Change your name on Facebook through the Settings menu

To change the name on your Facebook account, open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select Settings and privacy, then click Settings. On the left side, click Personal information, then find the Name field and click Edit. Type your new name in the boxes provided, then click Save changes.

Facebook will ask you to confirm the change. You may see a message saying your name will be visible to your friends and the public within a few minutes. The change takes effect when ready on your own profile, though it may take a short time to appear everywhere across the platform.

You can change your name as often as you want, but Facebook has a few rules: your name must be the name you go by in everyday life, it cannot contain numbers or symbols (except hyphens, apostrophes, or periods in certain positions), and it must be at least two characters long. If you try to use a name that looks like a fake account or violates these rules, Facebook will reject the change and ask you to try again.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Personal information to find the Name field where you can edit your name.
  • Your new name must be the name you actually use in daily life and cannot contain numbers, symbols, or special characters except hyphens, apostrophes, and periods.
  • The name change appears on your profile within minutes but may take longer to update across all of Facebook's features.
  • You can change your name as many times as you want, but Facebook may flag repeated changes as suspicious activity.
  • If Facebook rejects your name change, the platform will explain why and you can try again with a different name.

What names Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook checks your name against a set of rules designed to prevent fake accounts and impersonation. Your name must match what you use in real life—the name your friends call you, the name on your ID, or a nickname you are known by. If you use a stage name, pen name, or nickname that people actually call you, Facebook generally accepts it.

Names that Facebook will reject include those with numbers (like "John Smith 2"), excessive punctuation, all capital letters (unless it is an acronym you actually use), or symbols like &, @, or #. Spaces at the beginning or end of your name, or multiple spaces between words, will also cause a rejection. If you have a hyphenated last name, a name with an apostrophe (like O'Brien), or a period (like J. Smith), Facebook accepts these.

If your name is genuinely unusual or from a language that uses characters outside the standard alphabet, Facebook may still accept it. The platform has improved its name policies over time to include names from many cultures and languages. If your legitimate name is rejected, you can request a manual review by clicking the option to appeal the decision.

Changing your name on mobile devices

The process on a phone or tablet is almost identical to the desktop version. Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings. Tap Personal information, then tap the Name field.

Tap Edit next to your name. Type your new name in the boxes provided, then tap Save changes. Facebook will ask you to confirm. The change appears on your profile within minutes, just as it does on a computer.

How often you can change your name

Facebook allows you to change your name as often as you want, but the platform monitors for suspicious patterns. If you change your name very frequently—several times in a short period—Facebook may temporarily prevent you from changing it again or flag your account for review. This is a safety measure to prevent account takeovers or impersonation.

If Facebook locks you out of changing your name, wait a few days before trying again. The restriction is usually temporary. If you have a legitimate reason to change your name often (for example, you are a performer who uses different stage names), you can contact Facebook support to explain your situation, though response times vary.

What happens to your old name after you change it

Your old name disappears from your profile and is replaced by your new name. People who search for your old name will not find you in search results. However, your friends will see the change in their news feed—Facebook notifies them that you changed your name, and the notification includes both your old and new names.

If you have posted content under your old name, that content stays on your profile and is still attributed to you, but it now shows your new name as the author. Your old name is not permanently deleted from Facebook's records, but it is not publicly visible after the change.

Changing your name if your account was hacked

If someone else changed your name without your permission, you can change it back when ready using the same steps described above. Go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Personal information, and edit the Name field. You do not need special permission or proof to change your name back.

After you change your name back, take steps to find your account. Change your password to something strong and unique, review your login activity in Settings to see if anyone else accessed your account, and turn on two-factor authentication. If you believe your account was compromised, you can also report it to Facebook through the Help Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my name to something completely different from my real name?

Facebook requires your name to be one you actually use in everyday life. You can use a nickname, stage name, or name from another culture, but it must be a name people genuinely call you. If you try to use a fake name or a name that looks like it belongs to a celebrity or public figure, Facebook will reject it.

How long does it take for my name change to show up everywhere on Facebook?

Your name change appears on your profile within minutes. However, it may take longer to update in other places like search results, comments you have made, or messages. Most updates happen within a few hours, but in rare cases it can take up to 24 hours for the change to appear everywhere.

What if Facebook says my name is not allowed?

Facebook will tell you why your name was rejected—usually because it contains numbers, symbols, or does not look like a real name. Try a different version of your name that follows the rules. If your name is legitimate but still rejected, click the option to request a manual review, and a Facebook team member will look at your request.

Can I change my name back to a previous name I used?

Yes. You can change your name to any name that follows Facebook's rules, including a name you used before. There is no restriction on changing back to an old name or using a name you have used in the past.

Does changing my name affect my Facebook username or URL?

No. Your Facebook username (the part of your profile URL that comes after facebook.com/) is separate from your display name. Changing your name does not change your username. If you want to change your username, that is a different process done through the same Settings menu.