The quickest way to change your Facebook name

Open Facebook on any device, click the downward arrow in the top right corner, and select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal information, then find Name and click Edit. Type your new name in the fields provided, click Review change, and then Save changes. The new name appears on your profile immediately.

On mobile, the process is nearly identical: tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and privacy, tap Settings, tap Personal information, tap Name, make your changes, and save. Facebook does not require you to wait or go through any approval process — the change takes effect right away.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name through Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name on both desktop and mobile.
  • Facebook allows you to change your name once every 60 days, so plan ahead if you want to make multiple changes.
  • Your new name appears immediately to everyone on your profile, in comments, posts, and messages.
  • If Facebook blocks your name change, it usually means the name violates their policies — names must use real characters and cannot include numbers, symbols, or repeated letters meant to look unusual.

What names Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook has specific rules about what you can use as a name. Your name must contain only letters, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes — no numbers, no emoji, no symbols like underscores or periods. Facebook also rejects names that look fake or designed to stand out, such as names with repeated letters (like "Jooohn Smith"), names in all caps, or names that are clearly not meant to be real names.

Your name should match how you actually go by in everyday life. If you use a nickname, a middle name instead of your first name, or a name from a different culture or language, Facebook generally accepts it. If you have a hyphenated last name, multiple last names, or a name with an apostrophe (like O'Brien or D'Angelo), those are fine. If Facebook rejects your name, the error message will tell you why — usually that it contains characters Facebook does not allow or that it does not look like a real name.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

Once you change your name, you cannot change it again for 60 days. This rule exists to prevent people from constantly switching names to evade blocks or hide their identity. If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed, Facebook will show you a message saying when you can change it next.

Plan your name change carefully if you know you might want to adjust it soon. If you made a typo or realized you want a different name, you will have to wait the full 60 days. The timer starts from the moment you save the change, not from when you started editing.

How your name change affects your profile and messages

When you change your name, it updates everywhere on Facebook at once — your profile, your posts, your comments, your messages, and any tags other people have added. Everyone who visits your profile will see the new name immediately. Old posts and comments you made before the change will still show your new name, not the old one.

People who have you in their contacts or friends list will see the new name the next time they open Facebook or refresh their browser. If someone has a conversation thread with you from before the change, your old messages will still show your old name in that thread, but your profile and any new messages will show the new name. There is no way to keep your old name visible in old conversations.

Changing your name on mobile versus desktop

The steps are almost identical on phone and computer, but the layout is slightly different. On desktop, you navigate through the top menu; on mobile, you use the three-line menu at the bottom. Both routes lead to the same Personal information section where your name is stored.

If you are having trouble finding the setting on mobile, make sure you are using the official Facebook app, not a web browser. Some older phones or browsers may have a different layout. If you still cannot find it, try the desktop version on a computer — the setting is always in the same place there.

What to do if Facebook will not let you change your name

If you see an error message when you try to save your new name, Facebook is rejecting it for one of these reasons: the name contains numbers or symbols, it looks like it is not a real name, you have already changed your name within the last 60 days, or your account has been flagged for violating Facebook's rules. Read the error message carefully — it usually tells you which rule your name broke.

If the error says your name does not look real, try removing numbers, extra symbols, or repeated letters. If it says you have changed your name too recently, you will have to wait until the 60-day window closes. If your account has been flagged, you may need to contact Facebook support through the Help Center to explain your situation. Facebook support can sometimes override the 60-day rule or approve a name that was rejected, but this takes time and is not may provide.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, but you still have to wait 60 days between changes. If you changed your name and want to go back to your old name, you can do that after 60 days have passed since your last change. The old name counts as a new change, so you will have to wait another 60 days after switching back if you want to change it again.

Will my friends be notified when I change my name?

Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your name. They will see the new name the next time they visit your profile or see you in a comment or post, but they will not receive an alert about the change. If you want people to know, you can post about it or tell them directly.

Can I use a fake name or a stage name on Facebook?

Facebook's policy says you should use the name you go by in everyday life, but that does not have to be your legal name. If you use a stage name, pen name, or nickname that people actually call you, Facebook usually accepts it. The name just has to look like a real name — no numbers, symbols, or obvious fake formatting.

What happens to my username when I change my name?

Your username (the part of your Facebook URL) is separate from your display name and does not change automatically. You can change your username separately through Settings, but you can only do that once every 60 days as well. Many people change both their display name and username at the same time for consistency.

Can I have two names or a name with special characters?

Facebook allows spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes in names, so you can use a hyphenated last name, a name with an apostrophe, or multiple parts separated by spaces. You cannot use numbers, emoji, or other symbols. If your name genuinely includes a character Facebook does not accept, contact Facebook support through the Help Center to request an exception.