diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/tests/test_views.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/tests/test_views.py
index f6042d13f2..bad05115da 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/tests/test_views.py
@@ -892,7 +892,7 @@ class RegistrationViewTest(ThirdPartyAuthTestMixin, ApiTestCase):
                 u"required": True,
                 u"label": u"Full name",
                 u"placeholder": u"Jane Doe",
-                u"instructions": u"Needed for any certificates you may earn",
+                u"instructions": u"Your legal name, used for any certificates you earn.",
                 u"restrictions": {
                     "max_length": 255
                 },
@@ -978,7 +978,7 @@ class RegistrationViewTest(ThirdPartyAuthTestMixin, ApiTestCase):
                     u"required": True,
                     u"label": u"Full name",
                     u"placeholder": u"Jane Doe",
-                    u"instructions": u"Needed for any certificates you may earn",
+                    u"instructions": u"Your legal name, used for any certificates you earn.",
                     u"restrictions": {
                         "max_length": NAME_MAX_LENGTH,
                     }
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py
index 1e662f93f4..d3eab5efdb 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ class RegistrationView(APIView):
 
         # Translators: These instructions appear on the registration form, immediately
         # below a field meant to hold the user's full name.
-        name_instructions = _(u"Needed for any certificates you may earn")
+        name_instructions = _(u"Your legal name, used for any certificates you earn.")
 
         form_desc.add_field(
             "name",