The fastest way to change your Facebook name

Go to your Facebook settings, select "Personal Information," then click "Name" and type your new name into the two fields provided. Facebook will show you how your name appears to others. Click "Review Change" to see it, then "Save Changes" to confirm. The change takes effect immediately, though it may take a few minutes to show up everywhere on the platform.

You can change your name on Facebook as often as you want, but there is a catch: if you change it, you cannot change it again for 60 days. Facebook enforces this waiting period to prevent harassment and account takeovers. Plan your change carefully if you know you might need a different name soon.

Your new name does not have to match your legal name. Facebook allows nicknames, stage names, and names in any language or alphabet. However, Facebook's automated systems do flag names that look like they violate community standards — for example, names that appear to be numbers only, or names with excessive symbols. If your name is rejected, Facebook will tell you why and let you try again.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name through Settings > Personal Information > Name, and the change shows up immediately across the platform.
  • Once you change your name, you must wait 60 days before changing it again, so choose carefully if you think you might need a different name soon.
  • Your Facebook name does not have to match your legal name and can be in any language, but names that look like spam or violate community standards will be rejected.
  • If Facebook rejects your name, the system will explain why and let you submit a different one without penalty.

Where to find the name change option on different devices

On a computer, log into Facebook, click the downward arrow in the top right corner, select "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings." On the left sidebar, click "Personal Information." You will see "Name" listed there with your current name displayed. Click on it to edit.

On the Facebook mobile app for iPhone or Android, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right, scroll down and tap "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings." Scroll to "Personal Information" and tap "Name." The process is the same from there — type your new name and save.

If you use Facebook through a web browser on your phone, the desktop steps above will work. Some older versions of the app may have slightly different menu layouts, but "Settings," "Personal Information," and "Name" are always the path.

What happens to your old name and your username

When you change your name on Facebook, your old name disappears from your profile immediately. People who knew you by your old name will see your new name when they visit your profile or see your posts. Your old name does not appear anywhere on your profile after the change.

Changing your name does not change your Facebook username (also called your vanity URL). Your username is the part of your profile link that comes after facebook.com/ — for example, facebook.com/sarah.okonkwo. You can change your username separately through Settings > Personal Information > Username, but you can only change it once every 60 days, just like your name. Many people keep the same username and only change the display name.

People can still find you by your old name in Facebook's search for a short time after you change it, but eventually the old name stops appearing in search results. If you want people to find you by a specific name, make sure it is the one you set as your display name.

If Facebook rejects your name change

Facebook's automated system checks names against its community standards. Names that are rejected typically contain only numbers, excessive punctuation or symbols, or text that looks like spam. If your name is rejected, Facebook shows a message explaining what went wrong — for example, "Names can't contain numbers" or "This name doesn't follow our naming standards."

You can immediately try again with a different name. There is no penalty for a rejected submission, and rejected attempts do not count against your 60-day waiting period. If you believe your name was rejected by mistake — for example, if your legal name genuinely contains numbers or symbols — you can report the issue to Facebook through the Help Center, though response times vary.

Some names that include accents, diacritics, or characters from non-Latin alphabets are accepted without issue. If your name uses these characters and is rejected, try removing them temporarily, then contact Facebook support to ask whether your original name can be restored.

Changing your name after 60 days

After you change your name, Facebook locks you out of changing it again for 60 days. You will see a message in the Name field that says something like "You can change your name again on [date]." That date is exactly 60 days from when you made your last change.

The 60-day timer resets each time you change your name, even if you change it back to a previous name. If you changed your name on January 1, you cannot change it again until March 2 (60 days later), regardless of what name you want to use next.

If you need to change your name before the 60 days are up, you cannot. Facebook does not offer exceptions to this rule, even for legal name changes or safety reasons. If you are in a situation where you need to change your name urgently for safety, contact Facebook's support team to explain your situation — they may be able to help, though there is no may provide.

How your name appears to different people

Your Facebook name appears the same way to everyone who can see your profile. You cannot set different names for different friends or groups. When you change your name, all of your friends, followers, and anyone else who can view your profile will see the new name.

Your name appears on your profile, in comments you make, in posts you share, in messages you send, and in any notifications you generate. If you tag someone in a photo, your name appears on that tag. There is no way to hide your name from certain people while showing it to others.

If your privacy settings restrict who can see your profile, those people will not see your name at all — but anyone who can see your profile will see the same name you set.

Changing your name for a legal name change

If you have legally changed your name and want your Facebook name to match, you can simply change it through Settings > Personal Information > Name. You do not need to provide Facebook with legal documents like a court order or new ID. Facebook takes your word for it.

However, if you have changed your name multiple times recently and Facebook's system flags your account as suspicious, you may be asked to verify your identity. This is rare, but if it happens, Facebook will send you a message explaining what information they need. You may be asked to upload a photo of your ID or answer security questions.

Keep in mind that changing your Facebook name does not change your legal name anywhere else — not with your employer, your bank, government agencies, or any other organization. You will need to update your name with each of those separately if required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook name more than once?

Yes, you can change it as many times as you want, but you must wait 60 days between changes. The 60-day timer starts from the moment you make a change, and it resets each time you change your name again. Plan ahead if you think you might need a different name soon.

Will my friends be notified when I change my name?

Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your name. They will simply see your new name the next time they visit your profile or see your posts. Some people may not notice the change for a while.

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

You can use some special characters, accents, and characters from other alphabets, but not emojis. Facebook rejects names with excessive punctuation or symbols. If your name contains a legitimate special character (like an apostrophe or hyphen) and is rejected, try removing it and contact Facebook support.

What if I want to change my name back to what it was before?

You can change your name back, but you still have to wait 60 days from your last change. Changing your name back to a previous name counts as a new change and resets the 60-day timer. If you changed your name on January 1 and want to change it back on January 15, you cannot — you have to wait until March 2.

Does changing my name affect my Facebook username or profile link?

No. Your username (the part of your profile link after facebook.com/) stays the same when you change your display name. You can change your username separately, but it is a different setting and has its own 60-day waiting period.