The quickest way to change your Facebook profile name

Open Facebook on any device and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines on mobile, or the down arrow on desktop in the top right). Select Settings & privacy, then Settings. Scroll to Personal information and tap Name. Type your new name in the field that appears, then tap Review change to see how it will look. Tap Save changes when you're ready.

Your new name appears on your profile and in comments, posts, and messages within minutes. Facebook stores your old name in your activity log, but other people see only the current one.

You can change your name as often as you want, but Facebook enforces a waiting period between changes — usually 60 days after your last change. If you've just changed your name recently, you'll see a message telling you when you can change it again.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings & privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name to reach the name change field on any device.
  • Facebook allows name changes every 60 days, so if you changed it recently, you'll need to wait before changing it again.
  • Your old names stay in your activity log but are not visible to other people on your profile or in their feeds.
  • The name you enter must follow Facebook's naming rules — it should be the name you go by in everyday life, not a business name or random characters.

What names Facebook will and won't accept

Facebook requires names to be real names that people actually use. That means your first and last name, or a commonly used nickname paired with a last name. The platform rejects names that are mostly numbers, symbols, or repeated characters. It also blocks names that look like business titles (like "John's Pizza" or "Sarah's Cleaning Service") or that use special characters in ways that don't match real naming conventions.

If you use a single name, a name from a non-Latin alphabet, or a name with accents and diacritics, Facebook usually accepts it — but the system sometimes flags these for manual review. If your name change is rejected, Facebook sends a message explaining why. You can appeal the decision or try a slightly different version of your name.

Changing your name on mobile versus desktop

The steps are nearly identical on phone and computer, but the menu locations differ slightly. On an iPhone or Android phone, tap the three-line menu at the bottom right, then Settings & privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name. On a computer, click the down arrow in the top right corner, select Settings & privacy, then Settings, and follow the same path from there.

Both routes take you to the same name field. The change syncs across all your devices within a few minutes, so you don't need to update it separately on your phone and computer.

How to see your old names and when you changed them

Your activity log keeps a record of every name you've used on Facebook. To view it, go to Settings & privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name, and look for a link that says See past names or View name history. This shows you every name you've had, the dates you changed them, and which names are currently hidden from your profile.

Only you can see this history — other people cannot view your old names or when you changed them. The history is useful if you've had many names over time and want to remember what you used previously, or if you need to confirm when your last change was to know when you're may be able to access to change again.

Waiting period and what to do if you can't change your name yet

Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes. If you try to change your name and see a message saying you've changed it too recently, you'll have to wait until the 60 days have passed since your last change. The system tells you the exact date when you'll be able to change it again.

There is no way to bypass this waiting period. If you made a typo or changed your mind when ready after updating your name, you still have to wait the full 60 days. Plan your name changes carefully to avoid this situation.

Changing your name versus changing your username

Your name and your username are two different things on Facebook. Your name is what appears on your profile and in your posts — this is what you change in Settings > Personal information > Name. Your username is the custom URL people can use to find your profile (like facebook.com/sarah.okafor). You change your username in Settings & privacy > Settings > Personal information > Username.

You can change your username more frequently than your name, though Facebook still limits how often you can change it. If you want people to find you by a specific web address, change your username. If you want to change how your name appears in posts and comments, change your name.

What happens to your old name in messages and posts

When you change your name, all your old posts and comments automatically show your new name. People who look at something you posted last year will see your current name, not the name you had when you posted it. The same applies to messages — your conversation history shows your new name throughout.

Your old name does not appear anywhere on your profile or in other people's feeds. It exists only in your activity log, which only you can see. This means no one else will know you changed your name unless you tell them or they happen to remember what your old name was.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between changes, and there is no way to shorten it. If you need to change your name again, you must wait until 60 days have passed since your last change. The system will tell you the exact date when you're may be able to access to change it again.

What if Facebook rejected my name change?

Facebook rejects names that don't follow its naming rules — usually because they contain too many numbers, symbols, or characters that don't match real naming conventions. If your change was rejected, you'll see a message explaining why. You can appeal the decision through Facebook's help center, or try a slightly different version of your name that follows the rules more clearly.

Will my friends see my old name if they look at my profile?

No. Your profile shows only your current name. Your friends cannot see your old names unless you tell them or they remember what your name used to be. Your name history is private and visible only to you.

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

Yes, but you still have to wait 60 days between changes. If you changed your name and want to go back to your old one, you can do that after the waiting period ends. The old name will be available to use again.

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

No. Your username and profile URL are separate from your name. Changing your name does not change your username or the web address people use to find your profile. If you want to change your username as well, you do that in a different settings section.