Show SITE_NAME as the email From display name.

Bare DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL addresses were rendering as "noreply" in inboxes; wrap them as "Monica Dhillon" <address>.

.env.example

@@ -26,10 +26,17 @@ RECAPTCHA_PRIVATE_KEY=
 # SMTP2GO — fill in `.env` (not this file). Dev defaults to console backend
 # until you set EMAIL_BACKEND to the SMTP backend below.
 EMAIL_HOST=mail.smtp2go.com
+# SMTP login (not shown to recipients)
 EMAIL_HOST_USER=
 EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD=
 EMAIL_PORT=2525
 EMAIL_USE_TLS=true
+# Inbox From header. Bare address → local-part shows as name ("noreply").
+# Prefer quoted display name (SITE_NAME is auto-wrapped if you omit it):
+#   DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL=noreply@mkdrealtor.com
+#   → "Monica Dhillon" <noreply@mkdrealtor.com>
+# Or set explicitly (must be allowed/verified in SMTP2GO):
+#   DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL="Monica Dhillon" <notifications-beta@mkdrealtor.com>
 DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL=noreply@mkdrealtor.com
 # Console (default in DJANGO_ENV=dev) prints mail to container logs.
 # For real SMTP2GO delivery locally, uncomment:

.env.prod.example

@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ SITE_UNDER_CONSTRUCTION=true
 SITE_NAME=Monica Dhillon
 SITE_TAGLINE=MKDRealtor.com · EXIT Realty Redefined
 PUBLIC_SITE_URL=https://mkdrealtor.com
+# Inbox From (display name auto-added from SITE_NAME if omitted).
+# SMTP2GO must allow sending as this address. Example:
+# DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL="Monica Dhillon" <notifications-beta@mkdrealtor.com>
 DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL=noreply@mkdrealtor.com
 CONTACT_PHONE=
 CONTACT_EMAIL=
@@ -41,7 +44,7 @@ WEB_PORT=8004
 RECAPTCHA_PUBLIC_KEY=replace-me
 RECAPTCHA_PRIVATE_KEY=replace-me
 
-# SMTP2GO email
+# SMTP2GO email — HOST_USER is SMTP auth only; From uses DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL
 EMAIL_HOST=mail.smtp2go.com
 EMAIL_HOST_USER=replace-me
 EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD=replace-me

site/monica_site/settings/base.py

@@ -208,13 +208,37 @@ SITE_UNDER_CONSTRUCTION = env_bool("SITE_UNDER_CONSTRUCTION", False)
 SITE_NAME = env("SITE_NAME", "Monica Dhillon")
 SITE_TAGLINE = env("SITE_TAGLINE", "MKDRealtor.com · EXIT Realty Redefined")
 PUBLIC_SITE_URL = env("PUBLIC_SITE_URL", "")
-DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL = env("DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL", "noreply@mkdrealtor.com")
 CONTACT_PHONE = env("CONTACT_PHONE", "(555) 123-4567")
 CONTACT_EMAIL = env("CONTACT_EMAIL", "monica@example.com")
 CONTACT_SERVICE_AREA = env("CONTACT_SERVICE_AREA", "Serving Greater Metro Area")
 CREDIT_NAME = env("CREDIT_NAME", "AI ML Operations, LLC")
 CREDIT_URL = env("CREDIT_URL", "https://aimloperations.com")
 
+
+def format_from_email(address: str | None, display_name: str | None = None) -> str:
+    """
+    Ensure From header includes a display name for inbox UIs.
+
+    Bare ``noreply@…`` shows as "noreply". Prefer
+    ``"Monica Dhillon" <noreply@…>`` (RFC 5322).
+    """
+    raw = (address or "").strip()
+    if not raw:
+        return ""
+    if "<" in raw and ">" in raw:
+        return raw
+    name = (display_name or SITE_NAME or "").strip()
+    if not name:
+        return raw
+    safe = name.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"')
+    return f'"{safe}" <{raw}>'
+
+
+# Inbox "From" — not the same as EMAIL_HOST_USER (SMTP login).
+DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL = format_from_email(
+    env("DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL", "noreply@mkdrealtor.com")
+)
+
 # --- reCAPTCHA v3 ---
 RECAPTCHA_PUBLIC_KEY = env("RECAPTCHA_PUBLIC_KEY", "")
 RECAPTCHA_PRIVATE_KEY = env("RECAPTCHA_PRIVATE_KEY", "")