The quickest way to change your Facebook name

Open Facebook on your phone or computer and tap 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 Name. Type your new name in the field that appears and tap Review change. Facebook will show you how your new name looks on your profile — if it looks right, tap Save changes.

The whole process takes less than a minute. Your new name appears on your profile, posts, and comments when ready. You can change your name as often as you want, though Facebook may flag you if you change it many times in a short period.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name through Settings & privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name on both mobile and desktop.
  • Your new name shows up right away on your profile, posts, and comments across Facebook.
  • Facebook allows you to change your name as often as you want, but repeated changes in a short time may trigger a review.
  • If Facebook rejects your name change, it is usually because the name contains numbers, symbols, or characters Facebook's system does not recognize.
  • You can use your real name, a nickname, a stage name, or any combination — Facebook does not require legal documentation.

What names Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook accepts most names, but the system rejects some automatically. Names with numbers, excessive punctuation, or special characters often get blocked — for example, "John123" or "Mary@Smith" will not go through. Names that are only numbers or symbols are rejected. Repeated spaces or unusual character combinations also trigger rejection.

You do not need to use your legal name. Facebook allows nicknames, stage names, pen names, and any other name you want to go by. The platform does not ask for a birth certificate or government ID. If your name change is rejected and you believe it should be allowed, you can report the issue to Facebook, though the review process can take several days.

Changing your name on mobile versus desktop

The steps are nearly identical on both devices, but the menu locations differ slightly. On an iPhone or Android phone, tap the three-line menu at the bottom right of the screen. On a computer, click the down arrow in the top right corner next to your profile picture. Both paths lead to the same Settings menu where you find the Name option under Personal information.

Mobile is often faster if you are already on Facebook, since the menu is at the bottom of the screen. Desktop gives you a larger view of how your name will look before you save it. Either way, the change takes effect when ready on all devices.

How often you can change your name

Facebook does not set a hard limit on how often you can change your name. You can change it once a day, once a week, or once a month without restriction. However, if you change your name many times in a short period — for example, five times in one day — Facebook may flag your account and ask you to wait before making another change.

This is a safety measure to prevent account takeovers or misuse. If you hit this limit, you will see a message telling you to wait a certain number of days before changing your name again. The wait period is usually between 24 hours and a few days, depending on how many changes you made.

What happens to your old name after you change it

Your old name disappears from your profile and all your posts. People who knew you by your old name will see only your new name when they visit your profile or read your comments. Facebook does not keep a public record of your previous names, so people cannot search for your old name to find you.

Your friends will see the change in their feed if they follow your activity closely, but there is no notification sent to your entire friend list. If you change your name back to your old one later, it will look like a fresh name change, not a reversal.

Changing your name versus changing your username

Your name and your username are two different things. Your name is what appears on your profile and in your posts — this is what you change through Settings > Personal information > Name. Your username is the handle that comes after facebook.com/ in your profile URL, like facebook.com/sarah.okafor. Changing your name does not change your username.

If you want to change your username instead, go to Settings > Personal information > Username. You can change your username once every 60 days. Your username is what people use to search for you or tag you in posts, while your name is what they see displayed. You can change both, but they are separate settings.

Troubleshooting a rejected name change

If Facebook rejects your name change, check for numbers, symbols, or special characters that are not standard letters. Remove any @ signs, hashtags, numbers, or extra spaces. If your name contains an accent mark or character from another language, try removing it — Facebook usually accepts these, but some older accounts have restrictions.

If your name still will not go through and you believe it should be allowed, tap Report a problem at the bottom of the name change screen. Describe why you think your name should be accepted. Facebook will review your report, though this can take several days. In the meantime, you can try a slightly different version of the name — for example, if "O'Brien" is rejected, try "Obrien" or "O Brien".

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a fake name on Facebook?

Yes. Facebook does not require you to use your legal name. You can use a nickname, stage name, pen name, or any other name you want. Facebook does not ask for ID or verification unless your account is flagged for other reasons.

Will my friends be notified when I change my name?

No. Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your name. They will see your new name the next time they visit your profile or see your posts, but there is no alert in their feed.

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

Yes. You can change your name back to any previous name at any time. There is no limit on reverting to an old name, and it counts as a regular name change with no waiting period.

What if I change my name and then want to undo it right away?

Go back to Settings > Personal information > Name and change it back. The change takes effect when ready. You do not need Facebook's permission to undo a name change.

Does changing my name affect my Facebook username or profile URL?

No. Your username and profile URL stay the same when you change your name. If you want to change your username, that is a separate setting in Personal information > Username, and you can only change it once every 60 days.