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

Facebook lets you change the name on your profile whenever you need to, with one limit: you can only make a change once every 60 days. The process takes about two minutes and happens when ready. You do not need to contact Facebook support or wait for approval — the change goes live as soon you confirm it.

The name you change is the one that appears on your profile, in comments, and on posts you share. It is separate from your username (the part that comes after facebook.com/ in your profile link), which has its own change process and its own timing rules.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name once every 60 days through Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information.
  • Facebook accepts a wide range of names, but rejects names that look like they are trying to impersonate someone else or that contain numbers or symbols in unusual ways.
  • The change takes effect when ready and shows up everywhere on your profile and in your activity.
  • If you change your name and then want to change it again within 60 days, Facebook will tell you when you become may be able to access to change it next.
  • Changing your name does not affect your username, login email, or password — those stay the same.

How to change your name in settings

Open Facebook on your phone or computer and tap or click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner on mobile, or the down arrow in the top right on desktop. Select Settings & Privacy, then Settings.

Scroll down to Personal Information and tap or click it. You will see a line that says Name. Tap or click on that line. A box will open with your current name broken into fields — usually First Name and Last Name, though some accounts show Middle Name as well.

Type your new name into the fields. When you are done, scroll down and tap or click Review Change. Facebook will show you how your new name will appear on your profile. If it looks right, tap or click Save Changes. The change happens when ready.

What names Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook has rules about what counts as a real name. The platform accepts most combinations of letters, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes — so names like "Mary-Jane O'Brien" or "José García" work fine. Accented letters are allowed.

Facebook rejects names that contain numbers, emojis, or symbols like @ or &. It also rejects names that look like they are trying to impersonate a public figure or celebrity, or names that appear designed to confuse people about who you are. If you try to use a name that breaks these rules, Facebook will show you an error message and tell you which part does not meet the guidelines.

If you have a name that is genuinely unusual or that Facebook's system flags by mistake, you can appeal the rejection. Facebook will ask you to provide documents like a driver's license or birth certificate that show the name you want to use. This process can take a few days.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

Once you change your name, you cannot change it again for 60 days. This limit applies whether you are changing it to something completely different or just fixing a typo. If you try to change your name before the 60 days are up, Facebook will show you a message that says when you will be able to change it next.

The 60-day timer starts from the moment you confirm the change, not from when you first opened the settings page. If you change your name on March 15, you can change it again on May 14 at the earliest.

Changing your username is different from changing your name

Your username is the handle that appears in your Facebook URL — for example, facebook.com/david.reeves or facebook.com/dreeves42. This is different from your display name. You can change your username through the same Settings menu, but the rules and timing are different.

You can change your username once every 60 days, just like your name. However, usernames have stricter rules: they can only contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Once you choose a username, Facebook reserves it for you, and no one else can use it even if you change it later.

What happens to your old name after you change it

When you change your name, your old name disappears from your profile when ready. People who visit your page will see only your new name. Old posts and comments you made under your previous name will still show your new name, not the old one.

Your friends will see the change in their activity feed — Facebook notifies them that you changed your name. This is normal and not something you can turn off. If you are changing your name for privacy reasons, be aware that the change itself is visible to your friends.

If you cannot change your name or the change is rejected

If Facebook rejects your name change, the error message will tell you why. The most common reasons are that the name contains numbers or symbols, or that it looks like you are trying to impersonate someone. Read the message carefully — it usually points to the exact part of the name that does not work.

If you believe the rejection is a mistake — for example, if your real name genuinely contains numbers or symbols — you can appeal. Go back to the Name field in Personal Information and look for a link that says something like "Appeal" or "Request Review". Facebook will ask you to upload a photo of an ID that shows the name you want to use. This can take several days, and Facebook will email you when they have made a decision.

If you are locked out of changing your name because you changed it recently and the 60-day window has not passed, the only option is to wait. Facebook does not make exceptions to this rule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my name affect my login email or password?

No. Your login email and password stay exactly the same. You log in with the same email address and password whether your display name is "Sarah Johnson" or "Sarah Chen". Changing your name only changes what people see on your profile.

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

Yes, but you have to wait 60 days from your last change. If you changed your name from "Michael" to "Mike" yesterday, you cannot change it back to "Michael" until 60 days have passed. Then you can change it to anything, including your original name.

Will my friends get notified every time I change my name?

Yes. Facebook shows your friends a notification in their feed when you change your name. This is automatic and cannot be turned off. If you change your name frequently, your friends will see multiple notifications.

What if I want to use a nickname instead of my legal name?

Facebook allows nicknames as long as they follow the naming rules — no numbers, emojis, or symbols. You can use "Alex" instead of "Alexander", or "Liz" instead of "Elizabeth". Facebook does not require you to use your legal name, only a name that looks like a real name.

Can I have different names on Facebook and Instagram?

Yes. Facebook and Instagram are linked, but your display name on each platform is separate. You can be "Jennifer" on Facebook and "Jen" on Instagram, or use completely different names. The change on one platform does not affect the other.