Change your name on Facebook through Settings

To change your name on Facebook, open the app or website, click the downward arrow in the top right corner, and select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information, then Name. Type your new name in the field and click Review Change. Facebook will show you how your name will appear to others — click Save Changes when you're ready.

The change takes effect when ready, and everyone on your friends list will see your new name right away. You can change your name as often as you want, but Facebook has a few rules: you must use your authentic name (the name you go by in everyday life), you cannot use numbers or special characters except hyphens and apostrophes, and you cannot use all capital letters or excessive punctuation.

Key Takeaways

  • Navigate to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Name to reach the name change field.
  • Facebook requires you to use your authentic, everyday name without numbers, symbols (except hyphens and apostrophes), or all capitals.
  • Your new name appears to all your friends when ready after you save the change.
  • You can change your name again after 60 days if Facebook restricts you for violating naming rules.
  • If Facebook rejects your name change, the rejection message will explain which rule your name broke.

What happens if Facebook rejects your name change

If you try to save a name that breaks Facebook's rules, the platform will reject it and tell you why. Common reasons include using numbers, using all capital letters, including symbols Facebook doesn't allow, or using a name that looks fake or like a business name. Read the rejection message carefully — it will point out exactly what's wrong.

Once you know what the problem is, edit your name to follow the rules and try again. There's no penalty for rejected attempts; you can try as many times as you need. If you believe your authentic name genuinely includes numbers or symbols Facebook won't allow, you can contact Facebook's support team through the Help Center to request an exception, though these are rare.

The 60-day waiting period

If Facebook flags your name change as suspicious or a violation of its naming policy, the platform may lock you out of changing your name again for 60 days. This happens when you've changed your name multiple times in a short period, used names that don't match Facebook's authenticity standard, or triggered the system's fraud detection.

During the 60-day period, you cannot change your name even if you want to. The restriction lifts automatically after 60 days have passed. If you need to change your name before then because of a legal name change, you can contact Facebook's support team, though response times vary and exceptions are not may provide.

Changing your name on mobile versus desktop

The steps are nearly identical on Facebook's mobile app and desktop website. On mobile, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu) in the bottom right corner, scroll down to Settings & Privacy, tap Settings, then tap Personal Information and Name. On desktop, use the downward arrow in the top right instead of the menu icon, but the rest of the path is the same.

Both versions show you a preview of how your new name will look before you confirm. Mobile sometimes loads the preview more slowly, so wait a few seconds after typing before tapping Review Change. If the preview doesn't load, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the app.

Keeping your old name visible to specific people

Once you change your name on Facebook, everyone sees the new name. You cannot set different names for different friends or groups. However, you can use the Nicknames feature in your Personal Information settings to add alternate names that only you can see — this is useful for remembering maiden names or former names, but it doesn't change what others see.

If you want some people to know your old name, you can add it to your About section or post it in your bio, but this is visible to anyone who can see your profile. There's no built-in way to show your old name only to certain friends.

What to do if you've been hacked and need to change your name back

If someone else changed your name without your permission, change your password when ready, then change your name back through the same Settings path. After you've secured your account, review your recent login activity in Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login to see if anyone else has accessed your account. If you see logins from places you don't recognize, click Not You? next to that login to sign that session out.

If you cannot access your account at all, go to facebook.com/login/identify and follow the steps to recover your account. Facebook will ask you to verify your identity using a phone number, email, or trusted contacts. Once you regain access, change your password and your name.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often can I change my name on Facebook?

You can change your name as often as you want, but if Facebook detects suspicious activity or repeated violations of its naming rules, it may lock you out for 60 days. After that period ends, you're free to change it again.

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

Facebook requires your authentic name — the one you use in everyday life. If your stage name or nickname is genuinely what people call you and what appears on official documents, you may be able to use it, but Facebook may still reject it. Use the name that matches your ID or driver's license if you're unsure.

What if my name has special characters or accents?

Facebook allows hyphens and apostrophes, and it supports accented letters in most languages. If your name includes an accent mark (like é or ñ), Facebook should accept it. Numbers and other symbols like @ or & are not allowed.

Will my old name show up in search results after I change it?

No. Once you change your name, your old name stops appearing in Facebook search results. People searching for your old name won't find your profile unless you've added it to your bio or About section.

Can I change my name without notifying my friends?

Your new name appears to all your friends when ready, and they may see a notification that you've changed it depending on their notification settings. There's no way to hide the change from specific people.