CNAM (Caller ID Name) — Caller ID Name
What is CNAM (Caller ID Name)?
CNAM (Caller ID Name) is the database lookup that resolves a calling phone number to a display name shown on the recipient's phone, such as a business name instead of just digits. Carriers query a CNAM database — separate from the call signaling itself — when a call terminates, and an incorrect, missing, or unregistered CNAM entry is a common reason a legitimate business call displays as an unfamiliar number or generic label rather than the caller's real name.
More detail
CNAM records are registered separately per number with one or more CNAM database providers, and updates can take anywhere from same-day to over a week to propagate across all carriers.
Because CNAM lookup happens on the terminating carrier's side, a caller can't fully control what name displays everywhere — it depends on which CNAM database that specific carrier queries.
Frequently asked
- Why does my business call show up as 'Unknown' or the wrong name?
- The terminating carrier likely has no CNAM record for that number, or it's registered with a different database than the one that carrier queries — CNAM updates aren't instant or universal across every carrier.
- Is CNAM the same as STIR/SHAKEN attestation?
- No. CNAM only controls the display name shown for a number; STIR/SHAKEN is a separate cryptographic system that verifies the call actually originated from where it claims to, and the two are checked independently by the terminating carrier.
See also
Build it on Orbit
Voice, messaging, email, video, and AI agents on one platform and one pay-as-you-go bill. Start free — no credit card required.