Change your name in Facebook settings in under two minutes

Open Facebook on any device, click the downward arrow in the top right corner, and 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 across the site. Click Save changes when you're ready.

The entire process takes about 90 seconds. Your new name appears when ready on your profile, posts, and comments. Facebook does not notify your friends that you changed your name—they will straightforward see the new one the next time they visit your profile or see your activity.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your name through Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Edit next to your name.
  • Facebook allows you to change your name once every 60 days, so plan ahead if you need to make multiple changes.
  • Your new name takes effect when ready across your entire profile, timeline, and all your posts and comments.
  • You can use your real name, a nickname, a professional name, or any combination—Facebook does not require legal documentation.
  • If you change your name back and forth repeatedly in a short time, Facebook may temporarily lock the feature to prevent misuse.

What name format Facebook accepts

Facebook lets you enter almost any combination of letters, numbers, and spaces. You can use your legal name, a nickname, a stage name, initials, or a made-up name. The site does not ask for a birth certificate or government ID to verify your identity.

A few characters are not allowed: symbols like @, #, or &, and excessive punctuation. If you try to save a name with these characters, Facebook will reject it and ask you to remove them. Spaces and hyphens work fine—"Mary-Jane Smith" or "Jean Paul" will both go through without issue.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

After you change your name, you cannot change it again for 60 days. This limit exists to prevent people from switching names constantly to confuse others or hide their identity. If you try to edit your name before 60 days have passed, Facebook will show you a message saying when you can change it next.

If you made a typo or realized you want a different name, you have to wait the full 60 days. Plan your name change carefully so you do not regret it when ready. Once you click Save changes, the clock starts, and you are locked out of editing for two months.

Where your new name appears on Facebook

Your new name shows up everywhere on the site within seconds. It appears on your profile header, in the search results when someone looks for you, on all your past posts and comments, in your messages, and on your friends' friend lists. There is no way to change your name on your profile but keep the old name on your posts—the change is site-wide.

Your new name also appears in notifications. If you comment on someone's post, they will see your current name, not the name you had when you made the comment. This means old conversations may look confusing if you changed your name since you last posted in them.

What happens if Facebook blocks your name change

If you change your name back and forth multiple times in a short period, Facebook may temporarily prevent you from editing it again. The site treats rapid name changes as a sign of account misuse or an attempt to evade detection. When this happens, you will see a message saying you cannot change your name right now and to try again later.

This block usually lasts a few days to a week. There is no way to remove it faster—you straightforward have to wait. If you believe your account was blocked by mistake, you can report the issue to Facebook through the Help Center, though response times vary.

Changing your name on mobile versus desktop

The steps are nearly identical on a phone or tablet. Open the Facebook app, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu) in the bottom right corner, scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then Settings. Tap Personal information, then tap Edit next to your name. Type your new name and tap Review change, then Save changes.

On desktop, the menu is in the top right corner instead of the bottom right, but the path through Settings is the same. Both versions save your change to the same account, so if you change your name on your phone, it updates on your computer automatically and vice versa.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, but you have to wait 60 days after your last change. If you changed your name yesterday and want to revert it, you cannot do so until 60 days have passed. After that, you can change it back to your original name just like any other name change.

Will my friends get a notification that I changed my name?

No. Facebook does not send notifications when you change your name. Your friends will see your new name the next time they visit your profile or see your activity, but they will not receive a message or alert about the change.

Can I use special characters or emojis in my name?

No. Facebook blocks most special characters, including @, #, &, and emojis. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and periods, but symbols will cause the change to be rejected. If you try to save a name with blocked characters, Facebook will tell you which ones to remove.

What if someone else is using the name I want?

You can still use it. Facebook allows multiple people to have the same name. There is no system to reserve or claim a name—if you want to be "John Smith," you can be, even if thousands of other people have that name too.

Does changing my name affect my login information?

No. Your login email or phone number stays the same no matter what name you use on your profile. You log in with your email or phone, not your display name, so changing your name has no effect on how you access your account.