Populating 'displayName' for Google Calendar Events

Last updated: November 8, 2024

If you’re working with our Google Calendar integration, you might have noticed that the displayName field for event participants is often blank. This can be frustrating, especially if your workflows rely on having that information readily available.

The reason for this inconsistency boils down to how Google Calendar manages participant data and user privacy settings, which can vary from one user to another.

While we can’t solve this issue entirely, there are steps you can take to improve the chances that the displayName field is populated consistently. Here’s what you can do:

Recommendations

1. Check Google Calendar and Contacts Settings

  • Sync with Google Contacts: Encourage your users to add important contacts in Google Contacts. When the calendar recognizes an email address from the contacts list, it’s more likely to use that contact’s name as the displayName for events. If they use gmail, Google Contacts can work automatically behind the scenes whenever there is an email exchange between users.

  • Use Google Workspace Domain Settings: If you're part of a Google Workspace organization, your admin can set up shared contacts. This makes it easier to populate display names for people within the organization.

  • Review Privacy Settings: It’s a good idea to check calendar privacy settings. Sometimes, missing display names can be due to the way events are shared or restricted.

2. Implement Programmatic Workarounds

  • Fallback Options: If the displayName is missing, consider implementing a fallback strategy in your application. For example, you can use their email address as a placeholder, and allow users to update the name manually.

  • Cross-Reference with External Data: If you have access to a directory or CRM system, you might cross-reference participant emails with known names.

  • Update Events via API: If it fits your workflow, you could pull event data initially and then use the Event Update API to add any missing displayName values based on the information you have.

While the displayName field in Google Calendar events can be hit or miss due to how Google handles participant data, using a combination of the above strategies can help consistently populate this field.