Change your Facebook name through Settings on desktop or mobile

Open Facebook and go to the menu in the top right corner (the downward arrow on desktop, or the three horizontal lines on mobile). Select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal information. Find the line that says Name and click Edit next to it. Type your new name into the fields provided, then click Review change at the bottom.

Facebook will show you a preview of how your new name will appear across the platform. If it looks correct, click Save changes. Your new name takes effect when ready, though it may take a few minutes to update everywhere you appear on Facebook.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name through Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name on any device.
  • Facebook allows you to change your name once every 60 days, so plan ahead if you need multiple changes.
  • Your new name appears in your profile, comments, posts, and messages as soon as you save it.
  • If Facebook rejects your name as fake or against community standards, you will see an error message explaining why.
  • You can use your real name, a nickname, a professional name, or any combination — Facebook does not require legal documentation.

What names Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook allows most names, but it has rules against names that look fake, offensive, or designed to confuse other users. Names with excessive numbers, symbols, or repeated characters often get rejected. Names that impersonate public figures or celebrities are also blocked. If your change is rejected, Facebook shows a message explaining the problem — usually that the name violates community standards or looks like it is not a real name.

You can use a nickname, a professional name, initials, or any variation of your real name. Many people use middle names, maiden names, or cultural variations of their name. If your name contains special characters or accents, Facebook usually accepts them without issue.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

Once you change your name, you cannot change it again for 60 days. This rule applies whether your first change was accepted or rejected. If you made a typo or changed your mind, you have to wait the full 60 days before trying again. Facebook counts the 60 days from the moment you saved the change, not from when you started the process.

If you are locked out of a name change and need to update your profile urgently, your only option is to wait. There is no way to reset the timer or request an exception. Plan your name change carefully so you do not waste your one change per 60 days on a mistake.

Where your new name appears on Facebook

Your new name shows up on your profile, in your comments on other people's posts, in messages you send, and in any posts you have written. When you tag someone or someone tags you, the new name appears in that tag. Your name also updates in group membership lists and on any pages you manage or follow.

Old posts and comments do not get rewritten with your new name — they still show the name you had when you posted them. This means your timeline may show posts from different periods with different names attached. Facebook does not provide a way to retroactively change the name on old posts.

What to do if your name change is rejected

If Facebook rejects your name, read the error message carefully — it tells you which rule your name broke. Common reasons for rejection are names that look fake (too many numbers or symbols), names that seem to impersonate someone, or names that violate community standards. If you believe the rejection was a mistake, you can try again with a slightly different version of the name.

If you keep getting rejected, your name may genuinely violate Facebook's rules. In that case, you can report the problem to Facebook through the Help Center, though Facebook rarely overturns rejections. Your best option is to choose a different name that follows the rules — one that looks like a real name and does not contain excessive numbers, symbols, or characters designed to confuse.

Changing your username versus your display name

Your display name is what people see on your profile and in comments — this is what you change through Settings. Your username is the handle that appears in your Facebook URL (facebook.com/yourname). You can change your username separately, also through Settings, but usernames have stricter rules: they must be between 5 and 50 characters, contain only letters, numbers, periods, or underscores, and cannot be changed more than once.

Most people only need to change their display name. The username matters mainly if you want a custom Facebook URL to share with others. If you change your display name, your username does not change automatically — you have to update it separately if you want them to match.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook name on mobile?

Yes. Open the app, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right, go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name, and follow the same steps as on desktop. The process is identical on iPhone and Android.

What happens to my old name after I change it?

Your old name disappears from your profile and new posts. Old comments and posts you wrote before the change still show your previous name. People who knew you by your old name can still find you by searching your new name or your username.

Can I use special characters or accents in my Facebook name?

Yes. Facebook accepts accents, umlauts, and most special characters used in real names across different languages. Symbols like asterisks or hashtags are usually rejected because they look fake.

Do my friends get notified when I change my name?

No. Facebook does not send notifications about name changes. Your friends will see your new name the next time they visit your profile or see you in their feed, but they are not alerted that you changed it.

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

Only after 60 days have passed since your last change. If you want to revert to an old name, you have to wait until the 60-day window closes, then make the change. There is no way to speed this up.