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Display a Business Name As Caller ID

A guide to using CNAM to show your business name or custom text to callers

Martin avatar
Written by Martin
Updated over 2 months ago

CNAM is a caller ID registry that can help you display your business or custom name to clients. Here is an overview of CNAM setup and how it works.

User Level:

  • Admin


What is CNAM?

Most phones are able to display text in addition to the calling number, known as the caller ID. This is sometimes called CNAM (Caller ID Name). CNAM is capable of displaying your business name or another custom text (which needs to correlate to your business) associated with your phone number to your clients during outbound calls. CNAM consists of a 15-character string.

To display your business name on outgoing calls, your number must be registered in a central database. There are different databases around the world that control Caller ID for outbound calls. For example, in the United States, this database is called CNAM.

If your number is already saved to the local address book of a device (i.e., you've called this contact number before), you don't need to worry about CNAM registry. Devices you have never contacted before, with CNAM database lookup enabled, are applicable to this use case.

How to setup CNAM with CloudTalk

Currently, it's only possible to setup CNAM with US and Canadian numbers purchased from CloudTalk. If you would like to use CNAM with other numbers, here are your options:

  1. Purchase a registered CNAM number from another carrier and then request to add this number to your CloudTalk account.

    1. After the number is validated, you will be able to make outbound calls. The name will display as the registered caller ID.

  2. Port in a CNAM registered number from another carrier.

In order for CNAM to work, both you and the person you’re calling need to be registered in the system (through a phone provider). If the carrier of the person being called does not support CNAM lookup, your business name won't be displayed.

What is Caller Name Presentation (CNP)?

  • This is just the other name for CNAM in Canada. Please note that CNP in Canada is not supported for all numbers.


If you need further assistance or have any questions, you can always contact our Support Team. We are always here to help you!

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