You can change your Facebook name through your settings, and Facebook allows name changes every 60 days

To change your name on Facebook, go to the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner on mobile, or click the downward arrow in the top right on a computer. Select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Scroll to Personal Information and click Name. Type your new name in the fields provided and click Review Change. Facebook will show you how your new name appears, and you can confirm it or go back to edit.

The entire process takes less than two minutes. Your new name becomes visible to your friends and the public when ready after you confirm the change. Facebook stores a record of your previous names, but only you and Facebook can see this history—your friends see only your current name.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name every 60 days through Settings > Personal Information > Name.
  • Facebook accepts nicknames, maiden names, and names in any language or alphabet.
  • Your old names are hidden from other users but stored in your account history.
  • If Facebook rejects your name change, it is usually because the name contains numbers, symbols, or repeated characters that violate their name policy.
  • You can change your name back to a previous one without waiting the full 60 days if you use the exact spelling from your history.

What names Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook has specific rules about what counts as a valid name. Your name can include letters, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. It cannot include numbers, emojis, symbols, or repeated characters (like "Jjjohn" or "Mary!!!"). Facebook also rejects names that appear to be fake, offensive, or designed to impersonate someone else.

You can use nicknames, maiden names, stage names, or names in any language or alphabet. If your legal name includes numbers or special characters—which is rare but does happen in some cultures—you may need to contact Facebook support to explain your situation. They can sometimes make exceptions for legitimate names that fall outside the standard rules.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

After you change your name, you must wait 60 days before changing it again. This limit applies whether you are changing to a completely new name or reverting to an old one. The timer starts the moment you confirm your change, not when you begin the process.

There is one exception: if you want to change your name back to one you used previously, you can do so without waiting. Facebook recognizes this as a correction rather than a new change. You can see your name history by going to Settings > Personal Information > Name and looking at the dropdown menu of previous names.

What happens when Facebook rejects your name change

If you try to change your name and Facebook shows an error message, the most common reason is that your new name violates their naming policy. Check that your name does not contain numbers, symbols, emojis, or more than two consecutive identical letters. Remove any extra spaces at the beginning or end of your name.

If your name is legitimate but Facebook still rejects it, you can appeal the decision. Click the link in the error message to contact Facebook support and explain your situation. Include details about why this is your real name—for example, if it includes a hyphen, apostrophe, or character from another language. Support typically responds within a few days.

How your name change appears to others

When you change your name, everyone on your friends list sees the update. Your new name appears on your profile, in comments, in posts, and in messages. If you have a public profile, people who are not your friends can also see your new name.

Facebook does not send a notification to your friends saying you changed your name—they only see it if they visit your profile or interact with your posts. Your old name does not appear anywhere to other users. Only you can see your complete name history by visiting your own Settings > Personal Information > Name.

Changing your name on Facebook versus your legal name

Your Facebook name and your legal name are separate things. Changing your name on Facebook does not change your legal name, and changing your legal name does not automatically update Facebook. If you legally change your name through a court or government process, you will need to update Facebook separately using the steps described above.

Some services linked to Facebook—like Facebook Pay or Marketplace—may pull information from your legal name on file rather than your display name. If you use Facebook for business or payments, check those settings separately to make sure the name matches what you want customers or payment processors to see.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my name more than once in 60 days?

No. Facebook enforces a strict 60-day waiting period between name changes. The only exception is reverting to a previous name from your history, which you can do when ready. If you need to change your name sooner for a legitimate reason, you can contact Facebook support, though they rarely grant exceptions.

What if someone else is using my real name on Facebook?

You can report the account to Facebook by visiting their profile, clicking the three dots, and selecting Report. Explain that the person is using your name without permission. Facebook will investigate, but they cannot force someone to change their name unless it violates their policies or is impersonating you to deceive others.

Does changing my name affect my Facebook username or URL?

No. Your Facebook username (the part in your profile URL, like facebook.com/yourname) is separate from your display name. Changing your display name does not change your username. You can change your username separately through Settings, but you can only do this once every 60 days as well.

Can I use a fake name on Facebook?

Facebook's policy requires you to use the name you go by in everyday life. This can be a nickname, stage name, or name in any language, but it should be the name people actually call you. Facebook does not require you to use your legal name, but they do prohibit names that appear designed to deceive or impersonate someone else.

Will changing my name delete my account history or posts?

No. Changing your name does not affect any of your posts, photos, messages, or account history. Everything remains exactly as it was. Your old posts will show your new name when people view them, but the content itself does not change.