How to change your name on Facebook

You can change the name on your Facebook profile through your settings at any time. Go to the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner of the app, or the downward arrow in the top right on desktop, then select Settings & Privacy and Settings. From there, tap or click Personal Information, then Name, and enter your new name in the fields provided. Facebook will ask you to confirm the change before it goes live.

The name you enter should match what you use in everyday life — your legal name, nickname, or the name people know you by. Facebook allows you to include accents, special characters, and names from different languages. Once you submit the change, it appears on your profile immediately, and your friends will see the update in their activity feeds.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name through Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Name on both mobile and desktop.
  • Facebook allows you to change your name once every 60 days, so plan ahead if you need multiple changes.
  • Your new name appears on your profile right away, but it may take a few minutes to show up everywhere across Facebook.
  • If you need to change your name back to a previous one, you can do so, but you still have to wait 60 days between changes.

What name format Facebook accepts

Facebook requires that your name be something you actually use. You cannot use numbers, symbols (except hyphens, apostrophes, and periods in certain positions), or repeated characters. The platform also does not allow all-caps names, names that look like a URL or email address, or names that appear to be a business or organization.

Your name can include spaces, accents, and characters from non-English alphabets. If you go by a single name, a nickname, or a name that differs from your legal name, Facebook will accept it as long as it follows these basic rules. The name you choose should be something people actually call you, not a random string of characters.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes. If you just changed your name, you will not be able to change it again until 60 days have passed from the date of your last change. This limit applies whether you are changing to a completely new name or reverting to a previous one.

If you try to change your name before the 60 days are up, Facebook will show you a message telling you when you will be able to make your next change. There is no way to bypass this waiting period, so if you need to correct a typo or change your mind, you will have to wait.

How long it takes for your new name to appear everywhere

Your new name shows up on your profile almost immediately after you confirm the change. However, it may take a few minutes to appear in all the places across Facebook where your name is displayed — in comments, posts, messages, and in your friends' activity feeds. This delay is normal and does not mean anything went wrong.

If your new name does not appear after several hours, try logging out and logging back in, or clearing your browser cache. On mobile, try closing the app completely and reopening it. If the name still does not show up, you can contact Facebook through the Help Center, though response times vary.

Changing your name on Facebook if you have a business page

Your personal profile name and your business page name are separate. Changing your personal name does not affect any business pages you manage. To change a business page name, go to the page, click Settings in the top menu, select General, and look for the Page Name field. Business pages have different rules — you can change the page name more frequently than you can change your personal name, though Facebook may review the change if it looks like you are trying to impersonate another page or business.

If you manage multiple pages, you will need to change each one separately. The 60-day rule applies only to your personal profile, not to pages you administer.

What happens to your old name after you change it

When you change your name, your old name does not stay visible to other people. Your friends will see your new name in their feeds and on your profile. However, Facebook keeps a record of your name history for security and fraud prevention purposes — you can see your own name change history by going to Settings > Personal Information > Name and looking at the "Previous names" section.

If you tagged yourself in old photos or posts under your previous name, those tags will still show your new name. Conversations and messages you had before the change will show your new name when people look back at them, not your old one. This can sometimes be confusing if someone is reading an old conversation and does not realize you have changed your name since then.

Troubleshooting if your name change is rejected

If Facebook rejects your name change, it is usually because the name you entered does not follow their naming rules. Common reasons for rejection include using numbers, using all capital letters, including symbols Facebook does not allow, or using a name that looks like a business or URL. Check that your name does not have any of these issues and try again.

If you believe your name follows Facebook's rules but was still rejected, you can appeal the decision through the Help Center. Go to Settings > Help & Support > Report a Problem, describe what happened, and Facebook will review it. The review process can take several days, and there is no may provide the decision will be reversed, but it is worth trying if you think the rejection was a mistake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook name more than once?

Yes, but you have to wait 60 days between changes. After you change your name, you cannot change it again until 60 days have passed. This applies whether you are changing to a new name or reverting to an old one.

Will my friends be notified when I change my name?

Your friends will see your new name in their activity feeds and on your profile, but they do not receive a separate notification about the change. Some people may notice the change if they see your name pop up in their feed, but there is no alert sent to them.

Can I use a fake name or nickname on Facebook?

Facebook allows you to use a nickname or name you go by, as long as it is something you actually use in everyday life. You cannot use a completely made-up name that does not represent how people know you, and Facebook may ask you to change it if they believe it violates their naming policy.

What if I made a typo when I changed my name?

You will have to wait 60 days before you can change it again. There is no way to bypass this waiting period. If the typo is minor, you might consider leaving it until the 60 days are up, or you can contact Facebook through the Help Center to explain the situation, though they rarely make exceptions.

Does changing my name on Facebook change it anywhere else?

No. Changing your name on Facebook only affects your Facebook profile. It does not change your name on Instagram, WhatsApp, or any other platform. You would need to change your name separately on each service if you use them.