Change your name in Facebook settings in under a minute

Open Facebook on any device, go to the menu (three horizontal lines on mobile, the downward arrow on desktop), and select Settings and privacy, then Settings. Click Personal information on the left side. Find the Name field, click Edit, type your new name, and click Save changes. The name updates across your profile, posts, and comments when ready.

Facebook limits how often you can change your name. If you changed it in the last 60 days, you will see a message saying you cannot change it again until that window closes. If you have never changed your name before, or if 60 days have passed since your last change, the edit option will be available.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name through Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name, and the change takes effect when ready across your entire profile.
  • Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes, so you cannot alter your name again until two months have passed since your last change.
  • Your new name appears on all your posts, comments, and messages, but old posts and comments you made before the change still show your previous name.
  • If Facebook blocks your name change and says it violates community standards, you will need to use a name that matches your government ID or legal documents to restore access.

What happens to your old name after you change it

When you change your name, Facebook does not erase your previous name from the platform. Posts and comments you made under your old name will still display that old name when someone views them. Only new posts and comments going forward will show your updated name.

Your friends will see the name change in their activity feed. If you search for your old name, your profile will not appear in the results — only your current name will show up in searches. This means people who knew you by your old name but do not have you as a friend cannot find you by searching for that previous name.

Why Facebook might block your name change

Facebook reviews name changes to prevent fake accounts and impersonation. If your new name contains numbers, symbols, repeated letters, or words that look like a username rather than a real name, Facebook may reject it. Names like "John123" or "J@@n" will not go through.

If Facebook says your name violates community standards, it means the name contains profanity, hateful language, or references to real people in a way that looks like impersonation. You will see an error message explaining why the change was blocked. To fix this, enter a name that follows Facebook's naming rules — use letters, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes only, and make it a name you would use in real life.

If you cannot change your name because Facebook says it violates standards and you believe the name is legitimate, you may need to contact Facebook support through the Help Center. Go to Help and support in the menu, search for "name change", and select the option to report a problem with your name.

Changing your name on mobile versus desktop

The steps are nearly identical on both devices, but the menu location differs slightly. On an iPhone or Android phone, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and privacy, tap Settings, then Personal information, and tap Edit next to your name. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner, select Settings and privacy, then Settings, and follow the same path to Personal information.

Mobile and desktop changes sync when ready — if you change your name on your phone, it updates on your computer and vice versa. You do not need to log out or refresh the page to see the change take effect.

What you cannot change about your name on Facebook

Your username (the custom URL that appears in your profile link, like facebook.com/yourname) is separate from your display name and has its own change rules. You can change your username once every 60 days through the same Personal information section, but the process is listed separately. If you have never set a custom username, Facebook assigns you a number-based one by default.

Your email address and phone number are also separate from your name and have their own edit options in the Personal information section. Changing your name does not affect these contact details.

Changing your name if you have a Facebook Page or Creator Account

If you manage a Facebook Page (a business, brand, or public figure page), changing your personal profile name does not automatically change the Page name. Pages have their own separate names that you edit through Page settings, not personal settings.

To change a Page name, go to the Page, click Settings in the top menu, select General on the left, find Page name, and click Edit. Pages have different naming rules than personal profiles — you can use numbers and symbols in a Page name, and there is no 60-day waiting period between changes. However, if you change a Page name, Facebook may require you to wait a short time before changing it again if you make multiple rapid changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, but you must wait 60 days from your last name change. If you changed your name yesterday and want to revert it, you cannot do so until 60 days have passed. After that period, you can change it back through the same Settings menu.

Will my friends be notified when I change my name?

Your friends will see the name change appear in their activity feed, similar to other profile updates. They will not receive a separate notification, but the change will be visible if they scroll through their feed or visit your profile.

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

Yes. Facebook does not require you to use your legal name — it only requires that your name look like a real name rather than a username. A nickname, stage name, or name you go by in everyday life will work as long as it does not contain numbers, symbols, or repeated characters.

What if I forgot my old name and want to change it?

You can still change your name through Settings even if you cannot remember what it was before. The system only tracks that you changed it within the last 60 days; it does not prevent you from entering a new name. If you need to see your previous name for reference, visit your profile and look at old posts to see what name was displayed.

Does changing my name affect my Facebook login or password?

No. Your login credentials (email address or phone number and password) remain the same regardless of what name you display on your profile. Changing your name does not log you out or require you to reset your password.