Facebook lets you change your name every 60 days, and the process takes about a minute
To change your last name on Facebook, go to your profile, click the pencil icon next to your name, edit the field, and save. Facebook will ask you to confirm the change and may ask you to re-enter your password. The new name appears on your profile and in your friends' feeds within minutes. You can change it again after 60 days have passed since your last change.
The 60-day waiting period is Facebook's way of preventing account takeovers and impersonation. If someone gains access to your account, they cannot rapidly cycle through names to confuse your friends or hide their activity. This same limit applies whether you are changing your first name, last name, or both.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your last name on Facebook by clicking the pencil icon next to your name on your profile and editing the field directly.
- Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes to prevent account hijacking and impersonation.
- Your new name will appear when ready to your friends and in your activity feed once you confirm the change.
- If you change your name by mistake or someone else changed it without permission, you can report it to Facebook and request a manual review.
- Facebook has rules about what names are allowed — they must be the name you go by in everyday life, not a business name, URL, or string of numbers.
Where to find the name change option on your profile
Open Facebook and go to your profile by clicking your profile picture in the top right corner. On your profile page, look for your name at the top. Hover your mouse over your name and a pencil icon will appear. Click that pencil icon to enter edit mode.
On mobile, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right, then tap your name at the top of the menu. Tap the pencil icon next to your name to edit it. The steps are the same whether you use the Facebook app or the mobile website.
What Facebook's name rules actually mean
Facebook requires that your name be the name you use in everyday life. This means your legal name, a nickname you go by regularly, or a combination — but not a business name, a URL, numbers in place of letters, or special characters strung together. If your name contains accents, hyphens, or apostrophes (like José, Mary-Jane, or O'Brien), Facebook will accept those.
If you enter a name that breaks these rules, Facebook will reject it and show you an error message. The most common rejections happen when people try to use titles (Dr., Mr., Mrs.), business names, or names that are mostly numbers or symbols. If you have a name that is genuinely unusual or contains characters Facebook's system flags, you can appeal the rejection by clicking "Get Help" and explaining your situation to Facebook's support team.
Why Facebook makes you wait 60 days between changes
The 60-day limit exists because rapid name changes are a sign of account compromise. If someone breaks into your account, one of the first things they do is change your name to confuse your friends and hide their activity. By locking you out of frequent changes, Facebook makes it harder for a hijacker to cover their tracks.
This limit also prevents impersonation. Without it, someone could change their name to match yours, post something damaging, then change back before you noticed. The 60-day window gives you time to spot the problem and report it.
What happens if you change your name by mistake
If you changed your name and want to change it back when ready, you cannot — you will have to wait 60 days. However, if someone else changed your name without your permission, you can report it to Facebook as a security issue and ask for a manual review. Go to your profile, click the pencil icon next to your name, and look for a "Report This" or "Get Help" link. Explain that your account was compromised and that someone changed your name without permission.
Facebook's support team can override the 60-day limit in cases of account hijacking. The review usually takes a few days. While you wait, change your password when ready and check your login activity to see if anyone else has accessed your account recently. You can do this by going to Settings, then Security and Login, then "Where You're Logged In."
How your name change appears to others
When you change your name, it shows up in your friends' feeds as an activity update — something like "[Your Name] changed their name." Your new name appears on your profile, in comments you make, and in any messages you send going forward. Old posts and comments you made before the change will still show your old name, because Facebook does not retroactively update the past.
Your friends will see the change notification, but they cannot see what your old name was unless they click on the notification itself. This is by design — Facebook does not broadcast your previous names to everyone.
If Facebook rejects your name change
Facebook's automated system sometimes flags legitimate names as violations. Common reasons for rejection include names that look like they contain too many capital letters, names with numbers, or names that the system thinks are URLs or business names. If your name is rejected, Facebook will show you a message explaining why.
Click "Get Help" or "Appeal" (the exact wording varies) and explain your situation. You can tell Facebook that this is your real name, provide context if needed, and ask them to review it manually. This process usually takes a few days. In the meantime, you can keep using your current name on Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my name more than once if I have a good reason?
No. Facebook enforces the 60-day limit for all name changes, regardless of the reason. The only exception is if Facebook's support team determines your account was compromised and overrides the limit manually. Otherwise, you must wait the full 60 days.
Will my old name show up in search results after I change it?
No. Once you change your name, your old name stops appearing in Facebook's search results. People who knew you by your old name can still find you if they search for your new name or your email address, but the old name itself will not pull up your profile.
What if I want to use a nickname instead of my legal name?
Facebook allows nicknames as long as they are names you actually use in everyday life. If you go by a nickname regularly and people know you by it, you can use it on Facebook. Facebook's system may flag it if it looks unusual, but you can appeal and explain that it is your real nickname.
Does changing my name on Facebook change it anywhere else?
No. Changing your name on Facebook only affects your Facebook profile. It does not change your name on Instagram, WhatsApp, or any other service, even though Meta owns all three. You would need to change your name separately on each platform if you want them to match.
What should I do if I see my name changed and I did not do it?
Change your password when ready, then go to Settings and Security and Login to check where you are logged in. If you see a device or location you do not recognize, click "Log Out" next to it. Then report the name change to Facebook as a security issue and ask them to review your account for unauthorized access.