diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index ab9e4db72..b6f7c5ae9 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ Environment Variables
 * ``ACCOUNT_PROFILE_URL`` - The URL of the account profile page.
 * ``ACCOUNT_SETTINGS_URL`` - The URL of the account settings page.
 * ``AUTHN_MINIMAL_HEADER`` - A boolean flag which hides the main menu, user menu, and logged-out
+* ``HIDE_USERNAME_FROM_HEADER`` - A boolean flag which hides the username from the header
   menu items when truthy.  This is intended to be used in micro-frontends like
   frontend-app-authentication in which these menus are considered distractions from the user's task.
 
diff --git a/example/index.js b/example/index.js
index 2559c03d4..ac41c4960 100644
--- a/example/index.js
+++ b/example/index.js
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ subscribe(APP_READY, () => {
         authenticatedUser: {
           userId: '123abc',
           username: 'testuser',
+          name: 'test user',
           roles: [],
           administrator: false,
         },
diff --git a/src/DesktopHeader.jsx b/src/DesktopHeader.jsx
index 8bd142fb9..849ee2df6 100644
--- a/src/DesktopHeader.jsx
+++ b/src/DesktopHeader.jsx
@@ -74,21 +74,25 @@ class DesktopHeader extends React.Component {
 
   renderUserMenu() {
     const {
+      intl,
       userMenu,
       avatar,
+      name,
       username,
-      intl,
     } = this.props;
+    const hideUsername = getConfig().HIDE_USERNAME_FROM_HEADER;
+    const usernameOrName = hideUsername ? name : username;
 
     return (
       <Menu transitionClassName="menu-dropdown" transitionTimeout={250}>
         <MenuTrigger
           tag="button"
-          aria-label={intl.formatMessage(messages['header.label.account.menu.for'], { username })}
+          aria-label={intl.formatMessage(messages['header.label.account.menu.using.name.or.username'], { usernameOrName })}
           className="btn btn-outline-primary d-inline-flex align-items-center pl-2 pr-3"
         >
           <Avatar size="1.5em" src={avatar} alt="" className="mr-2" />
-          {username} <CaretIcon role="img" aria-hidden focusable="false" />
+          {!hideUsername && username}
+          <CaretIcon role="img" aria-hidden focusable="false" />
         </MenuTrigger>
         <MenuContent className="mb-0 dropdown-menu show dropdown-menu-right pin-right shadow py-2">
           {userMenu.map(({ type, href, content }) => (
@@ -178,6 +182,7 @@ DesktopHeader.propTypes = {
   logoDestination: PropTypes.string,
   avatar: PropTypes.string,
   username: PropTypes.string,
+  name: PropTypes.string,
   loggedIn: PropTypes.bool,
 
   // i18n
@@ -207,6 +212,7 @@ DesktopHeader.defaultProps = {
   logoDestination: null,
   avatar: null,
   username: null,
+  name: null,
   loggedIn: false,
   appMenu: null,
 };
diff --git a/src/Header.jsx b/src/Header.jsx
index c0db257c7..cd40126ea 100644
--- a/src/Header.jsx
+++ b/src/Header.jsx
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ ensureConfig([
 subscribe(APP_CONFIG_INITIALIZED, () => {
   mergeConfig({
     AUTHN_MINIMAL_HEADER: !!process.env.AUTHN_MINIMAL_HEADER,
+    HIDE_USERNAME_FROM_HEADER: !!process.env.HIDE_USERNAME_FROM_HEADER,
   }, 'Header additional config');
 });
 
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ const Header = ({ intl }) => {
     logoDestination: `${config.LMS_BASE_URL}/dashboard`,
     loggedIn: authenticatedUser !== null,
     username: authenticatedUser !== null ? authenticatedUser.username : null,
+    name: authenticatedUser !== null ? authenticatedUser.name : null,
     avatar: authenticatedUser !== null ? authenticatedUser.avatar : null,
     mainMenu: getConfig().AUTHN_MINIMAL_HEADER ? [] : mainMenu,
     userMenu: getConfig().AUTHN_MINIMAL_HEADER ? [] : userMenu,
diff --git a/src/Header.messages.jsx b/src/Header.messages.jsx
index a5ff3a589..1071c9cb3 100644
--- a/src/Header.messages.jsx
+++ b/src/Header.messages.jsx
@@ -76,10 +76,10 @@ const messages = defineMessages({
     defaultMessage: 'Account Menu',
     description: 'The aria label for the account menu trigger',
   },
-  'header.label.account.menu.for': {
-    id: 'header.label.account.menu.for',
-    defaultMessage: 'Account menu for {username}',
-    description: 'The aria label for the account menu trigger when the username is displayed in it',
+  'header.label.account.menu.using.name.or.username': {
+    id: 'header.label.account.menu.using.name.or.username',
+    defaultMessage: 'Account menu for {usernameOrName}',
+    description: 'The aria label for the account menu trigger when the username is displayed or hide in it',
   },
   'header.label.main.nav': {
     id: 'header.label.main.nav',
diff --git a/src/Header.test.jsx b/src/Header.test.jsx
index 51fef2089..b4f09f61e 100644
--- a/src/Header.test.jsx
+++ b/src/Header.test.jsx
@@ -38,11 +38,12 @@ describe('<Header />', () => {
     expect(wrapper.toJSON()).toMatchSnapshot();
   });
 
-  it('renders correctly for authenticated desktop', () => {
+  it('renders correctly for authenticated desktop with username', () => {
     const contextValue = {
       authenticatedUser: {
         userId: 'abc123',
         username: 'edX',
+        name: 'edX',
         roles: [],
         administrator: false,
       },
@@ -61,6 +62,30 @@ describe('<Header />', () => {
     expect(wrapper.toJSON()).toMatchSnapshot();
   });
 
+  it('renders correctly for authenticated desktop without username', () => {
+    const contextValue = {
+      authenticatedUser: {
+        userId: 'abc123',
+        name: 'edX',
+        roles: [],
+        administrator: false,
+      },
+      config: {
+        LMS_BASE_URL: process.env.LMS_BASE_URL,
+        SITE_NAME: process.env.SITE_NAME,
+        LOGIN_URL: process.env.LOGIN_URL,
+        LOGOUT_URL: process.env.LOGOUT_URL,
+        LOGO_URL: process.env.LOGO_URL,
+        HIDE_USERNAME_FROM_HEADER: true,
+      },
+    };
+    const component = <HeaderComponent width={{ width: 1280 }} contextValue={contextValue} />;
+
+    const wrapper = TestRenderer.create(component);
+
+    expect(wrapper.toJSON()).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
   it('renders correctly for anonymous mobile', () => {
     const contextValue = {
       authenticatedUser: null,
@@ -84,6 +109,7 @@ describe('<Header />', () => {
       authenticatedUser: {
         userId: 'abc123',
         username: 'edX',
+        name: 'edX',
         roles: [],
         administrator: false,
       },
diff --git a/src/__snapshots__/Header.test.jsx.snap b/src/__snapshots__/Header.test.jsx.snap
index f83161b15..04aeaf59a 100644
--- a/src/__snapshots__/Header.test.jsx.snap
+++ b/src/__snapshots__/Header.test.jsx.snap
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ exports[`<Header /> renders correctly for anonymous mobile 1`] = `
 </header>
 `;
 
-exports[`<Header /> renders correctly for authenticated desktop 1`] = `
+exports[`<Header /> renders correctly for authenticated desktop with username 1`] = `
 <header
   className="site-header-desktop"
 >
@@ -281,7 +281,113 @@ exports[`<Header /> renders correctly for authenticated desktop 1`] = `
               </svg>
             </span>
             edX
-             
+            <svg
+              aria-hidden={true}
+              focusable="false"
+              height="16px"
+              role="img"
+              version="1.1"
+              viewBox="0 0 16 16"
+              width="16px"
+            >
+              <path
+                d="M7,4 L7,8 L11,8 L11,10 L5,10 L5,4 L7,4 Z"
+                fill="currentColor"
+                transform="translate(8.000000, 7.000000) rotate(-45.000000) translate(-8.000000, -7.000000) "
+              />
+            </svg>
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      </nav>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</header>
+`;
+
+exports[`<Header /> renders correctly for authenticated desktop without username 1`] = `
+<header
+  className="site-header-desktop"
+>
+  <a
+    className="nav-skip sr-only sr-only-focusable"
+    href="#main"
+  >
+    Skip to main content
+  </a>
+  <div
+    className="container-fluid null"
+  >
+    <div
+      className="nav-container position-relative d-flex align-items-center"
+    >
+      <a
+        className="logo"
+        href="http://localhost:18000/dashboard"
+      >
+        <img
+          alt="edX"
+          className="d-block"
+          src="https://edx-cdn.org/v3/default/logo.svg"
+        />
+      </a>
+      <nav
+        aria-label="Main"
+        className="nav main-nav"
+      >
+        <a
+          className="nav-link"
+          href="http://localhost:18000/dashboard"
+        >
+          Courses
+        </a>
+      </nav>
+      <nav
+        aria-label="Secondary"
+        className="nav secondary-menu-container align-items-center ml-auto"
+      >
+        <div
+          className="menu null"
+          onKeyDown={[Function]}
+          onMouseEnter={[Function]}
+          onMouseLeave={[Function]}
+        >
+          <button
+            aria-expanded={false}
+            aria-haspopup="menu"
+            aria-label="Account menu for "
+            className="menu-trigger btn btn-outline-primary d-inline-flex align-items-center pl-2 pr-3"
+            onClick={[Function]}
+          >
+            <span
+              className="avatar overflow-hidden d-inline-flex rounded-circle mr-2"
+              style={
+                Object {
+                  "height": "1.5em",
+                  "width": "1.5em",
+                }
+              }
+            >
+              <svg
+                aria-hidden={true}
+                focusable="false"
+                height="24px"
+                role="img"
+                style={
+                  Object {
+                    "height": "1.5em",
+                    "width": "1.5em",
+                  }
+                }
+                version="1.1"
+                viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                width="24px"
+              >
+                <path
+                  d="M4.10255106,18.1351061 C4.7170266,16.0581859 8.01891846,14.4720277 12,14.4720277 C15.9810815,14.4720277 19.2829734,16.0581859 19.8974489,18.1351061 C21.215206,16.4412566 22,14.3122775 22,12 C22,6.4771525 17.5228475,2 12,2 C6.4771525,2 2,6.4771525 2,12 C2,14.3122775 2.78479405,16.4412566 4.10255106,18.1351061 Z M12,24 C5.372583,24 0,18.627417 0,12 C0,5.372583 5.372583,0 12,0 C18.627417,0 24,5.372583 24,12 C24,18.627417 18.627417,24 12,24 Z M12,13 C9.790861,13 8,11.209139 8,9 C8,6.790861 9.790861,5 12,5 C14.209139,5 16,6.790861 16,9 C16,11.209139 14.209139,13 12,13 Z"
+                  fill="currentColor"
+                />
+              </svg>
+            </span>
             <svg
               aria-hidden={true}
               focusable="false"
diff --git a/src/learning-header/AuthenticatedUserDropdown.jsx b/src/learning-header/AuthenticatedUserDropdown.jsx
index 9caadb412..388b850f1 100644
--- a/src/learning-header/AuthenticatedUserDropdown.jsx
+++ b/src/learning-header/AuthenticatedUserDropdown.jsx
@@ -5,27 +5,38 @@ import { FontAwesomeIcon } from '@fortawesome/react-fontawesome';
 import { faUserCircle } from '@fortawesome/free-solid-svg-icons';
 import { getConfig } from '@edx/frontend-platform';
 import { injectIntl, intlShape } from '@edx/frontend-platform/i18n';
-import { Dropdown } from '@openedx/paragon';
+import { Avatar, Dropdown } from '@openedx/paragon';
 
 import messages from './messages';
 
-const AuthenticatedUserDropdown = ({ intl, username }) => {
+const AuthenticatedUserDropdown = ({
+  intl, username, name,
+}) => {
   const dashboardMenuItem = (
     <Dropdown.Item href={`${getConfig().LMS_BASE_URL}/dashboard`}>
       {intl.formatMessage(messages.dashboard)}
     </Dropdown.Item>
   );
 
+  // show avatar instead username if HIDE_USERNAME_FROM_HEADER flag is enabled
+  const dropdownToggle = (
+    <Dropdown.Toggle variant="outline-primary">
+      <FontAwesomeIcon icon={faUserCircle} className="d-md-none" size="lg" />
+      {getConfig().HIDE_USERNAME_FROM_HEADER ? (
+        <Avatar size="sm" alt={name} className="mr-2" />
+      ) : (
+        <span data-hj-suppress className="d-none d-md-inline" data-testid="username">
+          {username}
+        </span>
+      )}
+    </Dropdown.Toggle>
+  );
+
   return (
     <>
       <a className="text-gray-700" href={`${getConfig().SUPPORT_URL}`}>{intl.formatMessage(messages.help)}</a>
       <Dropdown className="user-dropdown ml-3">
-        <Dropdown.Toggle variant="outline-primary">
-          <FontAwesomeIcon icon={faUserCircle} className="d-md-none" size="lg" />
-          <span data-hj-suppress className="d-none d-md-inline">
-            {username}
-          </span>
-        </Dropdown.Toggle>
+        {dropdownToggle}
         <Dropdown.Menu className="dropdown-menu-right">
           {dashboardMenuItem}
           <Dropdown.Item href={`${getConfig().ACCOUNT_PROFILE_URL}/u/${username}`}>
@@ -51,6 +62,11 @@ const AuthenticatedUserDropdown = ({ intl, username }) => {
 AuthenticatedUserDropdown.propTypes = {
   intl: intlShape.isRequired,
   username: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
+  name: PropTypes.string,
+};
+
+AuthenticatedUserDropdown.defaultProps = {
+  name: null,
 };
 
 export default injectIntl(AuthenticatedUserDropdown);
diff --git a/src/learning-header/LearningHeader.jsx b/src/learning-header/LearningHeader.jsx
index 373001d19..88dce7d7c 100644
--- a/src/learning-header/LearningHeader.jsx
+++ b/src/learning-header/LearningHeader.jsx
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ const LearningHeader = ({
         {showUserDropdown && authenticatedUser && (
         <AuthenticatedUserDropdown
           username={authenticatedUser.username}
+          name={authenticatedUser.name}
         />
         )}
         {showUserDropdown && !authenticatedUser && (
diff --git a/src/learning-header/LearningHeader.test.jsx b/src/learning-header/LearningHeader.test.jsx
index 3d80888ef..64029815e 100644
--- a/src/learning-header/LearningHeader.test.jsx
+++ b/src/learning-header/LearningHeader.test.jsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import React from 'react';
+import { getConfig, mergeConfig } from '@edx/frontend-platform';
 import {
   authenticatedUser, initializeMockApp, render, screen,
 } from '../setupTest';
@@ -15,6 +16,17 @@ describe('Header', () => {
     expect(screen.getByText(authenticatedUser.username)).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
+  it('displays user button without username', () => {
+    const config = getConfig();
+    mergeConfig({
+      ...config,
+      HIDE_USERNAME_FROM_HEADER: true,
+    });
+    const { queryByTestId } = render(<Header />);
+    const userName = queryByTestId('username');
+    expect(userName).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
   it('displays course data', () => {
     const courseData = {
       courseOrg: 'course-org',
diff --git a/src/studio-header/HeaderBody.jsx b/src/studio-header/HeaderBody.jsx
index af3690610..2ca70e125 100644
--- a/src/studio-header/HeaderBody.jsx
+++ b/src/studio-header/HeaderBody.jsx
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ const HeaderBody = ({
   number,
   org,
   title,
+  name,
   username,
   isAdmin,
   studioBaseUrl,
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@ const HeaderBody = ({
         <Nav>
           <UserMenu
             {...{
+              name,
               username,
               studioBaseUrl,
               logoutUrl,
@@ -124,6 +126,7 @@ HeaderBody.propTypes = {
   logo: PropTypes.string,
   logoAltText: PropTypes.string,
   authenticatedUserAvatar: PropTypes.string,
+  name: PropTypes.string,
   username: PropTypes.string,
   isAdmin: PropTypes.bool,
   isMobile: PropTypes.bool,
@@ -149,6 +152,7 @@ HeaderBody.defaultProps = {
   org: '',
   title: '',
   authenticatedUserAvatar: null,
+  name: null,
   username: null,
   isAdmin: false,
   isMobile: false,
diff --git a/src/studio-header/StudioHeader.jsx b/src/studio-header/StudioHeader.jsx
index 3f267e031..4e76f391e 100644
--- a/src/studio-header/StudioHeader.jsx
+++ b/src/studio-header/StudioHeader.jsx
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ const StudioHeader = ({
     number,
     org,
     title,
+    name: authenticatedUser?.name,
     username: authenticatedUser?.username,
     isAdmin: authenticatedUser?.administrator,
     authenticatedUserAvatar: authenticatedUser?.avatar,
diff --git a/src/studio-header/StudioHeader.test.jsx b/src/studio-header/StudioHeader.test.jsx
index 8ebda05cd..6412060f5 100644
--- a/src/studio-header/StudioHeader.test.jsx
+++ b/src/studio-header/StudioHeader.test.jsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /* eslint-disable react/prop-types */
 import React, { useMemo } from 'react';
+import { getConfig, mergeConfig } from '@edx/frontend-platform';
 import {
   render,
   fireEvent,
@@ -128,6 +129,17 @@ describe('Header', () => {
       expect(avatarIcon).toBeVisible();
     });
 
+    it('user menu should not contain username', async () => {
+      const config = getConfig();
+      mergeConfig({
+        ...config,
+        HIDE_USERNAME_FROM_HEADER: true,
+      });
+      const { container } = render(<RootWrapper {...props} />);
+      const userMenue = container.querySelector('#user-dropdown-menu');
+      expect(userMenue.textContent).toContain('');
+    });
+
     it('should hide nav items if prop isHiddenMainMenu true', async () => {
       const initialProps = { ...props, isHiddenMainMenu: true };
       const { queryByTestId } = render(<RootWrapper {...initialProps} />);
diff --git a/src/studio-header/UserMenu.jsx b/src/studio-header/UserMenu.jsx
index 03695c165..6d6b1f367 100644
--- a/src/studio-header/UserMenu.jsx
+++ b/src/studio-header/UserMenu.jsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import { injectIntl, intlShape } from '@edx/frontend-platform/i18n';
+import { getConfig } from '@edx/frontend-platform';
 import {
   Avatar,
 } from '@openedx/paragon';
@@ -8,6 +9,7 @@ import NavDropdownMenu from './NavDropdownMenu';
 import getUserMenuItems from './utils';
 
 const UserMenu = ({
+  name,
   username,
   studioBaseUrl,
   logoutUrl,
@@ -17,22 +19,24 @@ const UserMenu = ({
   // injected
   intl,
 }) => {
+  const hideUsername = getConfig().HIDE_USERNAME_FROM_HEADER;
+  const avatarAlt = hideUsername ? name : username;
   const avatar = authenticatedUserAvatar ? (
     <img
       className="d-block w-100 h-100"
       src={authenticatedUserAvatar}
-      alt={username}
+      alt={avatarAlt}
       data-testid="avatar-image"
     />
   ) : (
     <Avatar
       size="sm"
       className="mr-2"
-      alt={username}
+      alt={avatarAlt}
       data-testid="avatar-icon"
     />
   );
-  const title = isMobile ? avatar : <>{avatar}{username}</>;
+  const title = (isMobile || hideUsername) ? avatar : <>{avatar}{username}</>;
 
   return (
     <NavDropdownMenu
@@ -49,6 +53,7 @@ const UserMenu = ({
 };
 
 UserMenu.propTypes = {
+  name: PropTypes.string,
   username: PropTypes.string,
   studioBaseUrl: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
   logoutUrl: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
@@ -63,6 +68,7 @@ UserMenu.defaultProps = {
   isMobile: false,
   isAdmin: false,
   authenticatedUserAvatar: null,
+  name: null,
   username: null,
 };