Where to find the name change option on Facebook

Your display name on Facebook lives in your profile settings, and you can change it from either the mobile app or a web browser. The quickest route is to go to your profile, tap or click the three-line menu (called a hamburger menu), and look for "Settings & Privacy" followed by "Settings." From there, select "Personal Information" and you'll see "Name" as the first editable field.

On the web version, you can also reach this by clicking your profile picture in the top right corner, selecting "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings," and navigating to "Personal Information." The name field is always at the top of that section, and Facebook will show you what your current name is before you make any change.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook display name from Settings > Personal Information > Name on either the app or web browser.
  • Facebook allows you to change your name once every 60 days, so plan your change if you've already made one recently.
  • Your new name must follow Facebook's naming rules: real names only, no numbers or symbols, and nothing that looks like a title or business name.
  • The change takes effect when ready across your profile, posts, and comments, but old tags and mentions will still show your previous name.

What names Facebook will and won't accept

Facebook has specific rules about what counts as a valid name. Your name must be the name you go by in everyday life — not a nickname, business name, title, or made-up phrase. This means you can use your legal first and last name, a common nickname you actually use, or a name with accents or special characters if that's how your name is actually spelled.

Facebook will reject names that include numbers, excessive punctuation, all capital letters, symbols like @ or &, or anything that looks like a business ("John's Pizza") or a title ("Dr. Smith" or "Captain America"). If your name genuinely includes a number or symbol — for example, if your last name is "O'Brien" or "Jean-Pierre" — Facebook usually accepts it because it's part of your real name, not decoration.

If you try to save a name that breaks these rules, Facebook will show you an error message and won't let you proceed. The error message usually tells you what's wrong, so read it carefully before trying again.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

Facebook limits you to one name change every 60 days. If you've changed your name recently, you'll see a message telling you when you can change it again. This rule exists to prevent spam and impersonation, so there's no way around it — you have to wait the full 60 days.

If you made a typo or realized your change was a mistake, you still have to wait. The only exception is if Facebook itself made an error or locked your account; in those cases, you can contact Facebook support, but response times vary and there's no may provide they'll override the timer.

What happens to your old name after you change it

When you change your name, it updates everywhere on your profile when ready — your profile picture area, your posts, your comments, and your messages all show the new name. However, old tags and mentions that used your previous name will still display that old name, because they're part of the historical record of those posts or comments.

People who were already your friends will see the new name right away. If someone searches for your old name, they won't find your profile, but they can still find you by your new name or by scrolling through their friends list. Your profile URL (the web address) doesn't change unless you've customized it, so anyone with your old link can still reach your profile.

Changing your name on Facebook Messenger and Instagram

If you use Facebook Messenger or Instagram, those apps are linked to your Facebook account, so changing your name on Facebook changes it everywhere. You don't need to make separate changes — your new name will show up in Messenger conversations and on your Instagram profile within a few minutes.

If you want a different display name just for Instagram or Messenger, you can't do that through these apps. Instagram has its own username system (separate from your display name), and Messenger uses whatever name is on your Facebook account. To have different names on different platforms, you'd need separate accounts, which Facebook doesn't recommend because it makes it harder for people to find you.

Troubleshooting if your name change won't save

If Facebook rejects your name or won't let you save the change, the most common reasons are that your name breaks the naming rules, you've already changed it within the last 60 days, or there's a temporary glitch. Start by checking that your name doesn't include numbers, symbols, or all capitals. If it looks correct, try logging out and logging back in, then attempt the change again.

If you still can't change your name after waiting 60 days and following the naming rules, try using a different browser or the mobile app instead of the web version — sometimes one works when the other doesn't. If nothing works after that, you can report the problem to Facebook through their Help Center, though response times are slow and there's no may provide of a fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, but you have to wait 60 days from your last change. You can change your name to anything that follows Facebook's naming rules, including a name you used in the past, as long as the 60-day window has passed.

Will my friends be notified when I change my name?

Facebook doesn't send a notification to your friends when you change your name. They'll see the new name the next time they visit your profile or see your posts, but they won't get an alert about it.

What if my real name doesn't follow Facebook's rules?

If your actual name includes numbers, symbols, or other characters that Facebook normally rejects, try entering it exactly as it appears on your ID or official documents. Facebook often accepts these when they're genuinely part of your real name. If it still gets rejected, contact Facebook support with proof of your name.

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

No. Your username (the custom web address you may have set up) stays the same. If you want to change your username, that's a separate setting in the Personal Information section, and it has its own rules and limits.