Change your Facebook name from Settings in under a minute

Open Facebook on any device, go to the menu (three horizontal lines on mobile, the down arrow on desktop), and select Settings and privacy, then Settings. Scroll to Personal information and click Name. Type your new name in the fields provided, click Review change, and confirm. The change takes effect when ready.

Facebook lets you change your name as often as you want, but the system has a built-in delay: you cannot change it again for 60 days after your last change. If you made a typo or changed your mind within minutes, you can undo the change before closing the page — look for the Undo option that appears after you confirm.

Key Takeaways

  • Your name change appears on your profile and in comments, messages, and posts within seconds of confirmation.
  • You can use your real name, a nickname, a middle name, or any combination Facebook's system accepts — there is no requirement to match government ID.
  • After you change your name, you must wait 60 days before changing it again, though you can undo a change when ready if you catch a mistake.
  • Your old name does not appear in your profile history; only your current name shows on your timeline and in search results.

What name format Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook checks your name against a set of rules designed to prevent fake accounts and spam. The system rejects names with numbers, symbols (except hyphens and apostrophes in the right places), or repeated characters. It also blocks all-caps names, names that look like email addresses, and names that contain profanity or slurs.

If your name includes a hyphen, apostrophe, or accent mark — like O'Brien, Jean-Paul, or José — Facebook usually accepts it without issue. If the system rejects your name, the error message will tell you what rule it broke. Try removing numbers, spacing out repeated letters, or using a middle name or initial instead.

Where your name appears after you change it

Your new name shows up everywhere on Facebook within seconds: on your profile, in the list of friends, in comments you have written, in posts you have shared, and in messages you have sent. People who search for your old name will not find you by that name anymore — the search index updates to show only your current name.

However, if someone took a screenshot of your old name or a post you made under it, that screenshot will still show the old name. Facebook does not retroactively change names in images or outside links. Your message history with friends will also show your new name, even in old conversations.

How to change your name on mobile versus desktop

On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name. Type your new name and tap Review change. The process is identical to desktop but uses touch navigation instead of clicks.

On a computer, click the down arrow in the top right corner of Facebook, select Settings and privacy, then Settings. Find Personal information on the left sidebar and click Name. The desktop version shows the same fields and confirmation screen as mobile, just with a larger layout.

What happens if you change your name too often

Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes to prevent account takeovers and impersonation. If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed since your last change, the system will show you the date when you can change it again and block the new name from being saved.

This limit applies to every account, regardless of how long you have been on Facebook or how many followers you have. If you made a mistake and need to change your name when ready, your only option is to contact Facebook through the Help Center and explain the situation — but Facebook rarely overrides the 60-day rule unless there is a safety concern, such as a name that exposes your real identity when you are trying to hide from someone.

Changing your username versus your display name

Your display name is what appears on your profile and in comments — this is what you change in Settings > Personal information > Name. Your username is the handle that appears in your profile URL (facebook.com/yourname) and is used for messaging and tagging. These are two separate things.

To change your username, go to Settings > Personal information > Username. You can change your username once every 60 days, just like your display name. Your username must be between 5 and 50 characters, contain only letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, and cannot be a name already taken by another account. If you have never set a username, Facebook will have assigned you a default one based on your account number.

Undoing a name change you just made

If you change your name and when ready realize you made a typo or changed your mind, look for the Undo button that appears on your profile or in the confirmation screen right after you confirm the change. This button is only available for a few minutes after the change goes live — once you navigate away or refresh the page, the undo option disappears.

If you miss the undo window, you will have to wait 60 days before you can change your name again. There is no way to bypass this waiting period through Facebook's settings. If the situation is urgent — for example, if someone else changed your name without permission — contact Facebook's Help Center and report the unauthorized change as a security issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a fake name or nickname on Facebook?

Yes. Facebook does not require you to use your legal name. You can use a nickname, stage name, middle name, or any combination that passes the name filter. The only rule is that your name cannot contain numbers, excessive symbols, or patterns that look like spam.

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 a post or comment from you, but they will not receive an alert about the change.

What if Facebook rejected my name change?

The error message will explain why — usually because the name contains numbers, symbols, repeated characters, or profanity. Try removing the rejected element and resubmit. If you believe your name was rejected unfairly, you can appeal through the Help Center, but Facebook rarely overrides its automated filters.

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

Yes, but you will have to wait 60 days after your last change. Once the waiting period is over, you can change your name to anything, including a previous name. There is no limit on how many times you can revert to an old name across different 60-day periods.

Does changing my name affect my Facebook account security?

No. Changing your name does not reset your password, log you out, or affect your login information. Your email address and password remain the same. However, if someone else changed your name without your permission, that is a sign your account may have been compromised — change your password when ready and review your login activity.