The fastest way to change your last name on Facebook
Open Facebook on a computer or phone, go to your profile, and click the pencil icon next to your name at the top. Select "Edit name" from the menu. Type your new last name into the surname field, choose the date you want the change to show as taking effect, and click "Review change." Facebook will show you how your name will appear to different groups of people — friends, the public, or just you. Click "Save changes" and you are done. The change takes effect when ready, though it may take a few minutes to show everywhere on the site.
If you do not see an edit option, you may have changed your name recently. Facebook limits name changes to once every 60 days. If you are within that window, you will need to wait until the 60 days have passed before you can change it again.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your last name through your profile settings on any device, and the change shows up right away across Facebook.
- Facebook limits name changes to once per 60 days, so if you changed your name recently you will have to wait before changing it again.
- You can control who sees your old name by choosing your privacy settings during the change — some people may see it, others may not.
- If you change your name by mistake, you can change it back when ready without waiting for the 60-day window to reset.
Where to find the name edit option on mobile and desktop
On a phone or tablet, open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Tap your name at the top of the menu to go to your profile. Tap the pencil icon next to your name, then tap "Edit name." On a computer, click your profile picture in the top right corner, select your name from the dropdown, and look for the pencil icon next to your name at the top of your profile. Click it and choose "Edit name" from the options that appear.
The process is the same whether you use the Facebook app, the mobile website, or the desktop site. If you cannot find the pencil icon, make sure you are looking at your own profile, not someone else's — you can only change your own name.
Understanding the 60-day name change limit
Once you change your name on Facebook, you cannot change it again for 60 days. This rule applies whether you are changing your first name, last name, or both. If you try to edit your name before the 60 days are up, the "Edit name" option will be grayed out or will not appear at all.
The 60-day timer starts from the date you made the last change, not from when the change took effect. If you change your name on March 15, you can change it again on May 14. There is no way to speed up this timer or request an exception — you have to wait the full 60 days. However, if you made a mistake and want to change your name back to what it was before, that counts as a new change and will also trigger the 60-day wait.
Privacy settings: who sees your old name
When you change your name, Facebook asks you to pick a privacy level for the change. You can choose to show your name change to everyone, to friends only, or to keep it visible only to yourself. This setting controls who can see that you changed your name — it does not hide your old name from people who knew you by it.
If you set the change to "Friends" only, people outside your friend list will not see a notification that you changed your name, but they will still see your new name on your profile if they visit it. The privacy setting only affects the notification and the activity log entry, not the name itself. Choose the level that matches your comfort — there is no wrong answer.
What happens if you change your name by mistake
If you typed the wrong name or changed your mind when ready, you can change it back right away without waiting for the 60-day window. Go back to "Edit name" and type in the name you want. Facebook will treat this as a new name change, so after you change it back, you will have to wait 60 days before you can change it again.
This means if you change your name, realize it is wrong, and fix it within minutes, you still cannot change it a third time for 60 days. Plan your name changes carefully to avoid using up your one change per 60 days on a mistake.
Name format rules and special characters
Facebook has rules about what characters and formats it will accept in a name. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. You cannot use symbols like @, #, $, or &. If your name includes an accent mark or a character from another alphabet — like é, ñ, or Chinese characters — Facebook will accept it.
Your name cannot be all numbers, all symbols, or made up entirely of special characters. Facebook also does not allow names that look like a business name, a URL, or a title (like "Dr." or "CEO"). If you try to save a name that breaks these rules, Facebook will tell you what is wrong and ask you to fix it before you can proceed.
Changing your name across other Facebook services
Your Facebook name change affects your profile on Facebook itself, but it may not change your name on Instagram or Messenger right away. If you use the same account for Instagram, your Instagram profile name is separate and you will need to change it through Instagram's settings. Go to your Instagram profile, tap the menu icon, select "Settings and privacy," then "Account," then "Edit profile," and change your name there.
Messenger uses your Facebook name by default, so changing your Facebook name should update how you appear in Messenger conversations within a few minutes. If it does not, try logging out of Messenger and logging back in. WhatsApp and other Meta-owned services do not pull your name from Facebook — you change them separately in each app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my last name without changing my first name?
Yes. When you click "Edit name," you will see separate fields for first name and last name. You can change only the last name field and leave your first name as it is. Click "Save changes" and only your last name will update.
What if Facebook says my name change is not allowed?
Facebook usually blocks a name change if you are within the 60-day window from your last change, if your name contains characters or symbols Facebook does not accept, or if the name looks like a business or URL. Check that you are not using symbols like @, #, or $. If you are outside the 60-day window and your name follows the rules, try again in a few minutes — sometimes the system needs time to process.
Does changing my name on Facebook change my email address or username?
No. Your email address and username (the part after facebook.com/ in your profile link) stay the same when you change your name. Only the display name changes. If you want to change your username, that is a separate setting in your profile.
Will my old name show up in search results after I change it?
No. Once you change your name, your old name will not appear in Facebook search results. People searching for your old name will not find your profile. However, people who knew you by your old name can still find you by searching your new name or by looking through their friends list.
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 name that follows Facebook's format rules. As long as it does not look like a business name or URL and does not use banned symbols, Facebook will accept it.