The quickest way to change your Facebook name
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 name in the fields provided, then click Review change. Facebook will show you how your new name appears, and you can confirm or go back to edit it again. Once you click Save changes, your new name is live on your profile.
The whole process takes less than a minute. Your new name shows up when ready to your friends and the public, depending on your privacy settings. If you change your mind, you can change it again right away — there is no waiting period the first time you make a change.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your Facebook name by going to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Edit next to your name.
- Facebook allows you to change your name as often as you want, but if you change it multiple times in a short period, the site may require you to wait before changing it again.
- Your new name appears to friends and the public when ready, but it takes a few minutes to update everywhere on your profile.
- You can use your real name, a nickname, a professional name, or any combination — Facebook does not require you to use a legal name.
What name format Facebook accepts
Facebook lets you enter a first name and last name, or you can use a single name if you prefer. You can include nicknames, initials, accents, or characters from other languages. The site does not require you to match your legal name — many people use stage names, professional names, or names that reflect their identity rather than their birth certificate.
Facebook does block some entries: names that look like spam (strings of numbers or symbols), names that include URLs or email addresses, or names that appear designed to impersonate someone else. If your name is rejected, try removing numbers, special characters, or anything that looks like a web address.
When Facebook makes you wait between name changes
The first time you change your name, it takes effect when ready. If you change it again within a short window — usually a few days to a week — Facebook may lock you out and require you to wait before making another change. This is to prevent people from constantly switching names to evade blocks or hide their identity.
If you are locked out, Facebook will tell you when you can change your name again. The waiting period is usually measured in days, not weeks. If you have a legitimate reason to change your name urgently (such as a legal name change), you can contact Facebook's support team, though response times vary.
How your name change affects your profile and messages
When you change your name, it updates across your profile, your posts, your comments, and your messages. Friends will see your new name on their chat list and in conversations. Your old posts still show your new name — Facebook does not keep a history of your previous names visible to other people.
If you have a Facebook Page (separate from your personal profile), changing your personal name does not change the Page name. Pages have their own name settings, which you can edit from the Page itself by clicking Settings in the top menu and then Edit page info.
Using a username instead of a name change
If you want people to find you by a different name but do not want to change your actual profile name, you can set a username. A username is a custom web address like facebook.com/yourname. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information, and look for Username. Click Edit and enter the username you want. Usernames must be at least five characters and can include letters, numbers, and periods.
Usernames are useful if you want a professional or branded name for people to search for, but you want your actual profile name to remain something else. You can change your username once every 60 days.
Changing your name on Facebook Messenger
Your Messenger name is the same as your Facebook profile name — you cannot set a separate name just for Messenger. If you want to appear differently in Messenger conversations, you have to change your Facebook profile name using the steps above. The change syncs to Messenger automatically.
If you use a nickname in group chats, that is a separate feature. You can set a nickname that only appears to you in a specific conversation, but other people in the chat will still see your real Facebook name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my name back to what it was before?
Yes. You can change your name to anything, including a previous name. If you are locked out by the waiting period, you will have to wait until Facebook allows you to make another change, but there is no permanent restriction on reverting to an old name.
Will my friends be notified when I change my name?
Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your name. They will see the new name the next time they visit your profile or see you in their feed, but they are not alerted that a change happened.
Can I use special characters or emojis in my Facebook name?
You can use accents and characters from other languages, but Facebook blocks most special characters and all emojis. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. If you try to use symbols and the name is rejected, remove them and try again.
What happens to my old name when I change it?
Your old name disappears from your profile. Facebook does not show a public history of name changes. Only you can see that you changed your name, and only in your own account settings if you look back at your activity log.
Do I need to change my name on Facebook if I legally changed my name?
No, you do not have to. Facebook does not require your profile name to match your legal name. Many people keep their Facebook name the same even after a legal name change. If you want to update it to match your legal documents, you can do so using the steps above — no special documentation is needed.