How to change your name on Facebook
You can change the name on your Facebook profile through your settings menu. Facebook lets you change your name once every 60 days. The process takes a few minutes and does not require you to create a new account or lose your history, photos, or friends.
The name you enter must follow Facebook's naming rules: it should be the name you go by in everyday life, use only letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes, and cannot include symbols, numbers used as letters, or repeated characters. Facebook reviews name changes and may reject ones that look like fake accounts, business names, or attempts to evade a previous block.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your Facebook name once every 60 days through Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information.
- Your new name must follow Facebook's naming rules and cannot include symbols, emojis, or numbers used as letters.
- If Facebook rejects your name change, you can appeal the decision or wait 30 days and try again.
- Changing your name does not affect your username, email, phone number, or any of your posts and photos.
- If you are locked out of your account or cannot access settings, you may need to reset your password first.
Steps to change your name on Facebook
Open Facebook on a computer or phone and log into your account. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner and select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right, scroll down, and tap Settings & Privacy, then Settings.
In Settings, look for Personal Information on the left side (computer) or scroll down to find it (phone). Click or tap Personal Information, then click or tap the pencil icon next to your name. Type your new name in the box that appears. You can change your first name, last name, or both. Click or tap Review Change to see how it will appear, then click or tap Save Changes.
Facebook will show you a confirmation message. Your new name takes effect immediately and appears on your profile, in comments, and in messages. If you see an error message, read it carefully — it usually tells you which part of your name does not follow the rules.
What Facebook's naming rules mean
Facebook requires names to be what you actually go by. This means your legal name, a nickname you use regularly, or a name you are known by in your community — but not a business name, a made-up character name, or a name designed to look like a famous person or brand. If your name is unusual or includes characters Facebook does not recognize, you may need to contact Facebook to explain.
Allowed characters are letters (any language), numbers, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes. Not allowed are symbols like @, #, !, &, or emojis. Numbers cannot be used as letters — for example, "M1ke" instead of "Mike" will be rejected. You cannot repeat characters many times in a row, like "Jooooohn" or "A...A".
If your name includes a space, hyphen, or apostrophe as part of how you actually use it — like "Mary-Jane" or "O'Brien" — Facebook will accept it. If you have a name from a language that uses different characters, Facebook usually accepts those as long as they are real letters in that language.
When Facebook rejects a name change
If Facebook rejects your name change, you will see a message explaining why. Common reasons are that the name looks fake, breaks the naming rules, or matches a name Facebook has blocked for violating its policies. Read the message carefully to understand which rule was broken.
If you believe your name is real and follows the rules, you can appeal. Look for an Appeal button or link in the rejection message. Tap or click it and explain why your name should be allowed — for example, if it is your legal name, a nickname you are known by, or a name from your culture or language. Facebook reviews appeals within a few days.
If you do not see an appeal option or your appeal is denied, wait 30 days and try again. Sometimes Facebook's system flags names incorrectly, and a second attempt succeeds. You can also try entering your name in a slightly different format — for example, using a middle initial or removing a middle name — as long as it is still a name you actually use.
The 60-day waiting period between changes
After you change your name, you cannot change it again for 60 days. This rule applies whether your change was approved or rejected. If you made a typo or changed your mind, you have to wait the full 60 days before you can try again.
The 60-day timer starts from the date you last changed your name, not from when Facebook approved it. If you changed your name on January 15, you cannot change it again until March 16. If you are locked out of your account or forget your password during this period, resetting your password does not reset the timer — you still cannot change your name until 60 days have passed.
What does not change when you change your name
Your username (the part of your profile URL that looks like facebook.com/yourname) stays the same unless you change it separately. Your email address, phone number, and password do not change. All your posts, photos, videos, and messages stay on your account and remain visible to the people who could see them before.
Your friends list does not change. People who had you added will still have you added, and your name will update on their friends list automatically. Comments you made on other people's posts will show your new name. Messages you sent in the past will show your new name when people open the conversation.
If you cannot access your settings to change your name
If you cannot find the Settings menu or Personal Information section, you may be logged out or using an older version of the Facebook app. Log out completely and log back in. If you are on a phone, close the Facebook app completely and reopen it. If you are on a computer, try a different browser.
If you cannot remember your password, go to facebook.com and click Forgot Password? Enter your email or phone number. Facebook will send you a link to reset your password. Once you reset it and log back in, you should be able to access Settings and change your name.
If your account has been locked or disabled, you will not be able to change your name until you regain access. Facebook will usually send you an email explaining why and what you need to do. Follow the steps in that email to unlock your account, then return to Settings to change your name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my name more than once every 60 days?
No. Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes. If you need to change your name again before 60 days have passed, you will see a message telling you when you can make the next change. The only exception is if Facebook support manually resets your timer, which happens rarely and only if you contact them directly with a specific reason.
Will my friends see that I changed my name?
Your friends will see your new name on your profile and in comments and messages going forward. Facebook does not send a notification saying you changed your name, but observant friends may notice. Your old name does not appear anywhere on your account after the change is complete.
Can I use special characters or emojis in my name?
No. Facebook only allows letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes. Emojis, symbols, and special characters like @, #, or ! will cause your name change to be rejected. If your real name includes characters from another language or alphabet, those are usually allowed as long as they are actual letters in that language.
What if my name is a stage name or nickname I actually use?
Facebook allows stage names, nicknames, and names from your culture or community as long as you actually use them in everyday life. If Facebook rejects your stage name, use the appeal option to explain that it is the name you go by. Include details like where you use it or why it is your known name.
Do I need to change my username too?
No. Your username and your display name are separate. Changing your display name does not change your username (the facebook.com/yourname part of your profile URL). If you want to change your username, you can do that separately in Settings under Username, but you can only change it once every 60 days as well.