Properly placing your name in an academic paper is the first step toward demonstrating professional scholarship. In the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, which is predominantly used in the humanities, there are specific rules governing where your name appears, what information must accompany it, and how it should be formatted relative to the rest of the document. Unlike other styles that require a dedicated title page, MLA integrates identifying information directly into the first page of the essay.

The Standard Four Line Heading on the First Page

In MLA style, the heading serves as the primary identification for the assignment. This information is placed in the upper left-hand corner of the first page, beginning one inch from the top and left margins. It must be double-spaced, just like the rest of the essay, and the font should match the body text—typically 12-point Times New Roman.

The heading consists of four specific lines of information, organized in a top-down hierarchy:

  1. Your Full Name: This is your legal or preferred name as registered in the course. Do not use nicknames unless instructed.
  2. Instructor’s Name: This includes the professor’s or teacher's title and surname.
  3. Course Name and Number: This identifies the specific class for which the paper is submitted.
  4. Submission Date: The date must follow a specific day-month-year format.

Why the Date Format Matters in MLA

One of the most distinct features of an MLA heading is the date. Instead of the common Month-Day-Year format (e.g., April 24, 2026), MLA requires the Day-Month-Year sequence (e.g., 24 April 2026). There are no commas used in this format. The month should be spelled out entirely unless your instructor allows abbreviations for months longer than four letters (such as Jan. or Feb.). Consistency is the key to maintaining a professional appearance.

Example of a Correct MLA Heading

Alice Johnson

Professor Michael Sterling

English 101, Section 05

15 October 2025

Immediately following this heading, the title of the paper should be centered on the next line. The title should not be bolded, underlined, or italicized; it should be in the same 12-point font as the rest of the text.

Creating the Running Header with Your Surname

While the heading only appears on the first page, the running header is required on every page of an MLA-formatted document, including the first page. This header is located in the upper right-hand corner, exactly half an inch from the top and flush with the right margin.

The content of the header is simple: your last name followed by a single space and the page number.

Technical Requirements for the Page Header

  • Location: 0.5 inches from the top of the page.
  • Alignment: Right-aligned.
  • Font: Must match the rest of the document (12-point Times New Roman).
  • Content: [Last Name] [Page Number] (e.g., Johnson 1).

Many students make the mistake of typing the header manually at the top of the body text. This causes formatting issues when the text shifts. Instead, use the "Insert Header" or "Insert Page Number" function in your word processor to ensure the numbers update automatically as you write.

How to Format Names for Group Projects

When multiple students collaborate on a single paper, the standard heading changes slightly to accommodate all contributors. According to the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook, if there are two or more authors, you should list each name on its own line in the heading section.

Example for Multiple Authors

Sarah Miller

David Thompson

Elena Rodriguez

Professor Williams

History 202

30 May 2026

If the list of authors is too long (e.g., a large group project), it is often more practical to create a separate title page, though this is an exception to the general MLA rule. In such cases, the names should be listed alphabetically or by the level of contribution, depending on the instructor's preference.

Addressing Your Instructor Correctly

The second line of the MLA heading is reserved for the person who will be grading your work. Academic etiquette is vital here. You should always use the instructor's formal title followed by their last name.

Common Titles for Instructors

  • Professor: Use this for any faculty member with a professorial rank (Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor).
  • Dr.: Use this if the instructor holds a PhD or another doctoral degree.
  • Mr., Ms., or Mx.: Use these titles if the instructor does not hold a doctorate or if they have expressed a specific preference for these honorifics.

Avoid using "Teacher" or "Instructor" as a title in the heading. If you are unsure of a professor's title, "Professor [Last Name]" is generally the safest and most respectful choice.

Formatting Names with Suffixes and Titles

If your name includes a suffix such as Jr., Sr., II, or III, it should be included in the heading but omitted from the running header in the upper right corner.

The Heading Entry

In the heading, you would write: Robert Harrison Jr.

The Header Entry

In the header on page one and subsequent pages, you would simply write: Harrison 1.

MLA style prioritizes brevity in headers to avoid cluttering the page margin. Similarly, you should not include your own academic degrees or titles (like BA or RN) after your name in a student paper.

Setting Up Names in Microsoft Word and Google Docs

Achieving the correct alignment for names requires specific settings in modern word processors. Follow these steps to ensure your "mla format name" query results in a perfect document layout.

Instructions for Microsoft Word

  1. Margins: Go to the "Layout" tab and select "Margins." Ensure all sides are set to 1.0 inch.
  2. Font: Select "Home" and set the font to Times New Roman, 12-point.
  3. Line Spacing: In the "Paragraph" section of the "Home" tab, click the line spacing icon and select 2.0. Ensure the "Remove Space After Paragraph" option is selected so there is no extra gap between the name, professor, and date.
  4. Header: Double-click the very top of the page. Go to "Insert" > "Page Number" > "Top of Page" > "Plain Number 3" (which is right-aligned). Type your last name before the number and add one space. Highlight the text to ensure it is also in 12-point Times New Roman.

Instructions for Google Docs

  1. Font and Spacing: Use the top toolbar to set the font to Times New Roman, 12-point, and the line spacing to "Double."
  2. Heading: Type your name, instructor, course, and date in the top left.
  3. Header: Click "Insert" > "Page numbers" and choose the first icon (top right on every page). Click in front of the number, type your last name, and add a space. Ensure the alignment is set to right-aligned.

Names in MLA Citations and Works Cited

The formatting of names shifts significantly when you move from identifying yourself to identifying the authors of the sources you have used. The core principle of the Works Cited page is the "Inverted Name" rule.

The Works Cited Format

In the bibliographic list at the end of your paper, the primary author's name must be inverted so that the last name comes first. This allows the list to be alphabetized easily.

Format: Last Name, First Name Middle Name.

Example: Smith, John Quincy.

Multiple Authors in Citations

If a source has two authors, only the first author's name is inverted. The second author's name is written in the standard First Name Last Name format.

Example: Smith, John, and Jane Doe.

If there are three or more authors, MLA uses the abbreviation "et al." (meaning "and others") after the first author's name.

Example: Smith, John, et al.

Handling Institutional or Corporate Names

Sometimes, a source is authored by an organization, government agency, or company rather than an individual. In these cases, use the full name of the organization as the "author."

Example: United Nations. Global Climate Report 2024.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with MLA Name Formatting

Many students lose points on formatting before a professor even reads the first sentence of the essay. Avoiding these common pitfalls will keep your paper compliant.

  1. Adding "Page" or "p." in the Header: The header should only contain your last name and the numeral. Writing "Johnson p. 1" or "Johnson Page 1" is incorrect.
  2. Bold Titles: Your name and the paper title should never be bolded.
  3. Inconsistent Fonts: Often, the header defaults to Arial or Calibri even when the body text is Times New Roman. You must manually change the header font to match.
  4. Commas in Dates: Remember, "24 April 2026" has no commas. Writing "April 24, 2026" is the APA or Chicago style, not MLA.
  5. Extra Space Between Lines: Ensure that you do not press "Enter" twice between your name and the instructor's name. The entire document should have uniform double spacing.

Frequently Asked Questions about MLA Names

Should I include my middle name or initial?

If your instructor knows you by your middle name or if it is on the course roster, you should include it in the heading. However, in the running header (top right), you should only use your last name.

Where does the title of the paper go?

The title appears one double-spaced line below the date in the heading. It should be centered. Do not use a separate title page unless your instructor specifically asks for one.

What if my instructor's name is hyphenated?

Use the full hyphenated name exactly as the instructor provides it. For example: Professor Lee-Sullivan.

Do I need to include the "Section" number?

While not strictly required by the MLA Handbook, including the section number (e.g., English 101-05) is highly recommended. It helps instructors who teach multiple sections of the same course stay organized.

How do I handle a suffix like Jr. in the Works Cited?

In the Works Cited list, the suffix follows the first name and a comma. Example: King, Martin Luther, Jr.

Summary of Name Placement in MLA

  • Your Full Name: First page, top left, first line of the heading.
  • Instructor's Name: First page, top left, second line of the heading.
  • Your Surname: Every page, top right, part of the running header.
  • Author Names (Citations): Inverted in Works Cited (Last, First); only surname used in parenthetical in-text citations (e.g., Smith 45).

Following these guidelines ensures that your paper adheres to the professional standards of the Modern Language Association. While these rules may seem rigid, they provide a clean, consistent, and distraction-free environment for academic discourse. Always double-check your specific assignment prompt, as some instructors may have minor variations they prefer for their specific classroom needs.

Conclusion

Mastering the "mla format name" requirements is a fundamental skill for any student in the humanities. By placing your identifying information in the four-line heading and maintaining a consistent running header with your surname and page number, you present a document that is organized and easy to navigate. Beyond personal identification, understanding how to format author names in citations protects the integrity of your work and acknowledges the contributions of other scholars. Whether you are using Microsoft Word or Google Docs, setting up your margins, fonts, and headers correctly from the beginning will save time and ensure your academic writing meets the highest standards of the 9th edition MLA guidelines.