Change your name in Facebook settings in under two minutes

Open Facebook on a computer or phone and go to your profile. Click the pencil icon next to your name at the top of your profile, or tap the three horizontal lines (menu) on your phone, then select "Settings & privacy" and "Settings." Look for "Personal information" and tap or click "Name." Type your new name in the fields provided, then click "Review change" to see how it will appear. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Save changes" and you're done.

The whole process takes about 90 seconds. Your new name appears when ready to your friends and the public. You can change your name as often as you want, though Facebook may flag very frequent changes as suspicious.

Key Takeaways

  • Access the name change tool through Settings & privacy on your phone or the pencil icon next to your name on a computer.
  • You can change your first name, middle name, last name, or any combination — Facebook lets you use spaces, hyphens, and accents.
  • Your new name shows up right away to everyone on Facebook, and you can change it again whenever you want.
  • If Facebook blocks your change, it usually means the name contains numbers, symbols, or repeated characters that look like spam.
  • Changing your name does not affect your username (the part after facebook.com/), which stays the same unless you change it separately.

Step-by-step on a phone

On iPhone or Android, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner of the Facebook app. Scroll down and tap "Settings & privacy," then tap "Settings." Look for the section labeled "Personal information" and tap "Name." You'll see fields for your first name, middle name, and last name — edit whichever ones you want to change.

After you type your new name, tap "Review change" at the bottom. Facebook will show you a preview of how your name will look on your profile and in posts. If it looks right, tap "Save changes." If you want to go back and edit, tap the back arrow instead. Your new name goes live when ready.

Step-by-step on a computer

Go to facebook.com and log in. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Profile" from the dropdown menu. On your profile page, look for the pencil icon next to your name near the top. Click it, and a box will open with fields for your first, middle, and last name.

Edit the name fields as needed, then click "Review change" at the bottom of the box. A preview will appear showing how your new name looks. If you're happy with it, click "Save changes." If you want to make more edits, click the back button. Your new name is now live on your profile.

What characters and formats Facebook allows

Facebook accepts letters, spaces, hyphens, periods, and accented characters in names. You can use uppercase and lowercase letters freely. Names like "Mary-Jane," "José García," "Jean-Pierre," and "O'Brien" all work fine.

Facebook blocks names that contain numbers, emoji, repeated characters (like "Jjjjjjj"), or symbols like @, #, or &. If your change is rejected, remove any numbers or unusual characters and try again. Some names that look like they might be spam — for example, a name that's mostly numbers or symbols — will also be blocked.

The difference between your name and your username

Your name is what appears on your profile and in your posts — this is what you just changed. Your username is the part that comes after facebook.com/ in your profile URL, like facebook.com/marcus.chen. These are separate things.

Changing your name does not change your username. If you want to change your username too, go to Settings & privacy, then Settings, then look for "Username" in the Personal information section. You can change your username once every 60 days. Your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after you change it.

Why Facebook might reject your name change

Facebook rejects name changes for a few specific reasons. The most common is that your new name contains numbers, symbols, or characters that look like spam. If you see an error message, remove any numbers or special characters (except hyphens, periods, and spaces) and try again.

If you've changed your name very recently — within the last 60 days — Facebook may not let you change it again. The system treats frequent name changes as a sign of spam or account abuse. If you need to change your name again soon, wait a few days and try once more. If the problem persists, you can report the issue to Facebook through the help center, though responses can take several days.

How your name change affects your privacy and tags

When you change your name, old posts and comments you made under your previous name still show your new name when people view them. Your old name does not appear anywhere on your profile or in your activity. If you were tagged in photos or posts under your old name, those tags now show your new name.

Your friends' posts that mention your old name by typing it out (not tagging you) will still show the old name — Facebook does not retroactively update text that people typed. Only tags and official profile information update automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my name back to what it was before?

Yes. There is no limit to how many times you can change your name, but Facebook may slow down or block very frequent changes (more than once every few days). If you want to switch back to your old name, use the same process: go to Settings & privacy, select Settings, find Personal information, and click or tap Name.

Will my friends be notified when I change my name?

No, Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your name. Your new name appears on your profile and in future posts, but there is no alert. Some friends may notice the change when they visit your profile, but most will not.

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

Yes. Facebook does not require you to use your legal name — you can use a nickname, stage name, or any other name you go by, as long as it follows Facebook's character rules (no numbers or symbols except hyphens and periods). Many performers, authors, and public figures use stage names on Facebook.

What if I want to change my name but Facebook keeps rejecting it?

Check that your name does not contain numbers, emoji, or symbols like @, #, or &. Hyphens, periods, spaces, and accented letters are fine. If your name still gets rejected and it looks normal, wait a few days — you may have hit Facebook's limit on recent changes. If the problem continues, report it through Settings & privacy, then Help & support.

Does changing my name on Facebook change my name anywhere else?

No. Changing your name on Facebook only affects your Facebook profile. It does not change your name on Instagram, WhatsApp, your email, or any other service. If you use Facebook to log into other apps, those apps will see your new Facebook name, but your accounts on those services stay the same.