand's voice and identity.
- Attention-Grabbing Potential: Emojis can help emails stand out in the inbox, potentially increasing open rates.
- Limited Adoption: Using emojis in the 'from name' is not a widely adopted practice, making it a potentially risky strategy.
Key considerations
- A/B Testing: Conduct A/B tests to determine the impact of emojis on email performance and deliverability.
- Audience Preferences: Consider your audience's expectations and preferences when deciding whether to use emojis.
- Brand Alignment: Ensure that emojis align with your brand's voice, image, and overall marketing strategy.
- Email Client Testing: Test how emojis render across different email clients (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) and devices.
- Relevance: Make sure any emoji used is highly relevant to the email content and the sender's brand.
Marketer view
Email marketer from EmailToolTester says that while emojis in subject lines can boost open rates, using them in the 'from' name is a gamble. There is risk of triggering spam filters, especially if the emoji doesn’t align with the email’s content or the brand. Perform A/B testing before wide-scale implementation.
11 Jan 2022 - EmailToolTester
Marketer view
Email marketer from Mailjet explains that while emojis can attract attention and convey emotion, using them in the sender name can negatively impact deliverability. Some email clients may not display emojis correctly, leading to rendering issues or spam filters. It's best to test with your audience before deploying.
2 Dec 2021 - Mailjet
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
The safety of using emojis in the email 'from name' field is debated. One expert's inbox placement test suggested it might not be unsafe, except for potential spam filtering at Outlook.com. However, another expert recommends avoiding non-ASCII characters like emojis for maximum compatibility across all email providers due to potential rendering issues. Further, the use of Unicode characters including emojis opens the door to display name attacks and brand impersonation, requiring user vigilance.
Key opinions
- Inconclusive Testing: Inbox placement tests show mixed results, with Outlook.com potentially filtering emojis as spam.
- Compatibility Concerns: Using non-ASCII characters, including emojis, may cause rendering issues in some email clients.
- Security Risk: Emojis and Unicode characters can be exploited in display name attacks to impersonate senders.
Key considerations
- Testing: Conduct thorough testing across different email providers to assess rendering and deliverability.
- Compatibility: Prioritize compatibility and rendering consistency across various email clients.
- User Education: Educate users to carefully inspect the sender's actual email address to avoid falling for display name attacks.
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise cautions about display name attacks where malicious actors use Unicode characters (including look-alike characters and potentially emojis) in the 'From' name to impersonate legitimate senders. This can trick recipients into trusting the email. The best defense is user education and careful inspection of the sender's actual email address.
30 Aug 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks shares findings after running an inbox placement test, which suggests it might not be unsafe to put emoji in the friendly from. Reports spam folder delivery at Outlook.com, but inbox delivery everywhere else tested.
14 Aug 2022 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
Technical documentation provides a nuanced perspective on the use of emojis in the email 'from name' field. While RFC 2822 doesn't explicitly forbid all special characters, it recommends caution to ensure compatibility. Microsoft's documentation does not directly address emojis, implying that support varies by Outlook version. Apple's documentation notes that while emojis aren't prohibited, older versions of Mail might have rendering issues. Google states that Gmail generally supports Unicode characters, but perfect rendering isn't guaranteed and unusual characters could trigger spam filters. Testing is consistently emphasized.
Key findings
- RFC Ambiguity: RFC 2822 doesn't explicitly prohibit all special characters but advises caution.
- Variable Microsoft Support: Microsoft's emoji support depends on the Outlook version.
- Apple Rendering Issues: Older versions of Apple Mail may not render emojis correctly.
- General Google Support: Gmail generally supports Unicode characters, but rendering isn't always perfect.
- Spam Filter Risk: Unusual characters, including emojis, can trigger spam filters in Gmail.
Key considerations
- Prioritize Compatibility: Ensure broad compatibility by avoiding special characters if possible.
- Thorough Testing: Test emoji rendering across various email clients and devices.
- Consider Encoding: Pay attention to encoding to maximize the chances of correct emoji display.
- Avoid Overuse: Refrain from using overly promotional or unusual emojis that might trigger spam filters.
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft details acceptable characters in display names for email accounts but does not specifically discuss emoji support. Based on testing, it can be inferred that emoji support would vary depending on the specific version of Outlook and the encoding used. It recommends using standard characters to avoid display issues.
26 May 2025 - Microsoft
Technical article
Documentation from RFC 2822 specifies the syntax for email addresses but does not explicitly prohibit the use of all special characters. However, it recommends that special characters should be avoided or used with caution to ensure compatibility across different systems. The 'from' name itself may have fewer restrictions than the email address part.
17 Aug 2021 - RFC 2822
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