You can change your Facebook name directly in your settings, and Facebook allows you to do this once every 60 days

Facebook lets you change the name on your profile through the Settings menu. The process takes about two minutes. You can change your name to anything you want, but Facebook has a few rules about what counts as a valid name — it needs to be something you actually go by, not a business name, URL, or string of numbers and symbols.

The 60-day waiting period starts from your last name change, not from when you created your account. If you changed your name last month, you'll have to wait until the 60-day window closes before you can change it again. Facebook enforces this limit to prevent spam and impersonation.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information to find the name change option.
  • You can change your name once every 60 days, and the change takes effect when ready.
  • Facebook will reject names that look like business names, URLs, numbers only, or special characters strung together.
  • If your name change is rejected, Facebook will tell you why and you can try again with a different name.
  • You cannot change your username (the part after facebook.com/) as often as your display name — usernames have their own separate rules.

The exact steps to change your name on Facebook

Open Facebook on your computer or phone and look for the menu icon (three horizontal lines on mobile, or the downward arrow in the top right on desktop). Tap or click Settings and Privacy, then select Settings.

On the left side of the screen, find and click Personal Information. You'll see a row labeled Name — click on it. A box will appear with your current name. Delete what's there and type in the name you want to use. Click the Review Change button, then confirm.

Your new name appears on your profile right away. Friends will see the change in their feeds, and it shows up in search results under your new name within a few minutes.

What names Facebook will and won't accept

Facebook's name rules exist to keep the platform from becoming a place where people impersonate others or advertise businesses. Your name needs to be something you actually use in real life — a first and last name, a nickname you go by, or a name from your culture or religion that doesn't follow Western naming conventions.

Facebook will reject names that contain only numbers, names that look like URLs or email addresses, names with excessive punctuation or special characters, and names that are clearly business names (like "John's Pizza Repair" or "Sarah's Coaching"). If your name includes an apostrophe, accent mark, or hyphen that's actually part of how you write it, Facebook usually accepts that.

If your name gets rejected, Facebook shows you a message explaining why. You can try again with a different version of your name. If you have a name that doesn't fit typical patterns — for example, a single name, a name with many parts, or a name in a non-Latin alphabet — you may need to try a few times or contact Facebook's support team.

The difference between your name and your username

Your Facebook name is what appears on your profile and in comments — the human-readable version people see. Your username is the part that comes after facebook.com/ in your profile URL, like facebook.com/david.reeves or facebook.com/davidreeves123.

You can change your name once every 60 days, but you can only change your username once, ever. Choose your username carefully because you cannot change it back. If you haven't set a custom username yet, Facebook will have assigned you a default one made of numbers. You can change that default to something more memorable, but only one time.

What happens if you change your name too often

If you change your name repeatedly within the 60-day window, Facebook may temporarily lock you out of making further changes. This is a safety measure to prevent people from using name changes to evade detection or spam other users.

If you hit this limit, you'll see a message telling you to wait before trying again. The lock usually lasts a few days. If you're changing your name for a legitimate reason — you got married, you go by a different name now, you want to use your middle name instead — waiting a few days and trying again will work fine.

If Facebook rejects your name change

When Facebook rejects a name, it tells you which rule your name broke. The most common reason is that your name looks like a business name, a URL, or contains too many numbers or symbols. Read the rejection message carefully — it usually points you toward what to change.

Try submitting again with a simpler version of your name. If you have a name that genuinely doesn't fit Facebook's patterns — for instance, a name from a culture that uses different naming conventions, or a name with characters Facebook's system doesn't recognize — you can contact Facebook's support team through the Help Center. Explain your situation and provide context, and they can review your name manually.

Changing your name on Facebook doesn't change it anywhere else

Your Facebook name is separate from your name on other platforms. If you change your name on Facebook, it doesn't change your name on Instagram, WhatsApp, your email, or any other service. You'll need to change your name on each platform separately if you want them all to match.

Similarly, if someone has your phone number or email address saved in their contacts, changing your Facebook name won't change what appears in their phone. They'll still see your old name until they update their contacts manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Your name changes on your profile when ready, but it may take a few minutes to update in search results, comments, and other places across Facebook. Usually this happens within 5 to 15 minutes. If you still see your old name in some places after an hour, try refreshing the page or logging out and back in.

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

Yes, as long as you wait for the 60-day window to close. If you changed your name and want to go back to your previous name, you have to wait until 60 days have passed since your last change. Then you can change it back. This counts as a new name change, so you'll have to wait another 60 days before changing it again.

What if someone else is using my real name on Facebook?

If another person is using your name and impersonating you, that's a violation of Facebook's rules. You can report their account by going to their profile, clicking the three dots, and selecting "Find support or report profile." Choose "It's pretending to be someone" and follow the steps. Facebook will review the account and may remove it or ask them to change their name.

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

Yes. Facebook allows you to use a nickname, stage name, or any name you actually go by in real life. You don't have to use your legal name. Just make sure whatever name you choose looks like an actual name and not a business name, URL, or random characters.

Why does Facebook have a 60-day waiting period?

The 60-day limit prevents people from changing their names constantly to avoid detection, spam others, or impersonate different people in quick succession. It's a safety measure. If you have a legitimate reason to change your name more often — for example, you're going through a legal name change — you can contact Facebook's support team and explain your situation.