Facebook lets you change the name on your account, but the platform has rules about how often you can do it and what names it will accept

You can change your Facebook name once every 60 days. Facebook calls this your "name" — the one that appears on your profile and in your friends' contact lists. The name you use must be the name you go by in everyday life; Facebook's system rejects names that look like nicknames, business names, numbers, or symbols strung together. If you change your name and then try to change it again within 60 days, Facebook will tell you to wait until the window opens.

The process itself takes less than a minute. You go to your settings, find the name field, type in what you want it to be, and save. Facebook does not review your change before it goes live — it appears on your profile right away. However, if you change your name to something the system flags as unusual (too many capital letters, numbers mixed in, or text that looks like a URL), Facebook may ask you to confirm you want to use it, or it may reject the change outright.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name once every 60 days using the settings menu on your account.
  • Facebook requires the name you use to match what you go by in real life — nicknames, business names, and names with numbers or symbols often get rejected.
  • Your name change appears on your profile when ready and shows up in your friends' contact lists and message threads.
  • If Facebook rejects your name, the system will tell you why and let you try a different version.
  • Changing your name does not change your username (the handle in your profile URL), which is a separate setting.

Where to find the name change option

Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner (on desktop) or tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right (on mobile). Select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, click "Personal information." You will see a field labeled "Name" — click "Edit" next to it.

Type your new name in the box that appears. You can include a middle name or middle initial if you want. Click "Review Change" to see how it will look, then click "Save Changes." That is the entire process. Your new name will appear on your profile and in your friends' lists within seconds.

What names Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook's name rules are designed to match how people actually introduce themselves. Your name should contain only letters, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. Names like "Mary-Jane," "O'Brien," and "Jean-Pierre" all work. Numbers, symbols, emoji, and repeated punctuation do not.

Names that look like business names, titles, or slogans get rejected — so "Mary's Photography," "Dr. Mary Smith," or "Mary [OFFICIAL]" will not go through. Nicknames that are not part of your legal or everyday name also fail. If you go by a single name in real life, you can use just that, but if you use multiple names, Facebook wants at least two parts (first and last, or first and middle).

If your name is genuinely unusual — a very long name, a name from a language that uses different characters, or a name with an uncommon structure — Facebook may flag it for review. The system will ask you to confirm that this is really your name. You can say yes, and the name will be approved. If Facebook rejects your name and you believe it is correct, you can report the issue through the help center, though responses can take several days.

The difference between your name and your username

Your Facebook name and your username are two separate things, and changing one does not change the other. Your name is what appears on your profile and in conversations. Your username is the handle in your profile URL — the part that comes after facebook.com/. For example, your name might be "Sarah Chen," but your username might be "sarah.chen.2024."

You can change your username once every 60 days as well, but it is a different setting. To change your username, go to Settings, click "Personal information," and look for "Username." If you have never set a username, Facebook will have assigned you a default one based on your account number. You can change it to something more memorable, but once you do, you cannot change it back to the old one.

What happens when you change your name

When you change your name, it updates everywhere on Facebook — your profile, your messages, your comments, your friend list. Your friends will see the new name in their contact lists and in any message threads with you. Old posts and comments you made before the change will still show your new name, not the old one.

If you have a Facebook Page (separate from your personal profile), changing your personal name does not change the Page name. Pages have their own name settings and change rules. If you manage a business or community page, you will need to change the page name separately through the page settings.

If Facebook blocks your name change

If you try to change your name and Facebook rejects it, the system will show you a message explaining why. Common reasons include: the name contains numbers or symbols, it looks like a business name, it does not have enough parts, or it violates Facebook's community standards (for example, if it contains hate speech or impersonates a public figure).

If you believe your name was rejected by mistake, you can try a slightly different version — for instance, adding or removing a middle initial, or adjusting spacing. If the rejection seems wrong and you cannot find a version that works, you can report the issue through Facebook's help center. Go to Settings, click "Help and support," then "Report a problem." Describe what happened and include a screenshot of the error message. Facebook support typically responds within a few days, though there is no may provide they will overturn the decision.

Changing your name if you have a public figure or verified account

If your account is verified (you have a blue checkmark), or if you are a public figure with a large following, changing your name works the same way — you still get one change every 60 days. However, if you change your name to something very different from what you are known as publicly, Facebook may ask you to confirm the change or may remove your verification badge until you update other profile information to match.

If you manage a verified page for a business, organization, or public figure, changing the page name is separate from changing your personal name. Page names have their own rules and change limits. You can change a page name once every 60 days as well, but the process is different — you go to the page settings, not your personal settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes. If you try to change your name before that window closes, Facebook will show you a message telling you when you will be able to change it again. The timer starts from the date of your last change, not from the beginning of the month.

Will my friends see that I changed my name?

Your friends will see your new name in their contact lists and in any ongoing conversations, but Facebook does not send a notification saying "So-and-so changed their name." Your new name just appears. Old posts and comments will show your new name, not the old one.

Can I use a nickname or stage name instead of my real name?

Only if it is a name you actually go by in everyday life. Facebook's policy is that your name should be the name people know you by. If you perform under a stage name and that is what people call you, you may be able to use it, but Facebook may ask for proof. If it is purely a nickname with no real-world use, it will likely be rejected.

What if I want to change my name back to what it was before?

You can change it back, but you still have to wait 60 days from your last change. If you changed your name a week ago and want to revert, you will have to wait about 53 more days. There is no "undo" button — you have to go through the normal change process again.

Does changing my name affect my Facebook Messenger conversations?

Your new name will appear in all your Messenger conversations going forward. People you message will see your updated name. Old messages will show your new name, not the name you had when you sent them.