Change your Facebook name in settings in under two minutes

Open Facebook on any device, go to the menu (three horizontal lines on mobile, the downward arrow on desktop), and select Settings and privacy, then Settings. Click Personal information on the left sidebar, then Name. Type your new name in the fields provided, click Review change, and confirm. Your new name appears on your profile and in comments within minutes.

Facebook limits how often you can change your name. If you changed it recently, you may see a message saying you must wait 60 days before changing it again. This timer resets from the date of your last change, not from today.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name through Settings > Personal information > Name on any device in about two minutes.
  • Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes, counting from your last change date.
  • Your new name appears when ready on your profile, past posts, and comments, but old tags and mentions keep the old name.
  • If Facebook rejects your name as fake or violates community standards, you can appeal the decision or try a different variation.
  • Changing your name on Facebook does not change your username, email address, or phone number associated with the account.

What happens to your old name after you change it

When you change your name, Facebook updates it everywhere on your profile going forward. Your new name shows on your timeline, in comments you write, and in new posts. However, old posts and comments you made before the change still display under your old name in other people's feeds and in search results, because those posts are already part of the historical record.

Tags and mentions that used to link to your old name do not automatically update. If someone tagged you in a photo under your old name, that tag stays as it was. New tags and mentions use your current name. This is why some of your activity may appear under different names depending on when it happened.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

Facebook does not let you change your name more than once every 60 days. The clock starts from the date you made your last change, not from when you first created your account. If you changed your name on March 15, you cannot change it again until May 14.

If you try to change your name before the 60 days are up, Facebook shows a message telling you the exact date you can change it next. There is no way to skip this waiting period. If you made a typo or want to fix capitalization, you still have to wait the full 60 days.

What name format Facebook accepts

Facebook requires names to follow certain rules. Your name must contain only letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes. Spaces are allowed between parts of your name. Names like "John Smith" or "Mary-Jane O'Brien" work fine. Names with symbols like @ or &, or names that are only numbers, will be rejected.

Facebook also checks whether your name looks real. If you try to use something that looks like a fake name, a business name, or a title (like "CEO John" or "Dr. Smith"), Facebook may reject it and ask you to use your authentic name. You can appeal a rejected name by clicking the option to explain why your name is real, and Facebook reviews it within a few days.

Changing your name on mobile versus desktop

The steps are nearly identical on phone and computer, but the menu location differs slightly. On mobile, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right (iPhone) or top right (Android), scroll down to Settings and privacy, tap Settings, then Personal information, then Name. On desktop, click the downward arrow at the top right, select Settings and privacy, then Settings, and follow the same path from there.

Both routes take you to the same name-change form. The change syncs across all your devices within minutes, so if you change your name on your phone, it updates on your computer automatically without any extra steps.

If Facebook rejects your name change

Facebook rejects names for two main reasons: the name does not follow the format rules (contains banned symbols or looks like only numbers), or the name violates community standards (looks fake, like a business, or like a title). When this happens, Facebook shows a message explaining which rule was broken.

You can appeal a rejection by clicking Learn more or Appeal in the rejection message. Explain why your name is real and authentic to you. Facebook reviews appeals within a few days and usually approves them if your explanation is genuine. If your appeal is denied, wait a few weeks and try again with a slightly different spelling or format of the same name.

Your username is separate from your name

Changing your display name does not change your username (the part that comes after facebook.com/ in your profile link). Your username is a separate setting. If your profile link is facebook.com/john.smith.1234, changing your name to "Jonathan Smith" keeps that username the same.

You can change your username separately if you want, but usernames have their own rules and limits. You can change your username once every 60 days, just like your name. Both changes count toward the same 60-day timer, so if you change your name and then try to change your username within 60 days, Facebook will tell you to wait.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my name on Facebook change my email or phone number?

No. Your email address and phone number are separate from your display name and stay the same. You log in with your email or phone, not your display name, so changing your name does not affect how you sign into Facebook.

Can I change my name back to what it was before?

Yes, but you still have to wait 60 days from your last change. If you changed your name and regret it, you can change it back to your original name, but only after the 60-day period ends. There is no exception for reverting to a previous name.

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

You cannot force another person to change their name, but you can report their account if it violates Facebook's community standards (for example, if it is impersonating you). Report the account by visiting their profile, clicking the three dots, and selecting Report profile. Facebook investigates impersonation reports.

Will my friends see a notification when I change my name?

No. Your friends do not receive a notification about your name change. They will see your new name the next time they visit your profile or see you in their feed, but there is no alert sent to them.

Can I use special characters or emojis in my Facebook name?

No. Facebook only accepts letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes. Emojis, symbols, and special characters like @ or & are not allowed and will cause your name change to be rejected.