How to change your name on Facebook

You can change the name displayed on your Facebook profile from your account settings. Facebook lets you change your name once every 60 days, and the change takes effect immediately across your profile, posts, and comments. The process takes about two minutes and works the same way on desktop, mobile web, and the Facebook app.

To change your name, open Facebook and go to the menu in the top right corner (three horizontal lines on mobile, the down arrow on desktop). Select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal information. Find the Name field, click Edit, type your new name, and click Review change. Facebook will show you how your new name will appear, then ask you to confirm. Click Save changes and you are done.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name once every 60 days, and the new name shows up immediately on your profile and all your posts.
  • The name change happens through Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name, and takes about two minutes.
  • Facebook will preview how your new name looks before you confirm the change.
  • If you change your name and then want to change it again within 60 days, Facebook will not let you until the waiting period is over.

What name format Facebook accepts

Facebook has rules about what characters and words it will accept in a name. Your name must use letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, or apostrophes — no symbols like @, #, or &. Facebook also blocks names that look like they are trying to impersonate someone else, advertise a business, or use all capital letters.

If you use a name that does not match Facebook's rules, the system will reject it when you try to save. You will see an error message telling you the name does not meet their standards. Try removing numbers, symbols, or unusual formatting and submit again. If you have a legitimate reason for an unusual name — such as a cultural name with characters Facebook does not normally accept — you can contact Facebook support to request an exception, though approval is not may provide.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

Facebook enforces a 60-day cooldown between name changes to prevent abuse and impersonation. Once you change your name, you cannot change it again for 60 days, even if you made a typo or changed your mind. The timer starts the moment you confirm the change, not when you first click edit.

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. There is no way to bypass this waiting period. Plan your name change carefully, and double-check the spelling before you confirm.

Changing your name versus changing your username

Your name and your username are two different things on Facebook. Your name is what appears on your profile and next to your posts — this is what you change through Personal information settings. Your username is the custom URL that lets people find you directly, like facebook.com/yourname.

You can change your username as often as you want (though Facebook requires you to wait 14 days between changes after your first username). The username change is separate from the name change and does not count against your 60-day limit. If you want to change both, you can do them independently without affecting each other.

What happens to your old name after you change it

When you change your name, your old name disappears from your profile immediately. People who visit your profile will see only your new name. However, your old posts, comments, and messages still show your new name — Facebook does not keep a record of your previous names visible to other users.

Your friends will see the name change in their activity feed if they have notifications turned on. If you are concerned about privacy or want to change your name without drawing attention, there is no way to hide the change from your friends, but you can control who sees your profile updates through your privacy settings.

If Facebook rejects your name change

Facebook rejects name changes for specific reasons: the name contains symbols or numbers that break their rules, the name looks like it is impersonating someone, or the name appears to be advertising. When this happens, Facebook shows you an error message explaining why the change was blocked.

To fix this, remove any numbers, symbols, or unusual capitalization and try again. If your name is legitimate but Facebook still blocks it — for example, if you have a cultural name with characters outside the standard alphabet — you can report the issue to Facebook. Go to the name change screen, look for a link that says something like "Need help?" or "Report this issue", and explain your situation. Facebook support will review your request, though responses can take several days and are not may provide to result in approval.

Changing your name on the Facebook app versus desktop

The process is the same whether you use the Facebook app, mobile web, or desktop, but the menu locations look slightly different. On the app, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right, then scroll down and tap Settings and privacy. On desktop, click the down arrow in the top right corner and select Settings and privacy. From there, the steps are identical: go to Settings, then Personal information, then Name.

If you change your name on one device, the change syncs across all your devices within a few minutes. You do not need to make the change separately on your phone and computer.

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. Once you change your name, you must wait 60 days before you can change it again. There is no way to bypass this limit, so make sure your new name is correct before you confirm the change.

What if I made a typo in my new name?

If you made a typo and want to fix it immediately, you will have to wait 60 days from when you made the change. During that time, your profile will show the name with the typo. After 60 days pass, you can change it to the correct spelling. To avoid this, carefully review your new name before clicking save.

Will my friends be notified when I change my name?

Your friends may see the name change in their activity feed if they have notifications turned on, but Facebook does not send a direct notification about name changes. The change is visible on your profile and in your posts, but it is not announced the way a new profile picture or relationship status change might be.

Can I change my name back to my old name?

Yes, you can change your name back to your previous name, but you still have to wait 60 days from your last change. The 60-day rule applies to any name change, whether you are changing to something new or reverting to an old name.

Does changing my name affect my Facebook username?

No. Your name and username are separate. Changing your name does not change your username, and you can update your username independently without affecting your name. You can change your username every 14 days, which is different from the 60-day name change limit.