10 Ways to Find Someone’s Email Address by Name

A few weeks ago, I was trying to get in touch with an industry expert. I had their name, but no email address—just a name and the company they worked for. I hit a wall almost immediately. Without direct contact, I was stuck hoping they’d see a message on LinkedIn or Twitter. Sound familiar?

When you’re trying to reach someone directly, whether for networking, collaboration, or just a quick question, missing that email can feel like a real setback. Subscribing to endless newsletters or filling out random contact forms isn’t ideal, and it rarely gets you where you need to go.

Fortunately, after a lot of trial and error, I figured out a set of reliable, straightforward methods that actually work. If you’re facing a similar challenge, this guide is here to help. Let’s go over practical ways to find someone’s email address, even when all you have is a name.

Method 1: Try People Search Websites

People search websites are a popular and efficient way to locate someone’s email address using their name and other available details. These platforms gather information from various public records, social media, and online databases, allowing users to access contact details quickly.

Many people search websites offer tools specifically designed to help locate email addresses. By entering someone’s full name, city, or even their company, you can often retrieve their email or additional contact information. Some sites may provide basic information for free, while others require a small fee for full details.

Top 5 Popular People Search Platforms (Free & Paid):

1. PeopleFinders

PeopleFinders is a well-established tool with over 120 billion records for locating contact information, including email addresses, by searching with a person’s name. It pulls data from various public records, social media profiles, and online directories to provide users with accurate and up-to-date information. PeopleFinders is especially useful for finding long-lost contacts or professional connections, making it a popular choice among people search websites. PeopleFinders also known as one of the best background search tools.

How to Find Someone’s Email by Name with PeopleFinders:

1. Go to the PeopleFinders website.
2. In the search bar, enter the person’s full name and any other details you know (like city or state).
3. Click “Search” to view results. PeopleFinders will compile relevant matches based on the information provided.
4. Review the search results, and look for options to access the email address (you may need a paid subscription for full details).

Best For: PeopleFinders is ideal for individual background check when you have minimal details, such as just the name and location, and need accurate contact information quickly.

2. PeopleLookup

PeopleLookup is a popular people search tool that allows users to locate contact information, including email addresses, by using just a name and other limited details. It gathers data from public records, online directories, and other main people search site’s database to provide comprehensive contact information. PeopleLookup is especially useful for individuals trying to reconnect with someone.

How to Find an Email by Name Using PeopleLookup:

1. Visit the PeopleLookup website.
2. Enter the person’s full name in the search bar. Adding details like location or age can help refine the results.
3. Click “Search” to browse through potential matches that display contact details, including email addresses.
4. Select the relevant profile, and access the email address (PeopleLookup redirect to other main providers for deep search where a subscription may be needed for full contact information).

Best For: PeopleLookup is suited for reconnecting with acquaintances or locating professional contacts when you only have basic details. Its straightforward search process makes it ideal for users who need quick, reliable results.

Read full: PeopleFinders Review

3. Spokeo

Spokeo is a versatile people search platform known for gathering information from various sources, including social media profiles, public records, and online directories. It’s widely used for locating email addresses and other contact details with just a name, making it a valuable tool for those looking to connect with old friends, colleagues, or potential business contacts. Spokeo’s comprehensive database allows users to refine searches based on additional details, providing more accurate results.

How to Find an Email Address by Name Using Spokeo:

1. Go to the Spokeo website.
2. Enter the person’s name in the search field. Adding any additional information, such as city or state, can help narrow down the results.
3. Click “Search” and review the results for the relevant profile.
4. Select the matching profile to view details, including the email address (a subscription may be required to access full contact information).

Best For: Spokeo is ideal for finding someone’s social media accounts when you have a person’s name and some additional details. It’s effective for reconnecting with friends, family, or professional contacts, offering a simple interface with extensive data access.

Read full: Spokeo Review

4. BeenVerified

BeenVerified is a people search tool primarily known for its comprehensive background checks. It pulls data from multiple public records, allowing users to find detailed information, including possible email addresses, associated with a specific individual. While it’s widely used for background checks, BeenVerified can be a practical tool for finding someone’s contact information with just their name.

How to Use BeenVerified to Find Someone’s Email:

1. Visit the BeenVerified website.
2. Enter the person’s name in the search bar. Adding any known location details, like city or state, can help refine the search.
3. Review the results to identify the correct profile.
4. Select the profile to view details, including any associated email addresses (full information may require a subscription).

Best For: BeenVerified is most useful for background checks but can also assist in locating email addresses when you need more detailed contact information.

Read full: BeenVerified Review

5. AnyWho

AnyWho is a free online directory for finding people, phone numbers, and addresses. Unlike many other tools, AnyWho focuses on providing access to public listings without charge, making it a popular option for users seeking basic contact information. While it may not always deliver email addresses, it’s useful for confirming other contact details that can lead to finding an email elsewhere.

How to Use AnyWho to Find Someone’s Email Address:

1. Go to the AnyWho website.
2. Enter the individual’s first and last name, along with any known location (city or state).
3. Click “Search” to view a list of potential matches.
4. Review the contact details provided, such as addresses and phone numbers, which can help refine searches on other platforms or databases where emails may be listed.

Best For: AnyWho is best for users who want a free option to verify basic contact details. It’s especially helpful for those looking to connect with people without needing a subscription service.

Method 2: Use Google Search to Find Someone’s Email

Google’s advanced search operators can help you uncover someone’s email address by utilizing specific keywords and filters. By strategically inputting the person’s name, company, or other known details, you can narrow down search results and potentially find relevant email information.

Steps to find someone’s email address using Google search:

1. Open Google’s search page.
2. Start with simple queries like "John Doe email" or "John Doe [Company] email" to see if any results appear.
3. For more targeted results, use specific search operators:
   • Example: site:example.com "John Doe email" – This will search only within “example.com” for mentions of “John Doe” and “email.”
   • Try "John Doe" + "contact information" or "John Doe" + "@companydomain.com" to refine further.

Tips to Improve Search:

• Experiment with additional identifiers like the person’s job title or city for more accurate results, e.g., "John Doe marketing New York email."
• Be patient with variations, as combining different terms often yields better results.

Best For: Google search operators work well for finding publicly available emails across various websites, especially if the individual has an online presence in a company directory, professional bio, or networking site.

Method 3: LinkedIn Export (If Connected)

LinkedIn allows you to export the contact details of your connections, including their email addresses if they’ve made them visible. This method is particularly effective if you’re already connected with the person on LinkedIn, allowing for easy retrieval of their email address without extensive searching.

Steps to Export LinkedIn Data:

1. Log into your LinkedIn account.
2. Go to Settings & Privacy by clicking on your profile icon.
3. Under the Data Privacy section, choose Get a copy of your data.
4. Select Connections to download contact information.
5. You’ll receive an email with a download link containing a file of your connections’ data, including email addresses (if shared).

Limitations:

• This method only works if you’re connected with the individual on LinkedIn.
• Some users may have privacy settings enabled, which restrict the visibility of their email addresses in exports.

Best For: This approach is ideal for expanding professional networking, outreach, or following up with acquaintances and colleagues you’re connected with on LinkedIn.

Method 4: Check Out Social Media Profiles

Social media platforms often include contact information in public bios or dedicated sections, where individuals may list their email addresses. This method is effective for professionals, influencers, or business contacts who share their email to be reachable.

Steps to Find someone’s email from Social Media:

1. Inspect Social Media Profiles: Visit the person’s social media profiles, starting with platforms like LinkedIn and X, where users frequently add contact information.
2. Check the Bio and Contact Sections: Look specifically at profile bios or “About” sections, where emails may be listed for public inquiries.
3. Send a Polite Direct Message: If no email is visible, consider sending a respectful message asking if they’d be willing to share their contact email.

Popular Platforms:

• LinkedIn: Professional profiles often include emails for networking or inquiries.
• X (formerly Twitter): Check bios for contact info or look for a “DM for inquiries” message.
• Facebook: The “About” section sometimes lists contact emails.
• Instagram: Influencers and business accounts often list emails in their bios or via a “Contact” button.

Method 5: Company Email Patterns

Many companies use standardized email structures, such as [first].[last]@company.com, making it easier to guess someone’s email when you know their name and company. By identifying common formats, you can quickly narrow down the possibilities.

Steps to find company emails:

1. Identify Standard Patterns: Most organizations use a few common formats, like [first].[last]@company.com, [first_initial][last]@company.com, or [first]@company.com.
2. Use Email Permutation Tools: Tools like Email Permutator or Hunter.io can help generate all possible email combinations based on these patterns.
3. Verify with a Polite Test Message: Once you have a likely email, send a respectful introductory message to confirm if it’s correct. Make sure the email content is polite and respectful.

This method works well when you know the individual’s name and the organization but don’t have the exact email format.

Method 6: Use Professional Email Finder Tools

Professional email finder tools are specifically designed to help users locate business emails for outreach, networking, and business purposes. These platforms pull data from various sources, providing verified email addresses along with additional professional details.

Popular Email Finder Tools:

1. Hunter.io

Hunter.io is a trusted tool for finding business emails. It offers users a simple way to find and verify professional email addresses through a search interface and a Chrome extension. Hunter is especially useful for building email lists quickly, thanks to its bulk email search feature and domain search, which provides all publicly available email addresses associated with a domain.

How It Works:

1. Go to Hunter.io and sign up or log in.
2. In the search bar, enter the person’s first name, last name, and the domain of the company (e.g., @example.com).
3. Click “Find Email,” and Hunter will generate the most likely email address with a confidence score.
4. If you’re unsure of the domain, try the Chrome extension on LinkedIn profiles to search directly from there.

Hunter.io is ideal for business email searches, creating email lists, and quickly building outreach lists from scratch.

2. ZoomInfo

ZoomInfo is known for its vast business directory and detailed professional profiles. It’s widely used by sales and recruitment teams because it not only provides emails but also comprehensive company information, job titles, and industry details, which makes outreach more targeted and effective. ZoomInfo offers premium features that provide real-time insights on individuals and companies, helping users refine their outreach.

How It Works:

1. Sign up at ZoomInfo and log in to your account.
2. Use the search bar to enter the person’s name or company.
3. ZoomInfo will display matching profiles with contact information, job titles, and company details.
4. Select the profile to view additional details, including verified email addresses and phone numbers.

ZoomInfo is perfect for anyone needing comprehensive business data and contact information across industries, such as marketers, recruiters, and B2B sales teams.

Apollo.io

Apollo.io combines email finding with sales intelligence, offering verified contact details and professional insights that can help users target their outreach effectively. It includes filtering options for specific industries, job roles, and company sizes. Apollo.io is also useful for tracking interaction history and integrating with CRM systems, making it a valuable tool for sales and outreach professionals who need detailed, organized contact lists.

How It Works:

1. Go to Apollo.io and sign up or log in.
2. Use the search bar to enter the person’s name, company, or job title for more refined results.
3. Browse through the profiles to find the person you’re looking for.
4. Click on the profile to view contact information, including verified email addresses, phone numbers, and company details.

Apollo.io is ideal for outreach professionals who need enriched data, including job and company insights, to support tailored and effective outreach campaigns.

Method 7: Use WHOIS Lookup for Websites

A WHOIS lookup is a useful tool for finding contact information tied to domain registrations. When someone registers a website domain, they often provide an email address, which becomes part of the public WHOIS database unless privacy protection is enabled. This method is particularly helpful for reaching out to small business owners, bloggers, or individual professionals who may have registered domains in their names.

How to find website’s email address using WHOIS Lookup:

1. Go to a WHOIS lookup website, such as whois.net or whois.com.
2. In the search bar, enter the website’s domain (e.g., example.com) and click on “Search” or “Lookup.”
3. Review the WHOIS data displayed. Look for the registrant’s contact email under “Registrant Email” or “Admin Email.”
4. If domain privacy is enabled, personal details may not be visible. In such cases, you may find a generic contact email provided by the privacy service instead.

Caution: Be mindful that some domains are protected by privacy services, meaning personal email addresses are hidden from public view. Additionally, always respect privacy and data-use guidelines when reaching out to contacts obtained through WHOIS.

This method is best for locating contact information for independent website owners, small businesses, or personal websites where the domain registrant’s email is publicly available.

Method 8: Subscribe to Newsletters or Mailing Lists

Subscribing to a person’s newsletter or mailing list can be a subtle way to gain access to their contact details. Many individuals, especially professionals, bloggers, or business owners, use newsletters to connect with their audience. Often, these newsletters may include personal or direct email addresses, either in welcome messages or as part of their regular correspondence.

Steps to Sign Up:

1. Visit the individual’s website, blog, or social media page where they offer a newsletter or email list sign-up option.
2. Locate the subscription section, often labeled as “Subscribe,” “Join Our Newsletter,” or “Stay Updated,” and enter your name and email.
3. After signing up, check your inbox for a welcome email. Sometimes, this initial email will contain the sender’s direct email address.
4. If you don’t see an email right away, keep an eye on future newsletters or responses to any replies you send—some newsletters will include a direct reply-to address for correspondence.

This approach works well for professionals, influencers, or businesses that rely on email marketing and regular newsletter engagement. It’s a respectful and straightforward way to connect, as they typically welcome communication with subscribers.

Method 9: Contact Forms and Company Websites

If you can’t find a direct email address, many websites offer contact forms as a way to initiate communication. This method allows you to reach out professionally, and often, companies or individuals may respond with their email address for further correspondence. Using contact forms can be especially helpful for business inquiries, support requests, or other formal communications.

Steps to follow:

1. Visit the individual’s or company’s official website.
2. Navigate to the “Contact” or “Support” page, typically located in the main menu or footer.
3. Fill out the contact form with your name, email, and a brief message explaining your reason for reaching out. Politely inquire if they can provide an email address for direct communication if needed.
4. Submit the form and wait for a response. If they find your inquiry relevant, they may reply via email, giving you a direct contact for future communication.

This approach is ideal when connecting with professionals or businesses where no direct contact is available on the website. It’s also a reliable method for customer support or business-related inquiries.

Method 10: Use Chrome Extensions for Email Discovery

Chrome extensions like FindThatLead, Snov.io, and Skrapp are popular tools for discovering email addresses directly from LinkedIn profiles or company websites. These extensions are especially useful for professional networking, sales outreach, and recruitment as they allow users to find verified emails quickly while browsing. They often provide direct integration with LinkedIn, helping you locate emails without leaving the platform.

How to setup Chrome Extensions:

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for the desired extension, such as FindThatLead, Snov.io, or Skrapp.
2. Install the extension and enable it in your Chrome browser.
3. Once installed, navigate to LinkedIn or the website where you’re looking for contact information.
4. Open the extension while viewing a LinkedIn profile or a company site, and it will attempt to retrieve available email addresses associated with that person or company.
5. Review the email information provided and save it for your outreach or networking efforts.

Popular Chrome Extensions:

• FindThatLead: Effective for finding business contacts and verifying emails.
• Snov.io: Known for its versatility in email search and lead generation.
• Skrapp: Focused on LinkedIn, ideal for sales and recruiting professionals.

Note: While many features are free, some advanced functionalities may require a subscription. Ensure you review privacy and usage terms for each extension to stay compliant with LinkedIn and website policies.

Final Word

Finding someone’s email can be essential for networking, reconnecting, or making that next business opportunity happen. With the methods shared here, you’re equipped with practical, reliable ways to uncover email addresses using just a name. Whether you’re a professional looking to expand your network, a business reaching out to clients, or simply reconnecting with an old acquaintance, one of these methods should help you get the contact info you need.

Remember to use this information responsibly and respect privacy—always reach out with a professional, respectful tone. Happy networking, and best of luck in making those meaningful connections!