You can change your Facebook name directly in your settings, and Facebook lets you do this once every 60 days

To change your name on Facebook, go to the menu in the top right corner of your screen (the three horizontal lines on mobile, or the downward arrow on desktop). Select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, click "Personal information." Next to your name, click "Edit," type your new name, and click "Review change." Facebook will show you how your new name appears to others. Click "Save changes" when you're ready.

Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes. If you just changed your name, you won't be able to change it again until 60 days have passed. This limit exists to prevent account takeovers and impersonation — if someone gains temporary access to your account, they can't when ready rebrand it to hide their activity.

Your name change takes effect when ready and appears to everyone who can see your profile. People who have you as a friend will see the change in their feed. If you change your mind within a few minutes, you can change it back right away — the 60-day timer only starts after your most recent successful change.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Personal information, and click Edit next to your name to make the change.
  • Facebook requires you to wait 60 days between name changes, so choose carefully if you've recently updated your name.
  • Your new name appears to everyone when ready, including people who aren't your friends if your profile is public.
  • If your account is compromised and someone changes your name, you can change it back when ready without waiting the 60 days.

What names Facebook will and won't accept

Facebook has rules about what characters and formats it allows in names. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. You cannot use symbols like @, #, $, or &. Facebook also rejects names that are entirely numbers, names that look like email addresses, and names that contain repeated characters (like "Jooohn" instead of "John").

Facebook will reject a name if it appears to be a business name, a URL, or a fake identity designed to impersonate someone else. The platform uses automated checks and human review to catch these. If your name is rejected, Facebook will tell you which rule it violates. You can then edit your name and try again when ready — rejection doesn't trigger the 60-day waiting period.

Changing your name on other platforms tied to your Facebook account

If you use your Facebook account to sign into other apps and websites, changing your Facebook name does not automatically change your name on those platforms. Each service stores your profile information separately. For example, if you logged into Spotify with Facebook, your Spotify display name stays the same until you change it directly in Spotify's settings.

Some apps pull your name from Facebook only once, when you first sign up. Others check your Facebook name every time you log in and update automatically. There's no way to know which approach an app uses without testing it. If you want your name consistent across all platforms, you'll need to change it in each app's settings individually.

How to change your name if you can't access your account

If someone else has changed your Facebook name without your permission, or if you can't log in to change it yourself, you can report the issue to Facebook. Go to the Facebook Help Center, search for "hacked account," and follow the steps to find your account. Facebook will walk you through confirming your identity and regaining access.

Once you regain access, you can change your name back when ready without waiting the 60 days. Facebook recognizes that unauthorized changes are a sign of account compromise and removes the waiting period in these cases. If you're locked out and can't complete the recovery process, you can contact Facebook's support team through the Help Center for additional information.

Why you might want to change your name and what to consider first

People change their Facebook names for many reasons: after marriage or divorce, to use a nickname instead of a legal name, to correct a misspelling, or to add a middle name they previously left out. Before you change your name, think about who will see it. If your profile is public, everyone on Facebook will see your new name, not just your friends. If you're trying to distance yourself from an old identity, a name change alone won't hide your past posts or photos.

Changing your name doesn't change your username (the part that appears in your profile URL). If you want a different username, that's a separate change you can make once every 60 days as well. Your username is what people use to search for you and tag you in posts, so changing it might make you harder to find for people who know your old username.

Changing your name on a business or creator account

If you manage a Facebook Page (a business, public figure, or community page), changing the Page name works differently than changing your personal profile name. Go to your Page, click "Settings" in the top right, select "Edit Page Info," and change the name there. Pages have different rules than personal profiles — you can change a Page name more frequently, and the name can include business-style formatting.

If you have a creator account or a verified profile, name changes may take longer to process because Facebook reviews them manually. You might see a delay of a few hours to a day before your new name appears everywhere. During this time, your old name may still show in some places while the new one appears in others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook name more than once every 60 days?

No. Facebook enforces a strict 60-day waiting period between name changes. The only exception is if your account was compromised and someone changed your name without permission — in that case, you can change it back when ready. If you need to change your name again before 60 days have passed, you'll have to wait.

Will changing my name affect my friends list or messages?

No. Your friends list, messages, and all your posts stay exactly the same. The only thing that changes is how your name appears on your profile and in other people's feeds. Old messages and comments you made will show your new name, not your old one.

What if Facebook rejects my name change?

Facebook will tell you why it rejected your name. Common reasons are using symbols, using only numbers, or appearing to be a business name or fake account. Edit your name to follow the rules and try again. Rejection doesn't count as a name change, so you can try as many times as you need without waiting 60 days.

Can I use a nickname or stage name instead of my legal name?

Yes. Facebook allows nicknames, stage names, and names that don't match your legal documents. The platform only requires that your name be authentic to how you're known — it doesn't require legal documentation. If you use a stage name professionally or go by a nickname, you can use that on your profile.

Does changing my name hide my old posts and photos?

No. Your old posts and photos stay visible with your new name. Anyone who looks at your profile will see your entire history under your new name. If you want to hide old content, you'll need to delete it or change its privacy settings separately.