diff --git a/core/trace/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/otel4s/trace/Span.scala b/core/trace/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/otel4s/trace/Span.scala
index 2a1258526..64f9a1b90 100644
--- a/core/trace/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/otel4s/trace/Span.scala
+++ b/core/trace/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/otel4s/trace/Span.scala
@@ -71,6 +71,20 @@ trait Span[F[_]] extends SpanMacro[F] {
   final def context: SpanContext =
     backend.context
 
+  /** Updates the name of the [[Span]].
+    *
+    * '''Note''': if used, this will override the name provided via the
+    * [[SpanBuilder]].
+    *
+    * '''Caution''': upon this update, any sampling behavior based on span's
+    * name will depend on the implementation.
+    *
+    * @param name
+    *   the new name of the span
+    */
+  final def updateName(name: String): F[Unit] =
+    backend.updateName(name)
+
   /** Marks the end of [[Span]] execution.
     *
     * Only the timing of the first end call for a given span will be recorded,
@@ -102,6 +116,8 @@ object Span {
     def meta: InstrumentMeta[F]
     def context: SpanContext
 
+    def updateName(name: String): F[Unit]
+
     def addAttributes(attributes: Attribute[_]*): F[Unit]
     def addEvent(name: String, attributes: Attribute[_]*): F[Unit]
 
@@ -131,6 +147,8 @@ object Span {
         val meta: InstrumentMeta[F] = InstrumentMeta.disabled
         val context: SpanContext = SpanContext.invalid
 
+        def updateName(name: String): F[Unit] = unit
+
         def addAttributes(attributes: Attribute[_]*): F[Unit] = unit
         def addEvent(name: String, attributes: Attribute[_]*): F[Unit] = unit
 
diff --git a/java/trace/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/otel4s/java/trace/SpanBackendImpl.scala b/java/trace/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/otel4s/java/trace/SpanBackendImpl.scala
index c4dc3b80e..2c9f63446 100644
--- a/java/trace/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/otel4s/java/trace/SpanBackendImpl.scala
+++ b/java/trace/src/main/scala/org/typelevel/otel4s/java/trace/SpanBackendImpl.scala
@@ -40,6 +40,12 @@ private[java] class SpanBackendImpl[F[_]: Sync](
   def context: SpanContext =
     spanContext
 
+  def updateName(name: String): F[Unit] =
+    Sync[F].delay {
+      jSpan.updateName(name)
+      ()
+    }
+
   def addAttributes(attributes: Attribute[_]*): F[Unit] =
     Sync[F].delay {
       jSpan.setAllAttributes(Conversions.toJAttributes(attributes))
diff --git a/java/trace/src/test/scala/org/typelevel/otel4s/java/trace/TracerSuite.scala b/java/trace/src/test/scala/org/typelevel/otel4s/java/trace/TracerSuite.scala
index e981a96ab..a80a6f7d8 100644
--- a/java/trace/src/test/scala/org/typelevel/otel4s/java/trace/TracerSuite.scala
+++ b/java/trace/src/test/scala/org/typelevel/otel4s/java/trace/TracerSuite.scala
@@ -86,6 +86,15 @@ class TracerSuite extends CatsEffectSuite {
     )
   }
 
+  test("update span name") {
+    for {
+      sdk <- makeSdk()
+      tracer <- sdk.provider.get("tracer")
+      _ <- tracer.span("span").use(span => span.updateName("span-use"))
+      spans <- sdk.finishedSpans
+    } yield assertEquals(spans.map(_.getName), List("span-use"))
+  }
+
   test("set attributes only once") {
     val key = "string-attribute"
     val value = "value"