Change your name in Facebook settings in under two minutes

Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner, then select Settings and privacy followed by Settings. On the left side, click Personal information, then find the Name field. Click Edit next to your current name, type your new name in the boxes provided, and click Save changes. Facebook will ask you to re-enter your password to confirm the change.

On mobile, the process is nearly identical: tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and privacy, tap Settings, tap Personal information, tap Name, edit the field, and save. The change takes effect when ready once you confirm your password.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your name through Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name on both desktop and mobile.
  • Facebook allows you to change your name once every 60 days, so plan ahead if you need multiple changes.
  • Your new name will appear on your profile, in comments, and in posts within minutes of saving.
  • If you use a name that violates Facebook's naming rules (such as numbers or symbols), the system will reject it and explain why.
  • You can include spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes in your name, but Facebook does not allow all special characters.

Understanding Facebook's 60-day name change limit

Facebook restricts how often you can change your name to once every 60 days. This rule applies whether you change your first name, last name, or both at the same time. If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed since your last change, Facebook will show a message telling you when you can change it again.

The 60-day timer resets from the date of your most recent change, not from when you first created your account. If you made a change on January 15, you cannot make another change until March 16. Plan your name changes carefully if you need to update multiple parts of your name.

What names Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook has specific rules about what characters and formats are allowed in names. You can use letters, spaces, hyphens, periods, and apostrophes. Names like "Mary-Jane O'Connor" or "Jean-Pierre Dupont" work without problems. However, Facebook will reject names that contain numbers, emojis, excessive punctuation, or symbols like @ or &.

Facebook also rejects names that appear to be fake or designed to look like a business name. If your name includes words like "Official" or "Real" followed by a celebrity name, or if it looks like a brand name rather than a person's name, the system will block it. If your submission is rejected, Facebook will explain which part of the name caused the problem.

Changing your display name versus your legal name

The name you change in Settings is your profile name — the one that appears on your profile page and in comments. This is different from the name you registered with when you created your account. You can change your profile name as often as the 60-day rule allows, regardless of what name you used to sign up.

If you need to update the legal name associated with your account (the one tied to your login email), you will need to go through a separate process. This is less common and usually only necessary if you legally changed your name through a court order. For most people, changing the profile name in Settings is all that is needed.

What happens to your old name after you change it

When you change your name, your old name disappears from your profile when ready. People who visit your profile will see only your new name. However, old comments and posts you made under your previous name will still show your new name when people view them — Facebook updates the name retroactively across your entire history.

Your friends will see the name change in their news feed as a notification, so they will know you updated your profile. If you change your name back within 60 days, you will have to wait another 60 days before changing it again, so make sure the new name is one you want to keep for at least two months.

Troubleshooting when your name change does not save

If you click Save changes and the name does not update, first check that you entered your password correctly. Facebook requires you to re-enter your password as a security step, and an incorrect password is the most common reason a change fails. Try again, making sure caps lock is off and you are typing your actual login password.

If the password is correct but the change still does not save, try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser. Sometimes stored data in your browser interferes with Facebook's settings pages. On mobile, try closing the Facebook app completely and reopening it. If the problem continues, log out, log back in, and try the change again from the beginning.

Changing your name on Facebook Messenger and Instagram

If you use Facebook Messenger or Instagram, your name change on Facebook will sync to those apps automatically. You do not need to change your name separately in Messenger or Instagram — they pull your name from your main Facebook account. The update usually appears within a few minutes, though it can take up to an hour in some cases.

If you have a separate Instagram account that is not linked to Facebook, changing your Facebook name will not affect Instagram. You would need to change your Instagram name through Instagram's own settings if you want your name to match across both platforms.

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 60 days have passed since your last change, the system will block the change and show you the date when you can try again. Plan ahead if you need to make multiple updates.

What if I made a typo in my new name?

You can fix a typo when ready by going back to Settings > Personal information > Name and editing it again. The 60-day timer applies to your first change, so correcting a typo right away does not count as a second change. Wait a few minutes for the first change to fully process, then make your correction.

Will my friends be notified when I change my name?

Yes. Your friends will see a notification in their news feed that you changed your name. The notification shows your old name and your new name, so they will know what happened. You cannot hide or turn off this notification.

Can I use special characters like @ or # in my name?

No. Facebook only allows letters, spaces, hyphens, periods, and apostrophes. Numbers, emojis, and symbols like @, #, or & will cause your submission to be rejected. If you need a symbol for a reason, consider using a hyphen or period as an alternative.

What if Facebook says my name violates community standards?

This usually means your name appears to be fake or designed to impersonate someone. If Facebook rejects your name, read the message carefully — it will explain which part caused the problem. Try removing words like "Official" or "Real", or simplify the format. If you believe your name is legitimate and Facebook is wrong, you can request a review through the error message.