Change your name in the app settings, not through your profile display name
Tinder pulls your name from your Facebook account or phone number, depending on how you signed up. You cannot edit it directly in your Tinder profile the way you would edit a bio or photo. Instead, you change the name at its source — either in Facebook itself or in your phone's contact settings — and Tinder updates automatically within a few hours.
The process takes about five minutes and requires no new account or verification. If you signed up with Facebook, the faster route is to change it there. If you signed up with a phone number, you change it in your phone's settings.
Key Takeaways
- Tinder displays the name linked to your Facebook account or phone number, and you cannot change it within the Tinder app itself.
- If you signed up with Facebook, log into Facebook on a web browser, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information, and edit your name there.
- If you signed up with a phone number, change the name in your phone's contact settings under your own number, then restart the Tinder app.
- The change appears in Tinder within a few hours, though it may take longer if you have not opened the app recently.
- You do not need to create a new account, verify your identity, or contact Tinder support to change your name.
If you signed up with Facebook
Go to Facebook on a web browser (not the mobile app — the web version is more reliable). Click the downward arrow in the top right corner, then select Settings & Privacy, then Settings.
On the left side, click Personal Information. You will see your name listed at the top. Click the pencil icon next to it, type your new name, and click Review Change. Facebook will ask you to confirm; click Save Changes. Close the browser and open Tinder. The new name should appear within a few hours. If it does not, close Tinder completely (swipe it away from your recent apps) and reopen it.
If you signed up with a phone number
On an iPhone, open Contacts, find your own phone number in the list, and tap Edit. Change the name field to what you want Tinder to display, then tap Done. On Android, open Contacts, tap your own number, tap the pencil icon, edit the name, and tap Save.
Close Tinder completely (do not just minimize it) and reopen the app. The name should update within a few hours. If the change does not appear, try signing out of Tinder and signing back in with your phone number.
Why the change takes a few hours
Tinder does not pull your name every time you open the app — it syncs with Facebook or your phone contacts at intervals, usually every few hours. If you change your name and it does not appear right away, the sync straightforward has not run yet. Restarting the app or signing out and back in can trigger an when ready sync.
If your name still has not changed after 24 hours, check that you actually saved the change in Facebook or your phone contacts. A common mistake is editing the name but not clicking the final confirmation button. Go back to the source and verify the new name is showing there before assuming Tinder is the problem.
What happens to your name in conversations
People you have already matched with will see your old name in the conversation thread until they close and reopen the chat. Their match list will update to show your new name within a few hours. New matches will see only your new name.
Your message history does not change or disappear when you update your name. The conversation stays intact, and the other person can still find you in their matches — they will just see the new name displayed.
If you want to use a nickname or shortened version
Facebook and phone contacts both accept nicknames and shortened names. You can put "Alex" instead of "Alexander" or "Sam" instead of "Samantha" — whatever you want to display on Tinder. There is no requirement to use your legal name. Just make sure the name you enter in Facebook or your phone contacts is exactly what you want Tinder to show.
Keep in mind that whatever name you choose will be visible to everyone who sees your profile or matches with you. Choose something you are comfortable with other people seeing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my name without changing it on Facebook or my phone?
No. Tinder does not have a name-editing feature in the app itself. The name you see on your profile comes directly from Facebook or your phone contacts, so you have to change it at the source. There is no workaround within Tinder.
Will changing my name affect my matches or conversations?
No. Your matches stay the same, and your conversations stay the same. People you have already matched with will see the name change within a few hours, but the match itself does not disappear or reset. You keep all your messages and history.
How long does it take for the name change to show up?
Usually a few hours, sometimes up to 24 hours. Tinder syncs with Facebook or your phone contacts periodically, not when ready. If you want to speed it up, close Tinder completely and reopen it, or sign out and sign back in.
What if I signed up with both Facebook and a phone number?
Tinder uses whichever method you signed in with most recently. If you are not sure which one, change the name in both places — that way it will be correct no matter which account Tinder is pulling from.
Can I use a fake name or a name that is not my real name?
Yes. Tinder does not verify that the name you display is your legal name. You can use a nickname, a shortened version, or any name you want, as long as it is what you put in Facebook or your phone contacts. Just remember that other people will see whatever name you choose.