Where to find the name change option

Facebook stores your name in your account settings, separate from your profile picture or bio. To change it, open Facebook on any device, go to the menu in the top right corner (three horizontal lines on mobile, a downward arrow on desktop), and select Settings and privacy, then Settings. Look for the section labeled Personal information on the left side of the page. Click or tap Name, and you will see fields for your first name and last name.

The name you enter here is what appears on your profile, in your posts, and in messages to other people. Facebook requires at least a first name to keep your account active. You can use your legal name, a nickname, a stage name, or any combination — Facebook's rules about what counts as a "real name" have loosened significantly in recent years, though the platform still reserves the right to ask you to change it if it violates their community standards.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Facebook name lives in Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name, and you can change it as often as you want.
  • Facebook allows nicknames, stage names, and names in any language or script, but the name cannot be empty, cannot be only numbers, and cannot include certain symbols or repeated characters.
  • Changes take effect when ready on your profile and in all your posts and messages, but old posts will not retroactively show your new name.
  • If you change your name more than a few times in a short period, Facebook may temporarily lock the name field to prevent abuse.

What names Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook has specific rules about what characters and formats are allowed. Your name must contain at least one letter, cannot be only numbers, and cannot include most special characters like asterisks, hashtags, or emoji. Periods, hyphens, and apostrophes are usually fine — so "Mary-Jane" or "O'Brien" will work. Repeated characters like "Jjjjjjj" or "Smith Smith Smith" will be rejected.

You can use accented letters and characters from other languages and writing systems. If you use a name that Facebook's system flags as unusual — for example, a very long string of characters or a name that looks like spam — you may be asked to provide identification to prove it is your real name. This is rare, but it can happen. If you get stuck, you can appeal through Facebook's help center.

How often you can change your name

Facebook allows you to change your name as many times as you want, but there is a practical limit. If you change your name more than once every 60 days, Facebook may temporarily prevent you from changing it again for a few weeks. This is an anti-abuse measure to stop people from using name changes to evade detection or spam other users.

If you hit this limit, you will see a message saying you cannot change your name right now and will need to wait. The exact waiting period varies, but it is usually between two and four weeks. There is no way to speed this up — you straightforward have to wait until the cooldown expires before you can change it again.

What happens to your old name after you change it

When you change your name, it updates everywhere on Facebook when ready. Your profile shows the new name, your posts show the new name, and messages you sent in the past show the new name. People who knew you by your old name will see the new one when they visit your profile or look at old conversations.

Facebook does not keep a public record of your previous names, but the platform does store the change in your account history for safety reasons. If someone reports your account or if Facebook suspects fraud, they can see what names have been associated with your account. This is one reason to avoid changing your name frequently — it can look suspicious to Facebook's automated systems.

Changing your name on a business or creator account

If you manage a Facebook Page (for a business, organization, or public figure), the process is different from changing your personal profile name. Go to your Page, click Settings in the top menu, then General, and look for Page name. You can change it there, but Facebook may require you to wait a certain amount of time between changes depending on how long the Page has existed.

For creator accounts or accounts with a professional dashboard, the name change process is the same as a personal account — it goes through Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name. However, if your account is linked to a verified badge or a creator fund, changing your name may trigger a review to make sure you are still the same person running the account.

Privacy and safety considerations when changing your name

Changing your name on Facebook does not hide your account history or make you anonymous. Your friends, followers, and anyone who has interacted with you can still find you through your profile picture, mutual friends, or by searching your email address if you have made it visible. If you are trying to distance yourself from old posts or past activity, changing your name alone will not do that — you would need to delete or archive the posts themselves.

If you are changing your name for safety reasons — for example, to escape harassment or to use a name that feels more authentic to you — consider also reviewing your privacy settings. You can limit who can see your friends list, who can message you, and who can find you by email or phone number. These settings are in Settings and privacy > Settings > Privacy, and they give you more control over who can contact you than a name change does.

Troubleshooting name change problems

If you see an error message when you try to change your name, the most common reasons are: the name contains characters Facebook does not allow, you have changed your name too recently and hit the cooldown period, or your account has been flagged for review. If the error message is unclear, try removing any special characters and using only letters, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes.

If you believe your name was rejected unfairly, or if you cannot change your name because of a cooldown, you can contact Facebook through their help center. Go to Settings and privacy > Help and support > Help Center, search for "name change", and look for the option to report a problem. Facebook's response time varies, but they typically reply within a few days to a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. You can change your name to anything Facebook allows, including a name you used in the past. However, if you changed your name very recently, you may hit the cooldown period and have to wait before you can change it again.

Will my friends be notified when I change my name?

Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your name. However, if they visit your profile or see your posts in their feed, they will see the new name. Some people may notice the change if they are paying close attention.

Can I have two different names on Facebook?

No. Each Facebook account has one name that appears on your profile and in all your activity. If you want to maintain a separate identity for work, creative projects, or privacy reasons, you would need to create a separate Facebook account with a different email address.

What if Facebook says my name violates their community standards?

If Facebook flags your name as a violation, they will ask you to change it. You have a few days to do so. If you believe the name is legitimate and does not violate their rules, you can appeal through the help center and provide context or identification. Facebook will review your appeal, though the process can take time.

Does changing my name affect my login information?

No. Your login information — your email address or phone number and your password — stays the same. Changing your name only changes what other people see when they look at your profile.