The quickest way to change your Facebook name

Open Facebook on a computer or phone, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and scroll down to Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Look for Personal Information and tap Name. Type your new name in the fields provided, then tap Review Change. Facebook will show you how your new name appears, and you can confirm it or go back to edit. Once you confirm, the change takes effect when ready.

On a phone, the path is the same but the menu button location depends on whether you use iPhone or Android — it's always the three lines in the bottom right corner of the app. On a computer, you can also click your profile picture in the top right, select Settings & Privacy, then Settings, and follow the same steps.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Facebook name change takes effect right away and is visible to everyone on your friends list and in search results.
  • You can change your name once every 60 days, so plan ahead if you need to correct a mistake.
  • Facebook accepts most name formats, but the platform flags names that look like fake accounts or contain numbers and symbols.
  • If your change is rejected, Facebook will tell you why — usually because the name violates their naming rules — and you can try again with a different name.

What Facebook's naming rules actually allow

Facebook requires that your name match the name you go by in everyday life. That means you can use your legal name, a nickname, a stage name, or a name from your culture or religion — as long as it's something people actually call you. You cannot use numbers, symbols, or repeated characters (like "Jjjjohn" or "John!!!"). Titles like "Dr." or "Mr." are usually rejected, though some people report they slip through.

The platform's automated system flags names that look suspicious — for instance, a string of random letters or a name that mimics a business or public figure. If your name gets flagged, Facebook sends you a message explaining the problem and gives you the option to change it or appeal. If you appeal and Facebook still rejects it, you can try again with a slightly different version (like using a middle name or nickname instead).

The 60-day waiting period between changes

Once you change your name, you cannot change it again for 60 days. This rule exists to prevent people from constantly switching identities to evade blocks or hide from others. If you make a typo or change your mind, you are stuck with that name for two months.

The 60-day clock starts the moment you confirm the change, not when you first click the name field. If you realize you made a mistake before you hit confirm, go back and fix it — that does not count as a change. After 60 days have passed, you can change your name as many times as you want, as long as each new name follows Facebook's rules.

When Facebook rejects your name change

If you see a message saying your name does not follow Facebook's naming rules, the most common reasons are: the name contains numbers or symbols, it looks like a fake account, it mimics a business or brand, or it includes a title. Read the specific reason Facebook gives you — it will be in the rejection message.

To fix it, try removing numbers or symbols, dropping any titles, or using a different version of your name (a middle name, a nickname, or a cultural variant). Then submit again. If Facebook rejects it a second time, you can appeal by clicking the link in the rejection message and explaining why that name is legitimate — for instance, if your name genuinely includes numbers or symbols in your culture. Facebook reviews appeals manually, though it can take several days.

How your name change appears to others

When you change your name, everyone on your friends list sees the new name when ready. Your old name does not appear anywhere unless someone looks at your profile activity log, which shows when you changed it. People who are not your friends can see your current name in search results and on your profile, but they cannot see your previous names unless you tell them.

If you are worried about privacy, keep in mind that changing your name does not hide your profile or make you harder to find — it just updates the label on your existing account. Your profile picture, friends list, and posts all stay the same. If you want to actually hide from someone, changing your name alone will not do it; you would need to block them or adjust your privacy settings.

Changing your name on Facebook Messenger and Instagram

If you have a Facebook account, your Messenger name updates automatically when you change your Facebook name. You do not have to do anything separately. The same is true if you use Instagram and have linked it to your Facebook account — your Instagram display name will not change automatically, but you can update it separately in Instagram's settings if you want them to match.

To change your name on Instagram, open the app, tap your profile picture, tap Edit Profile, and change the name field. This is a separate change from your Facebook name, so you can have different names on the two platforms if you choose.

What to do if you cannot access the name change option

If you do not see the name option in your settings, the most likely reason is that you changed your name fewer than 60 days ago. Wait until the 60-day window closes, then try again. Another possibility is that your account is very new — Facebook sometimes restricts name changes on brand-new accounts for a few days as a security measure.

If you have waited 60 days and still cannot find the name option, try logging out and logging back in, or try on a different device (computer instead of phone, or vice versa). If the option still does not appear, you can report the problem to Facebook by going to Settings & Privacy, then Help & Support, and selecting Report a Problem. Describe what you are seeing, and Facebook's support team will investigate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my name back to my old one after 60 days?

Yes. Once the 60-day waiting period ends, you can change your name to anything that follows Facebook's rules, including a name you used before. There is no limit on how many times you can change it after the initial 60 days, as long as you wait 60 days between each change.

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

No, Facebook does not send a notification. Your friends will see your new name the next time they look at your profile or see you in their news feed, but they will not get a message about the change. Some people notice because your name appears different in their friends list.

What if someone else is using a name I want?

Facebook allows multiple people to have the same name. You can use any name that follows the platform's rules, even if thousands of other people have it. Facebook does not reserve names or prevent duplicates.

Does changing my name affect my Facebook username or URL?

No. Your Facebook username (the part of your profile URL that comes after facebook.com/) 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 your account.

Can I use special characters or accents in my name?

Accents and characters from other languages are usually allowed — for example, "José" or "François" will go through. Numbers and symbols like asterisks, hyphens, or ampersands are typically rejected unless they are part of a legitimate name in your culture. If your name genuinely includes a symbol, try submitting it and appeal if Facebook rejects it.