What happens if I want to change the title of my scientific journal?

At first glance, changing a scientific journal's title may seem like a minor editorial adjustment, whether to modernize a word, adapt to new subject coverage, or simply improve its appeal to international readers. However, this decision has important formal implications, especially concerning the ISSN number, the journal's bibliographic identity, and its continuity in databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, or DOAJ.

Below, we explain what happens when the title of a scientific journal is changed, according to the rules established by the international ISSN system. We will also outline the steps that publishers must follow to make this change correctly.

What is the ISSN, and why does it matter for a scientific journal?

The ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) is a unique identifier for serial publications such as journals, newsletters, yearbooks, or book series. Each title has a number that represents it in databases, libraries, indexing systems, and citation systems.

This number is linked to the journal's key title, a standardized form of the full title that serves as an official reference. If the journal's title changes significantly, the assigned ISSN must also be changed.

What title changes in scientific journals require a new ISSN?

Not all changes to a journal title require a new ISSN. According to the ISSN Manual¹, these title changes are classified as major changes, which do need a new ISSN, and minor changes, which do not.

On the one hand, major changes to a journal title involve substantially altering its structure or meaning. Some common examples are:

Changing or reordering the first five words of the journal title (or six if it begins with an article such as “The”). An example is changing from “ICSU Review” to “ICSU Review of World Science”.
Adding or removing keywords that alter the subject coverage of the journal title. An example is changing from “The Best Bed & Breakfasts in the World” to “The Best Bed & Breakfasts in England, Scotland & Wales”.
Including or removing relevant names of corporate entities in the journal title. An example is changing from “Research Paper (Dept. of Economics)” to “ Research Paper (Institute for Public Economics)”.
Change the medium of the journal, i.e., if it changes from a print journal to a digital journal or vice versa.
Merge or split a journal into several parts. In this case, each journal receives its own ISSN and title key.

On the other hand, minor changes to journals do not require a new ISSN, but they must be registered as title variants. Some of these minor changes include:

Spelling or writing changes. A clear example would be a spelling correction in the title of a journal, such as changing Revista de Psícología Aplicada (with an accent error) to Revista de Psicología Aplicada. Although this is a change in the writing, it does not alter the title's meaning or affect the first words that define its identity.
Replacement of symbols or abbreviations. For example, suppose a journal titled Ciencia e Innovación decides to change its name to Ciencia & Innovación, the change is considered purely typographical, as it does not alter the meaning or essential structure of the title. Therefore, the same ISSN is retained, and the new form is registered as a title variant.
Changes in the number, gender, or plurality of words. For example, if a journal is titled Social Studies and later changes to Social Study, it does not imply a substantial transformation in its focus or basic structure. In this case, it is sufficient to register the new form as a variant while keeping the same ISSN number.
Adjustments to the representation of the resource type. An example would be changing the word Journal to Revista, provided that the word is not among the first five words.

What would it mean if my scientific journal had a new ISSN?

When a scientific journal obtains a new ISSN due to a title change, it is considered starting a new editorial phase. This has several implications:

The first is indexing in Scopus or Web of Science databases. This is very important because the new ISSN may be treated as a different journal, which temporarily affects visibility, metrics accumulation, and indexing continuity. For example, in such cases, Scopus may conduct a rigorous evaluation to verify the authenticity of the changes. Therefore, you would need to undergo the standard review process by the Content Selection and Advisory Board (CSAB) again². Meanwhile, Web of Science considers it essential to notify Clarivate Analytics to ensure continuity and accuracy in the representation of the journal in its database. This is because a change in a journal's title can affect its historical metrics, such as its Impact Factor or its position in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR)³.

The second issue concerns DOIs and metadata. This requires updating the journal title in the Crossref system and adjusting the metadata to ensure the correct linking of new articles.
The third implication relates to bibliographic records. In other words, libraries and catalogs must be informed of the journal title change to maintain documentary continuity between the different versions.
Finally, you must be transparent with authors and readers. It is essential to announce the change publicly, explain the reason, and keep previous files accessible.

What if I want my scientific journal to revert to its previous title?

The good news is that this is possible. In this case, a new ISSN is also assigned, even if the title was previously used. To distinguish it from the original, a start date is added in parentheses, for example: “Journal of Medical Sciences (1990),” “Journal of Medical Sciences and Biotechnology,” and “Journal of Medical Sciences (2025).”

This case reflects a situation in which a journal temporarily expands its subject scope by adding “Biotechnology” to the title, but later revert to the original name. Although the title is the same as in its initial stage, ISSN regulations require assigning a new number and adding a chronological distinction (such as the start year) to avoid ambiguity in bibliographic records.

Practical recommendations for scientific publishers

Always assess whether changing the journal title is necessary. A minor adjustment may not justify an editorial break that affects continuity in databases.
Consult with your country's National ISSN Center before implementing the title change, as only they can determine whether a new ISSN is necessary.
Plan the title change in advance, because databases must be informed months in advance if the journal is indexed.
Maintain traceability on the journal's website and clearly indicate that the new title continues the previous one. This should be done with a link to the archives and a mention of the previous ISSN.
Update all metadata systems on the editorial management platform, the Crossref portal, the editorial record, the DOAJ, distribution platforms, and library catalogs.

Changing the title of a scientific journal is not just a decision about image. It is an act that has technical, regulatory, and bibliographic consequences. While it may be a reasonable positioning strategy, it must be approached with professionalism and planning.

Through its clear guidelines, the ISSN system ensures the integrity of the international bibliographic record. As a publisher, it is your responsibility to ensure that changes contribute to the growth of your journal without jeopardizing its visibility or legacy.