Change your Facebook name from Settings in under two minutes

To change your Facebook profile name, open Facebook on any device, click the downward arrow in the top right corner, select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left menu, click Personal information, then click next to your name. Type your new name and click Review change. Facebook will show you how the name appears to others — if it looks right, click Save changes. The new name takes effect when ready.

The process is the same on mobile and desktop. If you are using the Facebook app on your phone, the menu locations are identical, just arranged vertically instead of horizontally.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name by going to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information, then editing the name field directly.
  • Facebook shows you a preview of how your new name will appear before you save, so you can catch typos or spacing issues.
  • The name change takes effect right away and is visible to everyone on your friends list and in search results.
  • You can change your name as often as you want, though Facebook may flag repeated changes within a short time as suspicious activity.
  • Your old name does not appear anywhere after the change — Facebook does not keep a public record of previous names.

What name format Facebook accepts

Facebook requires that your name contain only letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and spaces. You cannot use symbols like &, @, or #. The name must be between two and fifty characters long. Facebook also does not allow all-caps names or names that look like a business or brand — if you try to use something like "SARAH'S PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO," Facebook may reject it or ask you to use your actual name instead.

If you want to use a nickname, middle name, or alternate spelling, Facebook allows it as long as it follows the character rules above. Many people use their full legal name, but you are not required to — you can use any combination of real names you go by.

How often you can change your name

Facebook does not set a hard limit on how often you can change your name. However, if you change it multiple times in a short period — say, three times in one week — Facebook may temporarily lock you out of making further changes. This is a safety measure to prevent account takeover or impersonation.

If you hit this limit, wait at least a few days before trying again. Facebook will usually let you change your name again after the waiting period ends. If you are locked out and need to change your name for a legitimate reason, you can contact Facebook support through the Help Center, though response times vary.

Changing your name on mobile versus desktop

The steps are identical on mobile and desktop — the only difference is the layout of the menu. On a phone or tablet using the Facebook app, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and privacy, tap Settings, then tap Personal information. The rest of the process is the same as on desktop.

If you are using Facebook through a mobile web browser instead of the app, the desktop steps explore — just tap the downward arrow at the top right instead of the menu icon. Both routes lead to the same settings page.

What happens to your old name after you change it

Your old name disappears from your profile when ready. It does not show up in your profile history, in your friends' notifications, or anywhere else on Facebook. No one can see that you changed your name unless you tell them.

However, if you had tagged photos or posts under your old name, those tags still exist — they just now point to your new name. For example, if a friend tagged you in a photo when your name was "Sarah Johnson" and you later change it to "Sarah Okafor," the tag will show your new name, not the old one.

If Facebook rejects your name change

Facebook may reject your name change for a few reasons: the name contains symbols or numbers that are not allowed, it looks like a business name rather than a personal name, or it violates Facebook's naming policy in some other way. When this happens, Facebook shows an error message explaining why.

If the rejection seems wrong — for example, if your actual name contains a symbol that Facebook does not allow — you can appeal through the Help Center. Go to Help and support > Help Center, search for "name change," and look for the option to report a problem with your name. Facebook will review your appeal, though it may take several days.

Changing your name versus your username

Your profile name and your username are two different things. Your profile name is what appears on your profile and in search results — this is what you change in Personal information. Your username is the custom URL that appears in your profile link, like facebook.com/sarah.okafor. You can change your username separately in the same Settings menu, under Username.

Most people only need to change their profile name. Your username is optional and is mainly useful if you want a shorter or more memorable link to share. If you do not have a username set, Facebook generates one automatically based on your profile name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my friends be notified when I change my name?

No. Facebook does not send notifications to your friends when you change your profile name. They will only see the new name the next time they visit your profile or see you in their feed. Some people may not notice the change at all.

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

Yes. You can change your name back at any time using the same process. There is no penalty for reverting to a previous name, and Facebook does not track or display your name history to others.

What if someone else has the name I want to use?

Facebook allows multiple people to have the same name. You can use any name that follows the character rules, even if thousands of other people have it. Your profile is distinguished by your unique Facebook ID, not by your name.

Does changing my name affect my Facebook login or password?

No. Your login email address and password stay the same no matter what name you use on your profile. Changing your name does not log you out or require you to reset your password.

Can I use special characters or accents in my name?

You can use accented letters like é, ñ, or ü if they are part of your actual name. However, you cannot use symbols like &, @, !, or #. If your name includes an accent or special letter that is standard in your language, Facebook usually accepts it.