How to change your name on Facebook

You can change the name on your Facebook profile by going to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, and clicking Edit next to your name. Type your new name exactly as you want it to appear, then click Review Change. Facebook will show you how it will look across the site. Click Confirm to save it. The whole process takes about two minutes.

Facebook allows you to change your name once every 60 days. If you try to change it again before 60 days have passed, you will see a message telling you when you can change it next. This limit exists to prevent misuse of the name field.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name through Settings and Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Edit next to your name.
  • Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes, so plan ahead if you need to update it again soon.
  • Your new name must follow Facebook's naming standards — it cannot be all numbers, all symbols, or contain excessive punctuation.
  • The name change takes effect when ready across your profile, posts, comments, and messages once you confirm it.
  • If Facebook rejects your name as violating community standards, you can appeal the decision or contact support for help.

What names Facebook will and won't accept

Facebook has specific rules about what you can use as your name. Your name must contain at least one letter, cannot be entirely numbers or symbols, and should not include excessive punctuation marks or special characters. Names like "123456" or "!!!!" will be rejected. Spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes are allowed — so "Mary-Jane O'Connor" will work fine.

Facebook also rejects names that look like they are trying to impersonate someone else, advertise a business, or include offensive language. If your name is rejected, Facebook will tell you which rule it violated. You can then edit it and try again. If you believe your legitimate name was rejected by mistake, you can appeal the decision through the same settings page.

Steps to change your name on a phone or tablet

On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu) at the bottom right. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll to Personal Information and tap Name. Tap Edit, clear the current name, and type your new name. Tap Review Change to see how it will appear, then tap Confirm.

The mobile app follows the same 60-day rule as the desktop version. If you have changed your name recently, the app will show you the date you can change it again. Make sure you spell your new name correctly before you confirm, because you cannot undo the change once it is saved.

What happens to your old name after you change it

Your old name disappears from your profile when ready. People who search for your old name will not find you by that name anymore. However, your old name does not vanish from Facebook's records — it remains in the system for security and account recovery purposes. If someone was messaging you before the change, they will see your new name in the conversation thread going forward.

Posts and comments you made under your old name will now show your new name when people view them. There is no way to keep your old name visible on past posts. If you want a record of your old name for personal reasons, take a screenshot of your profile before you change it.

If Facebook rejects your name change

When Facebook rejects a name, it shows a message explaining why. The most common reasons are that the name contains too many numbers, uses symbols in an unusual way, or appears to violate community standards. Read the message carefully — it will tell you exactly what rule your proposed name broke.

To appeal a rejection, go back to the name change screen and look for an "Appeal" or "Request Review" option. Facebook will ask you to explain why you believe your name should be accepted. If your name is a legitimate personal name that was rejected by mistake, explain that clearly. Facebook reviews appeals within a few days and will either accept your name or send you another explanation. If you continue to have trouble, you can contact Facebook support through the Help Center.

Changing your name for marriage, divorce, or legal reasons

If you are changing your name legally — through marriage, divorce, or a court order — you can use your new legal name on Facebook when ready. You do not need to show Facebook any documents. straightforward enter your new name in the name field and confirm the change. Facebook treats legal name changes the same way it treats any other name change, so the 60-day rule still applies to future changes.

If you change your name legally and then want to change it again within 60 days, you will still have to wait. For example, if you change your name after marriage and then decide to use a different variation of that name, you would have to wait 60 days from the first change. Keep this in mind if you are planning multiple name updates.

Keeping your name private or using a different display name

Facebook requires you to use your authentic name on your profile — the name you go by in everyday life. However, you have some control over how much of your name is visible. You can set your profile to private so that only your friends can see your full name. People who are not your friends will see a limited version of your profile.

If you want to be known by a nickname or shortened version of your name, you can use that as your official name on Facebook. For example, if your legal name is Robert but you go by Rob, you can set your Facebook name to Rob. Facebook's rule is that your name should match what people actually call you, not necessarily your legal name. This gives you flexibility while still following the platform's authenticity policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Facebook enforces a strict 60-day waiting period between name changes. If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed since your last change, you will see a message telling you the exact date you can change it again. There is no way to bypass this limit or request an exception.

What if someone else is using my name on Facebook?

Report the account to Facebook by visiting their profile, clicking the three dots at the top right, and selecting Report. Choose "It's a fake account" or "It's pretending to be someone" and follow the prompts. Facebook investigates reports of impersonation and will take action if the account violates their policies. You can also contact Facebook support if the impersonation is causing you harm.

Will changing my name affect my Facebook friends or messages?

No. Your friends will still be your friends, and your messages will still be there. Your friends will straightforward see your new name in their friend list and in conversations. The change does not affect any of your account data, photos, or connections — only how your name appears across the platform.

Can I use special characters or symbols in my Facebook name?

You can use some special characters like hyphens, apostrophes, and periods if they are part of a legitimate name — for example, "Jean-Pierre" or "O'Brien". However, you cannot use excessive symbols, emojis, or characters that are not part of a real name. If your proposed name contains too many special characters, Facebook will reject it and ask you to simplify it.

What if I want to change my name back to what it was before?

You can change your name back, but you still have to wait 60 days from your last change. If you changed your name yesterday and want to revert it today, you will have to wait until the 60-day period is up. Plan your name changes carefully to avoid getting stuck with a name you do not want for two months.