Change your name directly in the Facebook app settings

Open the Facebook app on your phone and tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll to the Personal Information section and tap Name. You'll see your current name displayed.

Tap the name field to edit it. Facebook lets you change your name to anything, but the platform does monitor for patterns — if you change it too frequently or use characters that look like spam, Facebook may temporarily lock the feature. Type your new name exactly as you want it to appear, then tap Review Change at the bottom of the screen.

Facebook will show you a preview of how your new name appears across the platform. Tap Save Changes to confirm. The change takes effect when ready on your profile and in messages, comments, and posts going forward.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name through the app by going to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Name.
  • Facebook allows name changes at any time, but changing your name repeatedly in a short period may trigger a temporary lock on the feature.
  • Your new name appears when ready across your profile, messages, and all your activity once you save the change.
  • If you've recently changed your name, you may need to wait 60 days before changing it again, depending on Facebook's current policies.
  • The name you enter should match what you use in real life, though Facebook does not verify this — the platform relies on user reports to flag suspicious names.

What happens to your old name after you change it

Your previous name does not appear on your profile once you change it. However, people who knew you under your old name can still search for you by that name and find your profile — Facebook's search function indexes past names. Your friends' message threads and old comments you made will show your new name, not the old one.

If you want to prevent people from finding you by a former name, you have limited options within the app itself. The best approach is to adjust your privacy settings so that only friends can search for you by name. Go to Settings & Privacy, tap Settings, scroll to Privacy, and tap Who can look you up using the phone number or email you provided? Set this to Friends or No one depending on your preference.

When Facebook locks your name change feature

If you change your name more than once every 60 days, Facebook will temporarily prevent you from changing it again. This lock typically lasts 60 days from your most recent change. The restriction exists to prevent account takeovers and spam — if someone gains unauthorized access to your account, frequent name changes are often one of the first signs.

If you're locked out of changing your name, you'll see a message in the Name settings that tells you when you can change it next. You cannot bypass this waiting period through the app. If you believe your account has been compromised and need to change your name urgently, you can report the issue through Facebook's help center, though response times vary.

Using a different name format or special characters

Facebook accepts most letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes in names. If you use a name with accented characters (like é, ñ, or ü), the app will accept it. However, Facebook's system flags names that contain mostly numbers, repeated characters, or symbols that look like spam — for example, "X X X X" or "User123456789" may be rejected or flagged for review.

If your name contains characters from non-Latin alphabets (Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, and others), Facebook accepts these without issue. The platform is designed to support names from around the world. If you submit a name and Facebook rejects it, the app will show an error message explaining why — usually because it violates the name policy or looks like spam.

Changing your name on the Facebook website instead

If you're having trouble changing your name in the app, you can make the same change on the Facebook website using a phone browser or computer. Go to facebook.com, log in, and click your profile picture in the top right. Click Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Under Personal Information, click Name and follow the same steps as the app.

Some users find the website version more reliable if the app is acting slowly or showing errors. The change syncs across both the app and website when ready — you do not need to log out and back in. If you change your name on the website, it will appear updated in the app within a few minutes.

What to do if your name change is rejected

If Facebook rejects your name change, the app will display a specific reason. The most common reasons are: the name looks like spam or contains mostly numbers, the name violates Facebook's policies, or you've changed your name too recently. Read the error message carefully — it usually tells you exactly what the problem is.

If you believe the rejection was a mistake, you can appeal through Facebook's help center. Go to Settings & Privacy, tap Help & Support, then search for "name change rejected." Facebook will walk you through submitting an appeal with more information about your name. Appeals typically take several days to a week, and Facebook will notify you of the decision through a notification in the app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook name to something completely different from my real name?

Yes. Facebook does not require you to use your legal name — you can use a nickname, stage name, or any other name you choose. However, if you change your name repeatedly or use a name that looks like spam, Facebook may flag your account for review or temporarily lock the name change feature.

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

No. Your friends will not receive a notification that you changed your name. They will straightforward see your new name the next time they visit your profile or see your activity. Some people may not notice the change for weeks.

How long does it take for my new name to show up everywhere on Facebook?

Your new name appears on your profile and in new activity when ready. However, it may take a few minutes to update in search results, old comments, and messages. If you still see your old name in some places after 10 minutes, refresh the app or log out and back in.

Can I change my name back to what it was before?

Yes, but you'll be subject to the same 60-day waiting period. If you changed your name a week ago and want to change it back, you'll need to wait about 53 more days before Facebook allows another change.

What if someone else is using my name on Facebook?

You can report the account to Facebook as impersonation. Go to their profile, tap the three dots in the top right, and select Report. Choose It's pretending to be someone and follow the steps. Facebook will review the account, though the process can take several days.