The steps to change your Facebook profile name

Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal information. Next to your name, click Edit. Type your new name in the fields provided — you can change your first name, middle name, last name, or all three. Click Review change, then Save changes.

Facebook will ask you to enter your password to confirm the change. Type it in and click Continue. Your new name appears on your profile immediately, though it may take a few minutes to show up everywhere on the platform.

If you are on a mobile phone, the path is slightly different. Open the Facebook app, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right (Android) or top right (iPhone), scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then Settings. Tap Personal information, then Name. Edit your name and tap Review change, then Save.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name through Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Edit, then type your new name and save.
  • Facebook requires you to enter your password to confirm any name change for security reasons.
  • Your new name shows on your profile right away, though it may take a few minutes to appear in all places across Facebook.
  • You can change your name once every 60 days; if you try to change it again too soon, Facebook will tell you when you can make the next change.
  • The name you enter must follow Facebook's naming rules — it cannot be all numbers, all symbols, or contain certain characters like @ or +.

What names Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook has rules about what counts as a valid name. Your name cannot be entirely numbers, cannot be all symbols or special characters, and cannot include characters like @, +, or underscores in ways that look like a username. You also cannot use HTML code, URLs, or repeated punctuation marks.

Your name should represent how you go by in everyday life. Facebook may reject names that look like business names, hashtags, or made-up character names if they do not follow standard naming patterns. If your name is rejected, Facebook will show you an error message explaining why. You can then edit it and try again.

If you have a name that is genuinely unusual or from a culture with different naming conventions, you can still use it — Facebook's rules are about format, not about what names are "normal." If you run into a rejection that seems wrong, you can report it to Facebook through the help center.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

Once you change your name, you cannot change it again for 60 days. If you try to make another change before that time is up, Facebook will show you a message telling you exactly when you can change it next. This rule applies whether you are changing your name slightly (like fixing a spelling) or changing it completely.

The 60-day timer starts from the moment you save your most recent name change, not from when you tried to change it. If you made a mistake in your new name, you will have to wait the full 60 days before you can fix it, so double-check your spelling before you save.

How your old name appears to other people

When you change your name, people who are your friends see the new name immediately on your profile and in their feed. The change does not create a notification — they simply see your new name the next time they look at your profile or see a post from you.

Your old name does not stay visible anywhere on your profile or in your activity. If someone searches for your old name, they will not find you by that name anymore. However, if you had posts, photos, or comments under your old name, those posts still exist — they just show your new name as the author.

Changing your username versus your profile name

Your profile name and your username are two different things. Your profile name is what appears on your profile and in posts — this is what you change through Settings and personal information. Your username is the custom URL that appears in your Facebook profile link (like facebook.com/yourname).

You can change your username separately through Settings > Personal information > Username. Usernames have their own rules: they must be at least 5 characters, can only contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, and cannot be changed more than once every 60 days either. Many people leave their username as the default Facebook assigns and only change their profile name.

What happens if Facebook locks your account after a name change

Occasionally Facebook flags a name change as suspicious and temporarily locks your account. This usually happens if you change your name multiple times in a short period, use a name that violates their policies, or if the system detects unusual activity on your account. When this happens, you will see a message asking you to confirm your identity.

Facebook will ask you to upload a photo of your ID or answer security questions to prove you are the account owner. Once you verify your identity, your account unlocks and your name change goes through. This process usually takes a few hours to a day. If you cannot verify your identity, you can contact Facebook's support team through the help center to explain your situation.

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. Once the 60-day period is over, you can change your name to anything, including your previous name. The timer resets each time you make a change, so if you change your name and then want to change it again, you will wait another 60 days from the second change.

Will my friends get a notification when I change my name?

No, Facebook does not send notifications when you change your name. Your friends will see your new name when they visit your profile or see your posts, but they will not receive an alert about the change. If you want people to know about the change, you can post about it yourself.

Can I use special characters or accents in my name?

You can use accents and diacritical marks that are part of standard names in different languages — for example, é, ñ, ü, or ç. You cannot use decorative symbols like hearts, stars, or emojis. If your name genuinely includes an accent or mark, Facebook will accept it.

What if I want to use a nickname instead of my legal name?

Facebook allows you to use a nickname, stage name, or any name you go by in everyday life. You do not have to use your legal name. However, the name must follow Facebook's format rules and should represent how people actually know you, not a random string of characters.

Can I have different names on Facebook and Instagram?

Yes. Facebook and Instagram are separate platforms with separate profiles, even though Facebook owns Instagram. You can change your name on each one independently. Changes to your Facebook name do not affect your Instagram profile name, and vice versa.