The quickest way to change your Facebook name

Go to the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner of your phone, or click the downward arrow in the top right on a computer. Select Settings & privacy, then Settings. Scroll to Personal information and tap or click Name. Type your new name in the fields provided, then tap or click Review change. Facebook will show you how your name appears to others. Confirm by tapping or clicking Save changes.

The entire process takes about two minutes. Your new name shows up immediately to your friends and the public, depending on your privacy settings. You can change your name as often as you want, though Facebook may flag repeated changes within a short time period and ask you to wait before changing again.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name through Settings & privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name on both phone and computer.
  • Facebook allows you to use a first name, middle name, last name, and alternate name field to match how you actually go by your name.
  • Your new name appears immediately to friends and the public, though you can control who sees it through your privacy settings.
  • If you change your name multiple times in a short period, Facebook may temporarily prevent further changes to prevent misuse.

What name format Facebook accepts

Facebook lets you enter a first name, middle name, last name, and an alternate name. You do not have to fill every field — you can use just a first and last name, or add a middle initial or nickname in the middle name space. The alternate name field is useful if you go by a different name professionally or socially than your legal name.

Facebook has rules about what characters and symbols it accepts. You can use letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes. Emojis, all-caps names (unless that is genuinely how you write your name), and names that look like they are trying to impersonate someone else may be rejected. If your name does not go through, Facebook will tell you which part did not work and why.

Changing your name on mobile versus computer

The steps are nearly identical on phone and computer, but the menu locations differ slightly. On an iPhone or Android phone, tap the three-line menu icon at the bottom right of the screen (on older Android versions it may be at the top). On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner next to your profile picture. Both routes lead to the same Settings page.

Some people find it easier to make the change on a computer because the screen is larger and you can see the full preview of how your name will look. On a phone, the preview may be cut off. Either way works — use whichever device is in front of you.

How often you can change your name

Facebook does not set a hard limit on how many times you can change your name, but the platform does monitor for abuse. If you change your name very frequently — for example, multiple times in a single day — Facebook may lock you out of making further changes for a period of time, usually 24 to 48 hours. This is to prevent people from using name changes to evade detection or confuse others.

If you hit this limit, you will see a message telling you to try again later. Wait the specified time and you will be able to change your name again. This rarely happens unless you are testing the system repeatedly.

What happens to your old name after you change it

Your old name disappears from your profile. People who knew you by your previous name will see only the new one when they visit your profile or search for you. Messages you sent before the change still show your old name as the sender, because Facebook does not retroactively change the sender name on old conversations.

Your friends will not receive a notification that you changed your name. They will simply see the new name the next time they look at your profile or see you in their feed. If you want people to know about the change, you can post about it or tell them directly.

Controlling who sees your name

Your name visibility is controlled by your overall profile privacy settings, not by a separate name-specific setting. If your profile is set to public, everyone can see your name. If it is set to friends only, only your friends see it. You can adjust this by going to Settings > Privacy and choosing who can see your profile.

You cannot hide your name from Facebook itself — the platform always knows who you are. You can only control whether other users see it. If you want to use a nickname or alternate name that is very different from your legal name, the alternate name field is the right place for it, and you can set your privacy so only close friends see your full legal name if you prefer.

Troubleshooting a name change that did not go through

If your name change was rejected, Facebook will show you an error message explaining why. Common reasons include using characters Facebook does not accept (like emojis or excessive punctuation), a name that looks like it is impersonating someone else, or a name that violates Facebook's community standards. Read the error message carefully — it usually tells you exactly what to fix.

If you believe your name was rejected unfairly, you can appeal through Facebook's help center. Go to Settings > Help & support > Report a problem and describe what happened. Facebook will review your appeal, though responses can take several days. In the meantime, try adjusting your name slightly — for example, removing extra punctuation or changing capitalization — and attempt the change again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my name back to my old one?

Yes. Go through the same process and enter your previous name. Facebook treats it as a new change, so you can switch back and forth as often as you want, within the limits described above.

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

No. Facebook does not send notifications for name changes. Your friends will see the new name when they visit your profile or see you in their feed, but they will not receive an alert.

Can I use a completely different name than my legal name?

Yes. Facebook allows you to use any name you go by, including nicknames, stage names, or names from a different culture. The alternate name field is designed for this purpose. Just make sure it does not look like you are impersonating someone else.

What if I change my name too many times and get locked out?

Wait 24 to 48 hours and try again. Facebook will unlock your ability to change your name after the waiting period. If you continue to change your name very frequently, Facebook may extend the lockout period.

Does changing my name affect my username or email address?

No. Your username and email address stay the same. Only the display name that appears on your profile changes. People can still find you by your username or email if they have it.