Set a display name in the legend in ArcGIS Pro

Summary

When creating legends in ArcGIS Pro, there are times it may be necessary to use a different name for features than what is listed in the Contents Pane, but still preserve those names. In these cases, it is possible to set up a description name that is similar to a display name. 

Procedure

1. In Layout view, right-click the feature to start with and select Symbology.
2. In the Symbology pane for the feature, in the Description section, type a description to display in the legend, as shown in the image below.

3. Do this for every feature in the map. Once this is done for all features, right-click the legend in the Contents pane and select Properties.
4. In the Format Legend pane, under Legend Items, select Show Properties, as seen in the screenshot below.

5. In properties pane, under Legend Item, turn on only Descriptions, as shown in the screenshot below. Once this is done, the description name should display in the legend.