Change Your Name in Facebook Settings

Open Facebook on a computer or phone and go to the menu in the top right corner. On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines. On a computer, click the downward arrow. Select Settings and privacy, then Settings. Look for the section labeled Personal information on the left side of the screen, and click Personal details.

Find the line that says Name and click the pencil icon next to it. A box will open showing your current first and last name. Type your new name into these fields — you can change one or both. Facebook will show you a preview of how your new name will appear on your profile. When you are satisfied, click Review change at the bottom.

Facebook will ask you to confirm the change by entering your password. Type it in and click Save changes. Your new name takes effect when ready and appears on your profile, posts, and comments right away. People who search for your old name will still find you, because Facebook keeps a record of past names.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name from Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal details > Name, using either a computer or phone.
  • Facebook allows you to change your name once every 60 days, so plan ahead if you need to make multiple changes.
  • Your old name remains searchable, and friends who knew you by that name can still find your profile.
  • The change appears everywhere on your account within seconds — on your profile, in comments, in messages, and in tags.
  • You cannot use symbols, numbers, or unusual characters that do not appear in real names, and Facebook will reject the change if it detects spam patterns.

Understanding the 60-Day Waiting Period

Facebook limits how often you can change your name to once every 60 days. This rule exists to prevent spam and impersonation. If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed since your last change, Facebook will show you a message saying when you can change it again.

The 60-day timer starts from the moment you confirmed your last name change, not from when you began the process. If you made a mistake and want to fix it when ready, you will have to wait. Plan your name changes carefully, especially if you are changing your name for a legal reason like marriage or a court order.

What Names Facebook Will and Will Not Accept

Facebook has rules about what characters and words it allows in names. You cannot use numbers, symbols like asterisks or underscores, or special characters unless they are part of a real name in your language. Accented letters, hyphens, and apostrophes are allowed because they appear in actual names.

Facebook also rejects names that look like spam, such as names with repeated letters, all capital letters, or names that include website URLs or hashtags. If your change is rejected, Facebook will tell you why. Try removing numbers, symbols, or unusual spacing and submit again. If you have a name that includes characters Facebook does not recognize, contact Facebook support through the Help Center to request a manual review.

Changing Your Name on Mobile Devices

The process on a phone is nearly identical to a computer. Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner (on Android) or the menu icon in the top right (on iPhone). Tap Settings and privacy, then Settings. Scroll down to Personal information and tap Personal details.

Tap the pencil icon next to Name, type your new name, and tap Review change. Enter your password when prompted and tap Save changes. The change takes effect when ready on all devices where you use Facebook, including the app and the mobile website.

What Happens to Your Old Name

When you change your name, your old name does not disappear. Facebook keeps a record of all your past names and makes them searchable. This means friends who knew you by your previous name can still find your profile by searching for it. Your old name also appears in your profile history if someone clicks on your name and looks at your profile information.

This is helpful if you have changed your name legally and want people to be able to find you under both names. However, it also means your name change is not private — anyone can see what you used to be called by looking at your profile details. If you are concerned about privacy, you can adjust who can see your profile information in your privacy settings.

Fixing a Rejected Name Change

If Facebook rejects your name change, read the error message carefully. The most common reasons are numbers in your name, symbols like underscores or asterisks, repeated letters, or all capital letters. Remove these and try again.

If your name includes characters from another language or a legitimate symbol like an apostrophe or hyphen and Facebook still rejects it, go to the Help Center and search for "name change". Click on the article about changing your name and scroll to the bottom to find the option to contact Facebook support. Explain your situation and provide your name exactly as you want it to appear. Facebook support can manually review your request and approve it if your name is legitimate.

Changing Your Name Back to a Previous Version

If you have changed your name multiple times and want to go back to a name you used before, you can do so as long as 60 days have passed since your last change. Go through the same process: Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal details > Name. Type in the old name you want to use and confirm the change.

Facebook will allow this because it is treating it as a new name change, not a reversal. The 60-day timer resets from this point, so you will have to wait another 60 days before changing it again. Your profile history will show all the names you have used, in order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook name more than once every 60 days?

No. Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes. If you try to change your name before this period is up, you will see a message telling you when you can change it next. The timer starts from the moment you confirmed your last change, not from when you started the process.

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

No notification is sent to your friends, but your name change appears in their News Feed as a small update if they have that setting turned on. Your old posts and comments will show your new name, not your old one. People who search for your old name will still find your profile because Facebook keeps past names searchable.

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

Facebook's policy requires you to use the name you go by in everyday life. This can include nicknames, stage names, or names from your culture or religion, as long as they are names you actually use. If Facebook rejects your name, it may be because of symbols or numbers rather than because it is a nickname. Try removing special characters and resubmit.

What if I changed my name legally and Facebook still won't accept it?

Contact Facebook support through the Help Center. Search for "name change" and find the article about changing your name on Facebook. At the bottom, you will see an option to report a problem. Explain that you have legally changed your name and provide the name exactly as it appears on your legal documents. Facebook support can manually review and approve your request.

Does changing my name on Facebook change my username or email address?

No. Your username (the part that appears in your profile URL) and your email address remain the same when you change your display name. If you want to change your username, that is a separate process done in the same Settings area under "Username". Your email address can only be changed by going to Settings > Personal details > Email address.