A method to display a virtual machine name is provided. The method is applied to a virtual machine name management apparatus in a Network Function Virtualization (NFV) system. The NFV system further includes a virtual machine management device and a virtual machine creation device. The method includes receiving, by the virtual machine name management apparatus, a virtual machine name request message sent by the virtual machine management device, generating, according to the virtual machine name request message and each naming convention, a formal name corresponding to the virtual machine creation device and an alias corresponding to each virtual machine management device, and sending the alias corresponding to each virtual machine management device to each virtual machine management device. Different names may be displayed for a same virtual machine in each virtual machine management device in the NFV system.