The fastest way to change your Facebook name

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 line that says Name and click Edit. Type your new name in the fields provided, then click Review change and Save changes. The change takes effect when ready.

Facebook stores your name in two separate fields: first name and last name. You can change one or both. The name you enter is what appears on your profile, in comments, and in messages to other people. You do not need to provide a reason or wait for approval — the change is yours to make as often as you want, with one timing restriction explained below.

If you are on a mobile phone and cannot find the menu, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right of the screen (iPhone) or top right (Android). The path is the same from there.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name by going to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name > Edit, then typing your new name and saving.
  • Facebook allows you to change your name as often as you want, but you must wait 60 days between changes if you have already changed it once in the past 60 days.
  • Your new name appears on your profile and in all your activity when ready after you save, and old tags or posts with your previous name do not automatically update.
  • If Facebook rejects your name as fake or violates community standards, you can appeal the decision or try a different version of your name.

The 60-day waiting period between name changes

If you have already changed your name on Facebook within the last 60 days, you will see a message saying you cannot change it again until that period ends. This limit exists to prevent account takeovers and impersonation. The 60 days counts from the date of your last change, not from the calendar month.

If you are locked out of changing your name, you have two options: wait until the 60 days pass, or contact Facebook through the Help Center to explain your situation. Facebook rarely overrides this rule, but if your previous change was a mistake or you have a safety concern, you can describe that in your report.

What happens to your old name after you change it

Your old name disappears from your profile when ready. However, any posts, comments, or photos you made under your old name still show your old name in the timestamp and context — Facebook does not retroactively update old activity. If someone searches for your old name, they will not find your profile, but they may still see your old name in comments on public posts or in shared photos.

Tags in photos and posts also keep your old name unless you or the person who tagged you manually removes the tag and adds a new one. If you want to clean up old activity, you can edit individual posts and comments to remove your name or delete them entirely.

Names Facebook will reject

Facebook has rules about what counts as a real name. The platform will reject names that contain numbers, excessive punctuation, repeated characters, or symbols. It will also reject names that look like a username (all lowercase with no spaces), names that are clearly fake or offensive, or names that impersonate a public figure or brand.

If your name is rejected, Facebook will show you a message explaining why. Common reasons include using only initials, using a name that is too short, or using characters that are not standard letters. If you believe your name is real and Facebook made a mistake, you can appeal the decision by clicking the link in the rejection message and providing more information.

Some people use a middle name, a nickname, or a cultural name that Facebook initially flags as fake. If that happens to you, try adding a space, a hyphen, or an apostrophe to match how the name is actually written. You can also appeal and explain that the name is your legal name or the name you go by.

Changing your name on other Facebook products

If you use Instagram or Messenger, those apps are linked to your Facebook account and will show the same name you set on Facebook. When you change your Facebook name, Instagram and Messenger update automatically within a few minutes. You do not need to change your name separately on each platform.

Your Facebook username (the custom URL that appears in your profile link, like facebook.com/yourname) is separate from your display name and does not change when you update your name. You can change your username independently through the same Settings menu, but usernames have their own rules and can only be changed once every 60 days as well.

Changing your name if your account was hacked

If someone else changed your name without your permission, go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name and change it back when ready. Then change your password and review your recent login activity to see if someone accessed your account from an unfamiliar device or location.

If you cannot access your account or the name keeps changing, report the problem to Facebook through the Help Center. Describe what happened and provide any information you have about unauthorized access. Facebook can lock your account temporarily while they investigate and help you regain control.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Facebook's policy requires a name you go by, which can be a nickname, stage name, or cultural name. It does not have to match your legal name. However, the name must look like a real name — no numbers, no all-lowercase usernames, and no excessive symbols. If Facebook rejects your nickname, try adding a space or punctuation to make it look more like a traditional name.

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

Your new name appears on your profile and in new posts and comments when ready. However, old posts, comments, and tags may still show your previous name for a few hours while Facebook's systems update. Messenger and Instagram will show your new name within a few minutes.

Will my friends be notified when I change my name?

Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your name. However, if you change it frequently, some friends may notice. Your name change does not appear in anyone's news feed or activity log.

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

You can change your name back at any time, as long as you are not within the 60-day waiting period from your last change. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name > Edit and type your old name, then save. Facebook treats this as a regular name change and counts toward your 60-day limit.

Can I have two different names on Facebook?

No. Facebook allows only one display name per account. If you want to be known by different names in different contexts, you would need to create a separate account for each name, though Facebook's terms of service require that each account represent one person.