Change your Facebook name in three steps
Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner, then select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal information. Next to your name, click Edit. Type your new first and last name into the fields, then click Review change. Facebook will show you how your name will appear across the platform. Click Save changes to finish.
The whole process takes less than a minute. Your new name shows up when ready on your profile, posts, and comments. Facebook does not charge you to change your name, and you can change it again whenever you want — though the platform does limit how often you can make changes if you switch names repeatedly in a short time.
Key Takeaways
- You reach the name change form by going to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Personal information, then clicking Edit next to your name.
- Facebook shows you a preview of how your new name will look before you save it, so you can catch typos or spacing problems.
- Your new name appears on your profile, all your past posts, and your comments when ready after you save the change.
- If you change your name too many times in a short period, Facebook may temporarily prevent you from changing it again.
What name format Facebook accepts
Facebook requires you to use the name you go by in everyday life. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. The platform does not accept all-caps names, names that are only numbers, or names with special characters like @ or &.
If you are changing your name to match a legal name change — such as after marriage, divorce, or a court order — you do not need to show Facebook any documents. Facebook takes your word for it. However, if you change your name back and forth repeatedly, the platform may ask you to wait before making another change.
How long the change takes to show everywhere
Your new name appears on your profile page and in your posts right away. However, it can take a few hours for the change to show up in all places across Facebook — such as in search results, in group member lists, or in the comments section of other people's posts.
If you do not see your new name in some places after a few hours, try logging out and logging back in. This usually refreshes the system and shows your updated name across the platform.
Changing your name on a business or creator page
If you manage a Facebook Page for a business, organization, or creator account, the process is different from changing your personal profile name. Go to your Page, click Settings in the top menu, then click Edit page info on the left side. Find the Page name field and click the pencil icon to edit it. Type your new page name and click Save.
Business and creator pages have different rules than personal profiles. You can change a page name as often as you want, and the change takes effect when ready. However, the page's web address (URL) may not update right away, and old links to your page will still work.
What happens to your old name after you change it
Your old name disappears from your profile and all your posts. People who knew you by your old name will see your new name everywhere on Facebook. Your old name does not stay visible anywhere on the platform.
If you are worried about people not recognizing you after a name change, you can add a note to your profile or post something letting your friends know about the change. This is especially useful if you are changing from a nickname to your legal name or vice versa.
If Facebook blocks you from changing your name
Facebook limits how often you can change your name. If you have changed your name recently and try to change it again, you may see a message saying you have to wait before making another change. The wait time is usually a few days to a week, depending on how many times you have changed your name in the past month.
If you see an error message that says your name does not follow Facebook's naming rules, check that you are not using all capital letters, only numbers, or special characters like @ or &. Remove those and try again. If the error continues and you believe your name should be allowed, you can report the problem to Facebook through the same Settings menu.
Changing your name on Instagram and other Meta platforms
If you also use Instagram, your Facebook name change does not automatically change your Instagram name. Instagram has its own separate name settings. To change your Instagram name, open the app, go to your profile, tap Edit profile, and change the name field there.
The same applies to other Meta-owned platforms like Threads. Each platform has its own name settings, so you will need to update them separately if you want your name to match across all your accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Facebook name to something completely different from my real name?
Facebook requires you to use a name you go by in everyday life, but that does not mean it has to be your legal name. You can use a nickname, stage name, or any name people actually call you. Facebook does not ask for proof of what your real name is.
Will my friends get a notification when I change my name?
No, Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your name. They will see your new name the next time they visit your profile or see one of your posts, but they will not receive an alert about the change.
How many times can I change my name on Facebook?
You can change your name as many times as you want, but Facebook limits how often you can do it. If you change your name too many times in a short period — usually more than once every few days — the platform may prevent you from changing it again for a week or more.
What if I made a typo when I changed my name?
straightforward go back to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Personal information, and click Edit next to your name again. Fix the typo and save the change. You can correct it as many times as you need to.
Does changing my name affect my Facebook username or web address?
No. Your Facebook username (the part that appears in your profile URL) is separate from your display name. Changing your display name does not change your username. If you want to change your username, you have to do that in a different part of Settings.