Change your Facebook name in three steps

Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal information, then find the Name field and click Edit. Type your new name and click Review change, then Save changes.

Facebook will show your new name to your friends and the public when ready. If you have changed your name recently, you may see a message saying you cannot change it again for 60 days — this is a standard Facebook limit to prevent misuse.

The process works the same on mobile. Open the Facebook app, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and privacy, tap Settings, then follow the same path through Personal information and Name.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name by going to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Personal information, then Name, and clicking Edit.
  • Facebook limits name changes to once every 60 days, so if you changed your name recently, you will have to wait before changing it again.
  • Your new name appears to all your friends and the public as soon as you save it — there is no delay or review period.
  • You can use your real name, a nickname, a middle name, or any combination Facebook will accept, as long as it does not violate their name policy.

What name format Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook requires names to contain only letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and spaces. You cannot use symbols like &, @, #, or !, and you cannot use all numbers or all special characters. Names with accented letters (like é or ñ) are usually accepted.

Facebook will reject names that look like they are trying to impersonate someone else, advertise a business, or include excessive punctuation or spacing. For example, "John Smith" is fine, but "JoHn sMiTh" or "John___Smith" may be flagged. If your name is rejected, Facebook will tell you why and ask you to try again.

Changing your name does not change your Facebook URL or username

Your Facebook profile URL (the web address people use to find you) and your username (the handle you can set for messaging) are separate from your display name. Changing your name in Settings does not change either of these.

If you want to change your username, go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Username, and click Edit. You can only change your username once every 60 days. Your profile URL will update to match your new username, but your display name stays whatever you set it to in the Name field.

How to change your name back if you made a mistake

If you changed your name and want to revert to your old one, you can do so by following the same steps: Settings and privacy, Settings, Personal information, Name, Edit. However, you will still be subject to the 60-day waiting period between changes.

If you are locked out of changing your name because you hit the 60-day limit, you will have to wait until that period passes. Facebook does not make exceptions to this rule, even if you changed your name by mistake. Mark your calendar so you know when you can change it again.

What happens to your old name after you change it

When you change your name, your old name disappears from your profile. People who knew you by your old name will see your new name when they visit your profile or see your posts in their feed.

Your old name is not stored publicly, but Facebook keeps a record of name changes for security purposes. If someone reports your account for impersonation or fraud, Facebook can see your name history. This is one reason Facebook enforces the 60-day waiting period — it makes it harder to repeatedly change names to evade detection.

Changing your name on Facebook does not change it anywhere else

Your Facebook name is separate from your name on Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, or any other app. If you want to change your name on those platforms too, you will need to do so in each app separately.

If you use Facebook to log into other websites or apps, changing your Facebook name will not change your name on those sites. Those sites pull your name from Facebook at the time you first log in, and they do not update automatically when you change it later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook name more than once?

Yes, but only once every 60 days. If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed since your last change, Facebook will show you a message with the exact date you can change it again. You cannot bypass this limit.

What if Facebook rejects my name change?

Facebook will tell you why your name was rejected — usually because it contains symbols, looks like spam, or appears to impersonate someone. Remove the rejected characters or words and try again. If you believe your name was rejected by mistake, you can report the issue through Facebook's help center.

Will my friends be notified 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 your posts, but they will not receive an alert about the change.

Can I have two different names on Facebook?

No, Facebook only allows one display name per account. If you want to use different names in different contexts, you would need to create separate accounts, though Facebook's rules require you to use your authentic identity on your main account.

Does changing my name affect my privacy settings?

No, your privacy settings remain exactly the same when you change your name. Who can see your profile, posts, and contact information is controlled by your privacy settings, not by your name.