The fastest way to change your name on Facebook mobile

Open the Facebook app on your phone, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner, scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll to the Personal Information section, tap Name, type your new name in the field, and tap Save Changes. The change takes effect when ready, though it may take a few minutes to appear across all your devices.

Facebook allows you to change your name once every 60 days. If you have changed your name recently, you will see a message telling you when you can change it again. The name you enter must follow Facebook's naming rules — it should be the name you go by in everyday life, not a business name, special characters, or numbers (unless they are part of your actual name).

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name through Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Name on the mobile app.
  • Facebook limits name changes to once every 60 days, and you will see the date you can change it again if you have recently updated it.
  • Your name must follow Facebook's rules: use your real name as you go by it, avoid numbers and special characters unless they are part of your legal name.
  • The change appears when ready on your profile but may take a few minutes to show everywhere you are tagged or mentioned.

What happens to your old name after you change it

Your old name does not stay visible to other people. Once you save your new name, it replaces your old one on your profile, in posts you have made, and in comments. People who search for your old name will not find you — they will only find you by your new name.

Posts and photos you shared before the change still exist, but they show your new name as the author. If you tagged yourself in photos under your old name, those tags now show your new name. Friends who have old messages or screenshots with your previous name will still see it in those conversations, but the current version of Messenger will show your new name.

If Facebook blocks your name change

Facebook may reject your name change if it does not follow their naming rules. Common reasons include using numbers that are not part of your legal name, using special characters like underscores or periods, using all capital letters, or using a business or brand name instead of a personal name.

If your change is rejected, you will see an error message explaining why. Go back to the name field and remove numbers, symbols, or unusual formatting. If your name genuinely includes numbers or special characters (like a hyphen in a last name), you can try again — Facebook's system sometimes flags legitimate names by mistake. If it keeps rejecting you, you can contact Facebook through the app by going to Settings & Privacy > Help & Support > Report a Problem and describing the issue.

Changing your name on a specific device only

You cannot change your name on only one device. When you update your name in the Facebook app on your phone, it changes everywhere — on the web version, on other phones, and on any other device where you are logged in. The change syncs across all platforms within a few minutes.

If you want to see how your new name looks before committing to it, you can check your profile on another device after saving. But there is no way to show a different name to different people or on different devices — your Facebook name is the same everywhere.

The 60-day waiting period between name changes

After you change your name, you must wait 60 days before changing it again. This rule applies whether you are changing it on mobile, on a computer, or through any other method. If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed, you will see a message telling you the exact date when you can change it next.

The 60-day timer starts from the moment you save your change, not from when you first tried to change it. If you change your name on a Monday, you can change it again on Wednesday of the following week (60 days later). There is no way to reset this timer or change your name sooner — you have to wait the full period.

Changing your name if you use a nickname or stage name

Facebook's rules say your name should be what you go by in everyday life. If you genuinely go by a nickname or stage name and people know you by that name, you can use it. For example, if everyone calls you "Sam" instead of "Samuel," you can set your name to Sam. If you are a performer and people know you by your stage name, you can use that too.

The key is that it has to be a name you actually use, not a random string of characters or a joke name. Facebook's system checks for patterns that suggest fake names — all numbers, random symbols, or names that look like they are testing the system. If your legitimate nickname or stage name gets rejected, you can report the problem through Settings & Privacy > Help & Support > Report a Problem and explain that it is your real name.

What to do if you cannot find the name change option

Make sure you are in the right place. Open the Facebook app, tap the three lines in the bottom right, tap Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Scroll down until you see Personal Information — this section may not appear at the top of your settings list. Tap Personal Information, then tap Name.

If you still do not see the name option, your app may be out of date. Go to your phone's app store (Google Play for Android, App Store for iPhone), search for Facebook, and tap Update if an update is available. Close the Facebook app completely and reopen it after updating. If the option still does not appear, try logging out and logging back in, or uninstall and reinstall the app.

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. You cannot bypass this limit or change it sooner. If you need to change your name again, you will have to wait until the 60 days have passed from your last change.

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

No notification goes out to your friends. They will see your new name the next time they visit your profile or see you in their feed, but Facebook does not send an alert about the change. Your old name straightforward disappears and is replaced by your new one.

Can I use a number in my Facebook name?

Only if the number is part of your actual name. For example, if your name is "Mary 2nd" (as in a generational suffix), you can use it. Random numbers like "John123" will be rejected. Facebook's system checks whether numbers fit a pattern that looks like a real name.

What if I change my name and then want to change it back?

You have to wait 60 days. If you changed your name today and want to go back to your old name tomorrow, you cannot — you must wait the full 60-day period. Plan your name changes carefully because you are locked in for two months after each change.

Does changing my name affect my Facebook username or URL?

No. Your Facebook username (the part that appears in your profile URL) is separate from your display name. Changing your display name does not change your username. If you want to change your username, that is a different setting in Personal Information.