Change your name in Facebook settings in under two minutes

Open Facebook on any browser or the mobile app, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then find Personal Information. Click or tap next to your name and type the new name you want to use. Facebook will ask you to confirm the change, and it takes effect when ready. You can change your name as often as you want, though Facebook may flag frequent changes as suspicious.

The name you enter here is what appears on your profile, in comments, and when you send messages. It does not have to be your legal name — Facebook allows nicknames, stage names, and names in any language or script. The only restriction is that you cannot use numbers, symbols, or characters that are not part of a real alphabet or writing system.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Facebook name change takes effect when ready and is visible to everyone who can see your profile.
  • You can use a nickname, stage name, or name in any language — it does not have to match your legal name or government ID.
  • Facebook limits how often you can change your name; if you change it too frequently, you may have to wait before changing it again.
  • If Facebook rejects your name as fake or suspicious, you can appeal the decision by uploading a document that shows the name you want to use.

Where to find the name change option

On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook and select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information. You will see your current name with an Edit button next to it. Click that button to open the name field.

On the Facebook mobile app, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu) in the bottom right corner, scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll to the Personal Information section and tap next to your name. The steps are the same from there.

What name format Facebook will accept

Facebook accepts most real names, including nicknames, stage names, maiden names, and names written in any language. You can include accents, diacritics, and special characters that are part of actual alphabets — for example, é, ñ, ü, or characters from Arabic, Chinese, or Cyrillic scripts all work fine.

Facebook will reject names that contain numbers, punctuation marks (except hyphens and apostrophes in the right places), or symbols. It will also reject names that look like they are trying to impersonate a public figure or brand — for example, you cannot use "Facebook Official" or "Mark Zuckerberg" as your name. If you want to use a name that includes a hyphen or apostrophe, make sure it is in a position where it would actually appear in a real name, like "Mary-Jane" or "O'Brien".

How often you can change your name

Facebook does not publish an exact limit, but you can typically change your name once every 60 days. If you try to change it more frequently than that, Facebook will tell you to wait before making another change. The timer resets from the date of your last change, not from when you tried to change it again.

If you change your name very frequently over a short period — for example, five times in a week — Facebook may flag your account as suspicious and temporarily prevent further changes. This is a safety measure to prevent account takeovers. If this happens to you, wait at least a week before trying again, and avoid making multiple changes in quick succession.

What to do if Facebook says your name is fake

Facebook has automated systems that flag names that look suspicious or fake. Common reasons for rejection include names that are too short, names that look like they are made of random characters, or names that match known impersonation patterns. If your name is rejected, Facebook will show you a message explaining why and give you the option to appeal.

To appeal, tap or click Request Review. Facebook will ask you to upload a photo of a document that shows the name you want to use — a driver's license, passport, birth certificate, or other government ID works. The document does not have to be current, and Facebook will not keep a copy after the review. A person will look at your appeal within a few days and either approve the name or explain why it cannot be used.

How your name change affects your privacy and tags

When you change your name, it updates everywhere on Facebook — your profile, comments, messages, and any posts you have made. People who have you as a friend will see the new name in their friends list and in notifications. If someone has tagged you in a photo or post, the tag will show your new name, not the old one.

Your name change does not affect your privacy settings. If your profile was private before the change, it stays private. If you were visible to friends only, you stay visible to friends only. The change is purely cosmetic and does not reset any of your privacy controls or who can see your posts.

Changing your name back or using a different name for different purposes

You can change your name back to what it was before, but you will have to wait 60 days from your last change. If you want to use different names for different purposes — for example, a professional name for work contacts and a personal nickname for friends — Facebook does not support multiple profiles with different names on the same account. You would need to create a separate account for each name, though Facebook's rules require that each account use a name you actually go by.

If you have changed your name and want to go back, straightforward follow the same steps: go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, and enter your old name. You will see the 60-day waiting period message if you have changed it recently, but once the time has passed, you can change it again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my name on Facebook change my email address or username?

No. Your email address and Facebook username (the part that appears in your profile URL) are separate from your display name. Changing your name only changes what people see when they look at your profile or read your comments. Your login email and username stay the same.

Can I use a fake name or nickname on Facebook?

Yes. Facebook allows nicknames, stage names, and any name you actually go by, even if it is not your legal name. The name just has to be something you use in real life, not a random string of characters or an obvious impersonation of someone else.

What happens to old posts and comments when I change my name?

Your new name appears on all your old posts and comments automatically. People viewing your profile history will see your new name throughout, not the old one. There is no way to keep your old name on older posts while using a new name going forward.

If I change my name, will my friends get a notification?

Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your name. They will see the new name the next time they visit your profile or see you in their feed, but there is no alert telling them the change happened.

How long does it take for a name change to show up everywhere on Facebook?

The change is usually when ready on your profile and in new posts or comments. It may take a few minutes to update in search results, notifications, and other places where your name appears, but it is typically done within an hour.