How to change your last name on Facebook

You can change your last name on Facebook through your settings at any time. Go to the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner on mobile, or click the down arrow in the top right on desktop. Select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Scroll to Personal Information and tap or click Name. Edit your last name in the field provided, then click Review Change. Facebook will show you how your new name appears, and you can confirm it or go back to edit again. Once you confirm, the change takes effect immediately.

Facebook limits how often you can change your name — typically once every 60 days. If you've recently changed it and try again, you'll see a message telling you when you can change it next. This limit exists to prevent misuse of the name field. There's no way to bypass this waiting period, but you can still update other profile information like your bio or profile picture in the meantime.

Key Takeaways

  • Access your name settings through the menu icon (mobile) or account dropdown (desktop), then go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Name.
  • Facebook shows you a preview of how your new name will appear before you confirm the change.
  • You can only change your name once every 60 days, and this waiting period cannot be shortened.
  • If you're locked out of your account or believe your name was changed without your permission, you can report it to Facebook through your security settings.

What name format Facebook accepts

Facebook has rules about what characters and words it will accept in your name field. You can use letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes. Spaces between names are fine — Facebook expects a first name and last name separated by a space. Avoid all caps for your entire name, as Facebook's system may reject it as spam or a fake account.

Facebook will reject names that contain only numbers, names that look like email addresses, or names with excessive punctuation. If you use a name in a different alphabet — Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, or others — Facebook accepts it as long as the characters are real letters in that language. Symbols, emojis, and special characters outside standard punctuation will be flagged and rejected.

If your name change doesn't go through

If you see an error message when you try to confirm your name change, the most common reason is that Facebook's system flagged it as potentially fake or spam. This happens most often when the name doesn't follow standard naming conventions — for example, if it's all numbers, contains too many special characters, or looks like a business name rather than a person's name. Go back and try a simpler version that uses standard letters and punctuation.

If you're still blocked after trying again, wait a few hours and attempt the change once more. Sometimes Facebook's automated checks are temporarily strict. If the problem persists after multiple attempts, you can report the issue through your account settings. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Help & Support and describe what happened. Facebook's support team can review your account and may override the block if your name is legitimate.

Changing your name after marriage, divorce, or legal change

If you've legally changed your name through a court order, marriage, or divorce, you can update Facebook to match your legal documents. There's no special process — you simply change your name through the regular settings as described above. Facebook doesn't require you to upload a birth certificate or court order to make the change.

However, if Facebook's system repeatedly rejects your new legal name, you may need to contact support. This sometimes happens with hyphenated names, names with apostrophes in unusual places, or names from different languages that don't match Facebook's expected format. When you contact support, explain that you've legally changed your name and describe what error message you're seeing. Support can manually review and approve the change.

Privacy considerations when changing your name

Changing your name on Facebook doesn't hide your old name from people who knew you by it. Your friends will see the change in their feed, and Facebook keeps a record of your previous names. If someone searches for your old name, they may still find your profile, especially if they're already connected to you.

If you're changing your name for safety reasons — to escape harassment or to separate from a previous identity — changing your Facebook name alone isn't enough. Consider adjusting your privacy settings to limit who can see your profile, turning off search visibility, or using a different email address and phone number on your account. You can also review your past posts and remove or untag yourself from photos that use your old name.

Changing your display name versus your legal name

Facebook distinguishes between your name (what appears on your profile and in posts) and your username (the custom URL for your profile, like facebook.com/yourname). When you change your name through Settings, you're changing what people see on your profile. Your username is separate and has its own change process.

If you want to change your username instead — or in addition to your name — go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Username. You can change your username once every 60 days as well. Some people change their name for display purposes but keep their username the same so their profile link doesn't break for people who've shared it.

If someone else changed your name without permission

If you notice your name has been changed and you didn't do it, someone may have gained access to your account. Change your password immediately by going to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Change Password. Use a strong password you've never used before, and don't reuse it on other websites.

After you've secured your account, change your name back to what it should be. Review your login activity in the same Security and Login section to see if there are devices or locations you don't recognize. If you see suspicious activity, click Not You? next to any login you didn't make, and Facebook will log that device out. 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 last name without changing my first name?

Yes. When you go to edit your name, you can change just the last name field and leave your first name as is. Facebook treats the first and last name as separate fields, so you only need to modify whichever one you want to change.

What happens to my old name after I change it?

Your old name stays in Facebook's system but is no longer visible on your profile. People who search for your old name may still find your profile if they're already connected to you or if your privacy settings allow it. Facebook keeps a record of name changes for security purposes.

Can I change my name more than once every 60 days?

No. Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes. If you try to change your name before that period is up, you'll see a message telling you when you can change it next. There is no way to bypass this limit.

Will my friends be notified when I change my last name?

Yes, your name change will appear in your friends' feeds as an activity update. They'll see a notification that you changed your name, though they won't see your old name unless they click on the notification to view details.

Can I use a nickname or stage name as my last name?

Facebook's rules require names to look like real names rather than business names or nicknames. If you use a stage name or nickname, Facebook may reject it if it doesn't follow standard naming conventions. If you want to use a nickname, try formatting it as a real name — for example, using it as your last name with a first name that makes sense together.