Change your name in Facebook settings in under two minutes

To change the name on your Facebook profile, open Facebook on any device, go to the menu in the top right corner, select Settings and privacy, then Settings. Click Personal information on the left side, find Name, and click the pencil icon next to it. Type your new name in the fields provided, then click Review change and confirm. Facebook will update your profile name when ready, though it may take a few minutes to show everywhere on the site.

The process is the same whether you use Facebook on a computer, phone, or tablet. Your new name becomes visible to your friends and the public (depending on your privacy settings) right away. You can change your name as often as you want, but Facebook limits you to one change every 60 days if you change it back to a previous name.

Key Takeaways

  • Access your name change through Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name, then click the pencil icon to edit.
  • Facebook shows your new name to friends and the public when ready after you confirm the change.
  • You can change your name as often as you want, but switching back to a name you used before requires waiting 60 days.
  • Your old name does not appear in your profile history — only you and Facebook can see what your previous names were.
  • If Facebook rejects your name change, it is usually because the name contains numbers, symbols, or repeated characters that the site does not allow.

Step-by-step instructions for desktop and mobile

On a computer: Log into Facebook and look for the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner next to the question mark and down arrow. Click it and select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal information. Find the row labeled Name and click the pencil icon on the right. A box will open with your first and middle name fields, and a separate field for your last name. Type your new name, then click Review change at the bottom. Facebook will show you a preview of how your new name will appear. Click Save changes to finish.

On a phone or tablet: Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right of the screen. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then Settings. Tap Personal information. Find Name and tap it. Edit your name in the fields that appear, then tap Review change. Tap Save changes when you are ready. The process takes the same amount of time on mobile as on desktop.

What names Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook has rules about what characters and formats it allows in names. Your name must use letters from any language, spaces, hyphens, periods, and apostrophes. Numbers are not allowed anywhere in your name. Repeated characters — like "Jjjjjohn" or "Mary@@" — will be rejected. All-caps names like "JOHN SMITH" are usually rejected unless that is genuinely how you write your name, in which case you can appeal the rejection.

Facebook also rejects names that look like usernames, email addresses, or business names. If you are trying to use a stage name, nickname, or name in a non-Latin alphabet, Facebook will accept it as long as it follows the character rules above. If your name change is rejected, Facebook will tell you which rule it broke. You can try again with a different version of the name, or you can click Appeal to ask Facebook to review the decision if you believe your name is genuine.

How to change your username separately from your name

Your Facebook name (what appears on your profile and in comments) is different from your username (the custom URL people use to find you, like facebook.com/yourname). Changing your name does not change your username, and changing your username does not change your name. If you want to change your username instead, go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information and look for Username. Click the pencil icon and type a new username. Facebook will check whether it is available. You can change your username once every 60 days.

Many people confuse the two because they are in the same menu. Your name is what your friends see and what appears next to your posts. Your username is what you type into the URL bar to reach your profile directly. You can have a name like "Sarah Johnson" and a username like "sarahjohnson1987" — they do not have to match.

What happens to your old name after you change it

When you change your name on Facebook, your old name disappears from your profile and from most places on the site. Your friends will not see a notification that you changed your name. Old posts, comments, and photos will show your new name, not the old one. Only you can see a list of your previous names by going to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name and looking at the history section.

If you change your name back to one you used before within 60 days, Facebook will not let you do it — you have to wait the full 60 days. This rule prevents people from cycling through names to avoid being found or to evade blocks. After 60 days, you can change back to any previous name you have used on that account.

Troubleshooting a rejected name change

If Facebook rejects your name change, the most common reason is that your name contains numbers, symbols, or repeated characters. Check that you have not included any digits (0–9), @ signs, underscores, or other special characters. If your name has a period or apostrophe, make sure it is in the right place — "O'Brien" works, but "O''Brien" with two apostrophes does not.

If your name looks correct and Facebook still rejects it, try removing any middle names or initials and submit just your first and last name. Once that change goes through, you can change it again to add your middle name back. If Facebook keeps rejecting a name you believe is genuine, click Appeal on the rejection message. Facebook will review it, though the process can take a few days. In the meantime, you can use a different version of your name that follows the character rules.

Privacy and who can see your name change

Your new name is visible to anyone who can see your profile, based on your privacy settings. If your profile is public, everyone on Facebook and the internet can see your new name. If your profile is friends-only, only your friends can see it. If you have customized privacy settings for specific people or groups, those rules still explore to your name — it will not be visible to people you have blocked or hidden your profile from.

Changing your name does not trigger a notification to your friends the way changing your profile picture does. People will only notice your new name if they visit your profile or see you in a conversation. If you want to tell people about a name change, you can post about it on your timeline or message them directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook name to something completely different?

Yes. Facebook does not require your profile name to match your legal name or any previous name you used. You can change to any name that follows Facebook's character rules — letters, spaces, hyphens, periods, and apostrophes only. Numbers and symbols are not allowed.

How long does it take for my new name to show up everywhere on Facebook?

Your new name appears on your profile and in new posts when ready. It may take a few minutes to update in search results, old comments, and messages. If you still see your old name in some places after 10 minutes, refresh the page or clear your browser cache.

What if I change my name by accident?

You can change it back right away. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name and click the pencil icon again. Type your old name and save. The only limit is if you are changing back to a name you used more than 60 days ago — in that case, you have to wait 60 days from your last change.

Does changing my name affect my Facebook login or password?

No. Your login information (email address or phone number) and password stay the same no matter what name you use on your profile. You will still log in the same way.

Can I use a fake name or stage name on Facebook?

Yes, as long as it follows the character rules. Facebook allows nicknames, stage names, and names in any language. The name just cannot contain numbers, symbols, or repeated characters. If Facebook rejects it, you can appeal the decision.