How to change your Facebook name

You can change the name on your Facebook profile through your settings menu. Open Facebook, click the downward arrow in the top right corner, select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal information, then click next to your name to edit it. Type your new name and click Review change, then Save changes. The change takes effect immediately.

Facebook allows you to change your name once every 60 days. If you try to change it more often, you'll see a message telling you when you can change it again. The name you enter must follow Facebook's name standards — it should be the name you go by in everyday life, not a business name, nickname, or string of numbers and symbols.

If you're changing your name because of marriage, divorce, or another legal change, you don't need to provide documents. Facebook doesn't verify legal names. However, if your account has been flagged for using a name that doesn't follow their standards, you may need to wait longer between changes or provide additional information.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name by going to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information and editing the name field.
  • Facebook limits name changes to once every 60 days, and you'll see a countdown if you try to change it sooner.
  • Your name must be something you use in real life — Facebook rejects names that are all numbers, symbols, or business names.
  • You don't need legal documents to change your name on Facebook, even if the change is due to marriage or divorce.

What names Facebook will and won't accept

Facebook's name policy is designed to keep the platform recognizable and prevent impersonation. Your name should be the one people know you by — your first and last name, or however you're commonly called. You can include middle names, nicknames in parentheses, or accents and special characters that are part of your actual name.

Facebook will reject names that are all numbers, all symbols, or that look like a business or brand. Names like "123456," "!!!," "McDonald's Restaurant," or "John's Plumbing" won't be accepted. If you run a business, you should create a Facebook Page for it instead of using a business name as your personal profile name.

If you've been using a name that doesn't follow these rules and Facebook has flagged your account, you may see a message asking you to change it. You'll typically have a few days to update your name before Facebook takes action. Changing to a name that follows the standards usually resolves the issue.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

Once you change your name, you have to wait 60 days before you can change it again. This limit applies whether you're changing from "John Smith" to "Jon Smith" or making a completely different change. If you try to change your name before the 60 days are up, Facebook will show you exactly when you'll be able to change it next.

The 60-day rule has no exceptions — Facebook doesn't waive it for legal name changes, corrections, or any other reason. If you made a typo or changed your mind, you'll need to wait the full period. Plan your name change carefully if you know you might want to adjust it soon after.

Changing your name on other Facebook services

Your Facebook profile name is separate from your Instagram name and your Messenger display name. If you have an Instagram account linked to your Facebook profile, changing your Facebook name won't automatically change your Instagram name — you'll need to update Instagram separately through its own settings.

Messenger uses the name from your Facebook profile by default, so when you change your Facebook name, your Messenger name updates automatically. However, you can set a custom Messenger name that's different from your Facebook name if you want. To do this in Messenger, tap your profile picture, select Edit profile, and change your display name there.

If you use Facebook for business purposes through a business Page, that Page has its own name separate from your personal profile. Changing your personal name won't affect your business Page name.

What happens to your old name after you change it

When you change your Facebook name, your old name disappears from your profile. People who search for your old name won't find you — they'll only find you if they search your new name or your username. Your friends' messages and past conversations still show your new name; Facebook doesn't preserve a record of your old name in those chats.

Your old name won't appear on posts you made before the change, either. If you posted something under "John Smith" and then changed your name to "Jon Smith," the post will show "Jon Smith" as the author. This applies to comments, likes, and any other activity on your profile.

If you're concerned about privacy or want people to find you by a different name, you can also set a username (a custom URL like facebook.com/yourname). Your username is separate from your display name and can be changed less frequently, but it gives you another way to control how people search for you.

If Facebook won't let you change your name

If you see an error message when you try to change your name, the most common reason is that you've already changed it within the last 60 days. Check the message — it will tell you the exact date you can change it again. If the message says something else, your name may not follow Facebook's standards.

If your account has been flagged for using a name that doesn't meet their policy, Facebook may require you to change it to something that does. In this case, you might see a message asking you to update your name, and you'll have a deadline to do so. Changing to a real name that follows the standards should resolve the issue.

If you're still unable to change your name after checking the 60-day limit and confirming your name follows the standards, you can report the problem to Facebook. Go to Settings > Help and support > Report a problem and describe what's happening. Facebook's support team can look into account-specific issues, though response times vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook name to a nickname or stage name?

Facebook's policy requires your name to be something you use in everyday life. Nicknames are allowed if they're actually how people know you, but stage names, brand names, or purely fictional names won't be accepted. If you want to use a stage name professionally, create a Facebook Page for your work instead of using it on your personal profile.

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

You'll have to wait the full 60 days before you can change it again. If the typo is minor, you might consider leaving it until the waiting period is over. If it's a significant error, you can contact Facebook support to explain the situation, though they typically don't make exceptions to the 60-day rule.

Does changing my name on Facebook change it on Instagram?

No. Your Instagram name is separate from your Facebook name, even if your accounts are linked. You'll need to change your Instagram name through Instagram's own settings if you want them to match. The change won't sync automatically between the two platforms.

Can I use special characters or accents in my Facebook name?

Yes, if they're part of your actual name. Accents, hyphens, and apostrophes that are genuinely part of how you spell your name are allowed. Random symbols or decorative characters won't be accepted. Facebook checks whether the characters you use are standard for real names in various languages.

Will my old name still show up in Google search results?

Google indexes Facebook profiles, so if your profile was public and searchable, Google may have cached your old name. It can take time for Google to update its index after you change your name. You can request that Google update its cache by using Google Search Console, but Facebook itself doesn't control how quickly search engines pick up the change.