Google is letting some people change their @gmail address
TL;DR
Google is testing a feature allowing some users to add a new @gmail address to their account, not fully replace the old one. Emails to the old address will still be received, and it remains functional.
If you've been saddled with some awful Gmail address you chose in high school (looking at you, LazySexyCool3030), help appears to be on the way. According to a Google account support page in Hindi the company is allowing some people to change their email address. According to the page (via Google Translate):
If your Google Account email address ends with gmail.com, you can replace it with one that ends with @gmail.com.
This appears to be more like adding a second address to your account than actually changing your email address, however. Email sent to your old address will still arrive in your inbox, and that address will still work to s …