Yes, you can change your Facebook name, and Facebook lets you do it yourself from your account settings

Facebook allows you to change the name on your profile at any time. You do this through your settings, not by contacting Facebook support. The process takes about two minutes. However, Facebook has rules about what names it will accept, and if you change your name too often, Facebook will lock you out of making another change for a set period.

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 URL). You can change your display name without changing your username, and vice versa.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Facebook name through Settings and Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Name, then type your new name and click Review Change.
  • Facebook requires your name to contain only letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes — no special characters, emoji, or all-caps words.
  • If you change your name, Facebook makes you wait 60 days before you can change it again, though you can change your username anytime.
  • If Facebook rejects your name as fake or against its rules, you can appeal the decision by uploading a government ID or other official document.
  • Changing your name does not change your username or your profile URL, so your friends can still find you the same way.

Step-by-step: changing your name on Facebook

Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information. Find the Name field and click Edit. Type your new name in the field that appears.

Facebook will show you a preview of how your new name will look. Click Review Change at the bottom. Facebook will ask you to confirm by entering your password. Type your password and click Confirm. Your name changes when ready.

If you are on the Facebook mobile app, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and Privacy, tap Settings, scroll to Personal Information, tap Name, edit it, and tap Save Changes.

What names Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook requires names to use only letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes. You cannot use special characters like @, #, $, %, &, or emoji. You cannot use all capital letters for an entire word — Facebook will reject "SARAH" but accept "Sarah" or "SaRah". Numbers are allowed but Facebook discourages them if they make up most of your name.

Facebook also rejects names it believes are fake, offensive, or designed to impersonate someone else. If you use a stage name, nickname, or name in a language other than English, Facebook may still accept it, but you may need to prove it is a real name you use. If Facebook rejects your name, you can appeal by uploading a government ID, passport, birth certificate, or other official document that shows the name you want to use.

The 60-day waiting period between name changes

After you change your Facebook name, you cannot change it again for 60 days. This rule applies to the display name only — you can change your username (the part in your profile URL) anytime without waiting. If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed, Facebook will tell you the exact date you can change it again.

The 60-day timer resets each time you make a change. If you change your name on January 1, you cannot change it again until March 1. If you then change it on March 1, the next change is not allowed until May 1.

Difference between your name and your username

Your name is what appears on your profile and in comments — this is what your friends see. Your username is the custom URL that comes after facebook.com/ — for example, facebook.com/sarah.okafor. You can change your username once, and after that you can change it again only if you wait 60 days between changes.

Changing your display name does not change your username. If your username is sarah.okafor and you change your display name to Sarah O., your profile URL stays facebook.com/sarah.okafor. This means your friends can still find you using the old link even after you change your name.

What happens if Facebook says your name is fake

If Facebook rejects your name, it will show you a message saying the name does not follow its naming standards. You can appeal this decision. Click the link in the rejection message or go back to your name settings and look for an option to appeal. Facebook will ask you to upload a photo of an official document that shows the name you want to use.

Accepted documents include a government-issued ID, passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court order. Take a clear photo of the document with the name visible, upload it, and Facebook will review it. This usually takes a few days. If the document matches the name you entered, Facebook will restore it. If it does not match, Facebook will reject the appeal and you will need to choose a different name.

Changing your name does not affect your privacy or who can find you

When you change your name, your profile URL and username stay the same. People who have you as a friend will see your new name in their feed and on your profile. People who search for your old name will not find you by that name anymore, but they can still find you by your username or by scrolling through their friends list.

Changing your name does not change your privacy settings, your friends list, or any of your posts. Old posts and comments will show your new name, not your old one. If you want to hide your name change from certain people, you can adjust your privacy settings to limit who sees your profile, but the name change itself cannot be hidden from your friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook name more than once?

Yes, but you must wait 60 days between changes. After you change your name, Facebook locks the name field for 60 days. You can change your username anytime without waiting, but the display name has the 60-day rule.

What if I want to use a name with numbers or special characters?

Facebook does not allow most special characters like @, #, or &. Numbers are allowed but Facebook discourages them if they make up most of your name. If you want to use a character Facebook does not allow, you will need to choose a different name or use a period, hyphen, or apostrophe instead.

Can I change my name back to my old name right away?

No. Even if you want to revert to your previous name, you still have to wait 60 days from your last change. The 60-day rule applies to any name change, whether it is to a new name or back to an old one.

Will my friends be notified when I change my name?

Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your name. However, your friends may see the change in their feed or when they visit your profile. Your old posts will show your new name, not your old one.

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

Facebook allows stage names and nicknames as long as they follow the naming rules and do not appear to be fake or designed to impersonate someone. If Facebook rejects it, you can appeal with a document showing you use that name — this could be a professional license, published work, or other proof that the name is real to you.