Change your Facebook name in three steps

Open Facebook on a computer or phone, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Scroll to Personal Information and tap Name. Type your new name in the fields provided, then tap Review Change and confirm. The change takes effect when ready, though Facebook may limit how often you can change it — typically once every 60 days.

On a phone, the process is the same but the menu structure differs slightly depending on whether you use iPhone or Android. The Settings & Privacy menu appears at the bottom of the screen on most phones. If you cannot find the name field, make sure you are logged into your account and not viewing someone else's profile.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name from Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Name on any device.
  • Facebook limits name changes to once every 60 days, so choose carefully before you confirm.
  • Your new name appears on your profile and in comments and posts when ready after you confirm the change.
  • Facebook requires your name to follow community standards — it cannot contain numbers, symbols, or characters outside standard alphabets, with limited exceptions.
  • If you change your name back and forth repeatedly, Facebook may temporarily lock the name field to prevent abuse.

What name format Facebook accepts

Facebook requires names to use letters from standard alphabets — English, Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, and others are accepted. You can include spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes (like Mary-Jane or O'Brien), but you cannot use numbers, punctuation marks, or symbols like @ or &. Accented letters and diacritics are allowed if they are part of your actual name.

If you try to enter a name that breaks these rules, Facebook will reject it and ask you to revise. The system flags names that look like fake accounts — for example, a string of random letters or a name that mimics a brand. If your actual name contains characters Facebook does not recognize, contact Facebook Support through the Help Center to request an exception.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

After you change your name, you must wait 60 days before you can change it again. This limit applies whether you are changing to a completely different name or correcting a typo. If you try to change your name before the 60 days are up, Facebook will show you a message stating when you can change it next.

The timer resets from the date you confirmed your last change, not from when you started the process. If you made a mistake and need to correct it urgently, you have no way to bypass this limit — you must wait the full 60 days. Plan your name change carefully to avoid needing to wait.

How your name change appears to others

When you change your name, it updates everywhere on your profile and across Facebook — your timeline, comments, posts, and messages all show your new name. People who follow you or are your friends will see the new name the next time they view your profile or see your activity. Facebook does not send a notification to your friends that you changed your name.

Your old name does not appear in your activity history or in a log that others can see. However, if someone took a screenshot of your old profile or saved a message you sent under your old name, that record remains on their device. The change is clean on Facebook's side but cannot erase references to your old name that exist outside the platform.

Changing your name on mobile versus desktop

The steps are identical on iPhone, Android, and desktop, but the menu layout differs slightly. On desktop, the three-line menu appears in the top right corner. On iPhone, it appears at the bottom right. On Android, it may appear at the top or bottom depending on your phone model and Facebook app version.

If you use the Facebook website on a phone browser instead of the app, the desktop layout applies — the menu will be in the top right. Some older phones or outdated app versions may have slightly different menu structures, but Settings & Privacy is always the starting point. If you cannot locate it, update your Facebook app to the latest version.

What to do if you cannot change your name

If the name field is grayed out or locked, you are either within the 60-day waiting period or Facebook has flagged your account for repeated name changes. If you have changed your name multiple times in a short span, Facebook may temporarily prevent further changes to stop account abuse. Wait at least a few days before trying again.

If the field remains locked after several days, or if you see an error message, visit the Facebook Help Center and search for "change name." Select the option to contact Facebook Support and describe the problem. Provide your account email and the name you want to use. Response times vary, but Facebook typically replies within a few days. Do not create a new account — this violates Facebook's terms and may result in both accounts being disabled.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, but you must wait 60 days from your last change. If you changed your name a week ago and want to revert, you cannot do so until 60 days have passed from the confirmation date. After that period, you can change it back in the same way you changed it the first time.

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

No. Facebook does not send notifications about name changes. Your friends will see your new name the next time they view your profile or see your activity, but they will not receive an alert. If you want people to know about the change, you can post about it on your timeline.

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

Yes. Facebook does not require you to use your legal name — you can use a nickname, stage name, or any name that follows the format rules (letters, spaces, hyphens, apostrophes). However, if Facebook suspects the name is fake or used to impersonate someone, it may ask you to change it.

What if my name contains characters Facebook does not accept?

Try using the closest standard letter equivalent. If your name genuinely requires special characters and you cannot find a workaround, contact Facebook Support through the Help Center. Explain your situation and provide context about your name. Facebook reviews these requests individually and may grant exceptions for names from languages or cultures with characters outside standard alphabets.

Does changing my name affect my Facebook username or URL?

No. Your username (the part of your profile URL) is separate from your display name and does not change automatically. You can change your username separately in Settings, but most people do not need to. Your display name is what appears on posts and comments, while your username is what people use to search for you or tag you.