Change Your Facebook Profile Name From Settings

You can change the name on your Facebook profile by going to your settings, finding the personal information section, and editing the name field. The process takes about two minutes and Facebook lets you change your name once every 60 days. If you changed it recently, you will see a message telling you when you can change it again.

Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner of your screen. Select Settings and privacy, then click Settings. On the left side, click Personal information. Next to your name, click Edit. Type your new name in the fields provided — Facebook separates first name and last name, though you can leave the last name blank if you want. Click Review change to see how it will look, then click Save changes.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name once every 60 days through Settings > Personal information > Edit next to your name.
  • Facebook accepts letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes in names, but rejects names that look like fake accounts or spam.
  • If Facebook rejects your name change, the site will tell you why and you can try a different version.
  • Your old name disappears from your profile when ready, though people who messaged you before the change will still see the old name in old conversations.

What Names Facebook Will and Won't Accept

Facebook has rules about what counts as a real name. The site accepts letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes. It rejects names that are all numbers, names with too many special characters in a row, and names that look like they are trying to advertise something or impersonate a public figure.

If you try to change your name to something like "John Smith 123 Marketing" or "XXXJOHNXXX", Facebook will reject it and show you an error message. The message usually tells you what part of the name caused the problem. Try removing numbers, extra symbols, or words that sound like advertising, then submit again. If you are trying to use a nickname or stage name, Facebook usually accepts it as long as it does not look like spam or a fake account.

Changing Your Name on Mobile Devices

The steps are slightly different on a phone or tablet. Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings. Tap Personal information, then tap next to your name to edit it. Type your new name and tap Review change, then Save changes.

The mobile app works the same way as the website — you still have the 60-day waiting period between changes, and Facebook still checks your new name against its rules before accepting it. If you are on a very old version of the Facebook app, the menu locations might be slightly different, but the personal information section is always in settings.

The 60-Day Waiting Period Between Changes

Facebook enforces a 60-day rule: you can only change your name once every two months. This rule applies whether you change it on the website, the mobile app, or through a phone browser. If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed since your last change, Facebook will show you a message with the exact date you can change it again.

The timer starts from the date of your last successful change, not from the date you tried to change it and failed. If you changed your name on January 15, you cannot change it again until March 16. There is no way to speed up this waiting period, and Facebook support cannot override it. Plan your name changes with this limit in mind.

What Happens to Your Old Name After You Change It

Your old name disappears from your profile when ready. Anyone visiting your profile after the change will see only your new name. However, old messages and comments you wrote before the change will still show your old name next to them — Facebook does not go back and update the name on past activity.

People who were in conversations with you before the change will see your old name in the message thread history, but new messages will show your new name. This can sometimes confuse people if they are looking back at old conversations. Your friends list, posts, and photos all update to show your new name right away.

If Facebook Rejects Your Name Change

When Facebook rejects a name, it gives you a reason. The most common reasons are that the name looks like it is advertising something, contains too many numbers or symbols, or appears to be impersonating someone. Read the error message carefully — it usually points to the exact problem.

If your name was rejected, try removing numbers, reducing special characters, or shortening it. If you are using a stage name or nickname that Facebook keeps rejecting, you can try adding a middle initial or a period to make it look more like a real name. If you believe Facebook made a mistake and your name is legitimate, you can report the issue through the help center, though Facebook rarely overrides its automated checks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook name more than once every 60 days?

No. Facebook enforces a strict 60-day waiting period between name changes. There is no way to bypass this limit, and Facebook support cannot override it. You must wait the full 60 days from your last successful change before you can change your name again.

Will my friends see a notification when I change my name?

No, Facebook does not send notifications when you change your name. Your friends will see your new name the next time they visit your profile or see you in their news feed, but they will not receive an alert about the change.

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

Yes, but you still have to wait 60 days from your last change. If you changed your name from "John Smith" to "Johnny Smith" on January 15, you can change it back to "John Smith" on March 16, but not before then.

What if someone else is using the name I want?

Facebook allows multiple people to have the same name. You can use any real name you want, even if thousands of other people on Facebook have that same name. The name does not have to be unique.

Does changing my name affect my username or Facebook URL?

No. Your username and profile URL are separate from your display name. Changing your name does not change your username. If you want to change your username, you have to do that separately in your settings, and you can only change it once.