Change your name in Facebook settings in under a minute

Go to the top right of Facebook, click the downward arrow next to your profile picture, and select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal information. Next to your name, click Edit. Type your new name in the fields provided — Facebook splits this into first name and last name — then click Review change. Facebook will show you how your new name appears across the site. Click Save changes to confirm.

The entire process takes about 30 seconds. Your new name appears when ready on your profile, in comments, in messages, and everywhere else on Facebook. People who know you will see the change right away, and Facebook does not notify your friends that you changed it — they will straightforward see the new name the next time they look at your profile or see your activity.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name by going to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Personal information, and clicking Edit next to your name.
  • Facebook allows you to change your name as often as you want, but the site enforces a waiting period if you change it very frequently.
  • Your new name takes effect when ready across your entire profile, messages, and comments.
  • You can use a nickname, a different spelling, or any name you go by — Facebook does not require your legal name.
  • If you change your name and then want to change it again within 60 days, Facebook may ask you to wait before making another change.

What name format Facebook accepts

Facebook accepts almost any name you want to use. You do not have to use your legal name, and you do not have to match government documents. You can use a nickname, a stage name, a shortened version of your name, or a name spelled differently than your legal documents show. Many people use initials, middle names, or names from other languages.

Facebook does reject names that look like they are trying to impersonate someone else — for example, using a celebrity's exact name with a fake verification mark. The site also blocks names that are purely numbers, names that are just symbols, or names that appear to be spam. If Facebook rejects your name choice, it will tell you why and ask you to pick a different one.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

If you change your name and then try to change it again within 60 days, Facebook will not let you. The site shows a message saying you have to wait until the 60-day window passes. This is a safety feature to prevent account takeovers — if someone gains access to your account, they cannot keep changing your name to confuse your friends or hide what they are doing.

The 60-day timer starts from the date of your last name change, not from when you first created your account. If you changed your name on March 15, you cannot change it again until May 14. If you need to change your name before the timer runs out, you will have to wait — Facebook does not make exceptions for this rule.

Changing your name on mobile versus desktop

The steps are nearly identical on a phone or tablet. Open the Facebook app, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right, scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings. Tap Personal information, then tap next to your name to edit it. Type your new name and tap Review change, then Save changes.

On a computer, use the arrow menu at the top right instead of the three-line menu at the bottom. Everything else is the same. Both routes take about the same amount of time, and your change syncs across all your devices when ready — if you change your name on your phone, it updates on your computer and tablet at the same time.

What happens to your old name after you change it

Your old name disappears from your profile and from new activity. When you post something after changing your name, it shows your new name as the author. Old posts and comments still exist, but they now show your new name attached to them — Facebook does not keep a visible history of your past names on your profile.

People who search for your old name will not find you. If someone tries to look you up by your previous name, Facebook will not show your profile in the results. However, if someone already has a direct link to your profile or knows your username, they can still find you — changing your name does not change your username or your profile URL.

Using a username instead of a display name

Your Facebook name and your username are two different things. Your name is what appears on your profile and next to your posts — this is what you just changed. Your username is the handle that goes in your profile URL, like facebook.com/yourname. You can change your username separately, and it follows different rules.

If you want a username that is easier to share or remember, go to the same Personal information section in Settings. Look for Username and click Edit. Facebook lets you change your username once every 60 days, and you can only use letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Your username does not have to match your display name — many people use a different username and a different display name.

Changing your name if your account was restricted

If Facebook restricted your account because it thought your name violated the site's policies, you may see a message when you try to change it. This usually happens if Facebook flagged your previous name as spam, impersonation, or something else against its rules. You can still change your name — just pick a different one that does not look like it is trying to break the same rule.

If you cannot change your name at all and Facebook keeps rejecting every option you try, your account may have a deeper restriction. In that case, you can report the problem to Facebook by going to Settings, clicking Help and support, and selecting Report a problem. Describe what name you are trying to use and what error message you see. Facebook usually responds within a few days.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. You can change your name to anything you want as long as you wait 60 days between changes. If you changed your name and want to go back to your old one, you will have to wait until the 60-day window passes, then change it back the same way you changed it the first time.

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

No. Facebook does not send notifications when you change your name. Your friends will see your new name the next time they look at your profile, see your posts, or view your messages, but they will not receive an alert about the change.

What if I want to use a name with special characters or accents?

Facebook accepts most accented letters and special characters used in real names — like é, ñ, ü, or the apostrophe in O'Brien. It rejects names that are only symbols or numbers. If Facebook rejects your name, try removing special characters or using a different spelling.

Does changing my name affect my Facebook username or profile URL?

No. Your display name and your username are separate. Changing your name does not change your username or the URL people use to find your profile. If you want to change your username too, you have to do that in a different section of Settings.

Can I use a business name or brand name instead of a personal name?

Facebook's rules say your name should be the name you go by in everyday life, but the site does not verify this. Many people use business names, pen names, or stage names without problems. If Facebook rejects a name, it will tell you why — usually because it looks like spam or impersonation, not because it is a business name.