Change your name in Facebook settings in under two minutes

Open Facebook on a computer or phone, go to the menu (three horizontal lines on mobile, the downward arrow on desktop), and select Settings and privacy, then Settings. Click Personal information on the left side. Find the Name field, click Edit, type your new name, and click Review change. Facebook will show you how your new name appears across the site. Click Save changes when you are ready.

The whole process takes about 90 seconds. Your new name shows up when ready on your profile and in comments, messages, and posts. People who have you as a friend will see the change right away in their feeds and notifications.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your name through Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name on both desktop and mobile.
  • Facebook shows you a preview of how your new name will look before you save it, so you can catch typos or spacing mistakes.
  • You can change your name once every 60 days, so plan ahead if you need to make multiple changes.
  • Your old name does not appear anywhere after the change — Facebook does not keep a public history of past names.
  • The change takes effect when ready and shows up in all your posts, comments, and messages going forward.

What name format Facebook accepts

Facebook requires your name to use letters, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes only. Numbers, symbols, and emoji will not work. If you use a stage name, nickname, or name from a different alphabet, Facebook will accept it as long as it contains only those characters.

Your name can be up to 50 characters long, including spaces. If you are changing to a longer name, check the preview before you save to make sure it displays the way you want it to. Some parts of Facebook (like message headers) have limited space and may cut off very long names.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

After you change your name, you cannot change it again for 60 days. This limit applies whether you are correcting a typo, going back to your old name, or switching to something completely different. The 60 days starts from the moment you click Save changes, not from when you started editing.

If you made a mistake and need to fix it right away, you cannot bypass this rule through customer support. Plan your change carefully and use the preview screen to catch errors before you save. If you do make a typo, you will have to wait the full 60 days before you can fix it.

Changing your name on mobile versus desktop

The steps are nearly identical on phone and computer, but the menu locations are slightly different. On a phone (iPhone or Android), tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and privacy, tap Settings, tap Personal information, and then tap Name. On a desktop computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner instead of the three lines.

Mobile sometimes loads the settings pages more slowly than desktop, especially if your connection is weak. If the Edit button does not appear next to your name, try refreshing the page or switching to a desktop browser. The change will sync across all your devices within a few minutes once you save it.

What happens to your old name after you change it

Your previous name disappears from your profile, posts, and comments. People cannot search for your old name to find you. However, Facebook does keep a record of past names in your account history for security reasons — if someone reports your account or you need to prove your identity, Facebook can see what names you have used.

Your friends will see the change in their notifications and in your profile, but Facebook does not send a separate alert saying "this person changed their name." The change just appears the next time they look at your profile or see you in their feed. Old posts and comments still show your new name, not your old one.

Reasons Facebook might reject your name change

Facebook will reject a name if it contains numbers, symbols, or characters outside the standard alphabet. It will also reject names that look like they are trying to impersonate someone else, such as using a celebrity's full name or a business name that is not yours. Names that appear to be spam or that violate Facebook's community standards (like slurs or hateful language) will be blocked.

If your name is rejected, Facebook will tell you why and let you try again. If you believe your name was rejected by mistake — for example, if you have a legitimate name that includes numbers or special characters — you can appeal through the help center. Facebook reviews appeals manually, though this can take several days.

Changing your display name versus your account name

Facebook has one name field that serves as both your display name and your account name. When you change it through Settings, that is the name that shows everywhere on your profile and across the platform. There is no separate "display name" option like some other social media sites have.

Your username (the part that appears in your profile URL, like facebook.com/yourname) is different from your display name. You can change your username separately through Settings > Personal information > Username, and that change has no waiting period. However, most people do not use their username in everyday Facebook interactions — your display name is what shows up in posts and comments.

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. If you changed your name and want to revert, you cannot do so when ready. Mark the date on your calendar and try again after 60 days have passed. The old name will be available to use again.

Will my friends get notified when I change my name?

Facebook does not send a notification saying you changed your name. Your friends will see the new name the next time they visit your profile or see you in their feed. Some may notice the change, but there is no alert or message about it.

What if I see an error message when I try to save my new name?

The most common error is that your name contains numbers, symbols, or special characters that Facebook does not allow. Check that you are using only letters, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. If your name is rejected for another reason, Facebook will explain why. Try refreshing the page and attempting again, or switch to a different browser.

Can I use a nickname or stage name instead of my legal name?

Yes. Facebook does not require you to use your legal name. You can use a nickname, stage name, or any other name as long as it follows the character rules (letters, spaces, hyphens, apostrophes only). Facebook's policy is that you should use the name you go by in everyday life.

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

No. Your username and profile URL stay the same when you change your display name. If you want to change your username as well, you can do that separately through Settings, but it is not required and has no waiting period.