The quickest way to change your Facebook name on mobile

Open the Facebook app on your phone and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Scroll to the Personal Information section and tap Name. Type your new name in the field that appears, then tap Review Change. Facebook will show you how your name will appear to others — tap Save Changes to confirm.

The whole process takes about two minutes. Your new name shows up when ready to your friends and on your profile, though Facebook may take a few hours to update it everywhere on the platform.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name directly from the mobile app by going to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Name.
  • Facebook limits how often you can change your name — you can usually change it once every 60 days, though this varies by account history.
  • Your new name appears when ready to people viewing your profile, but Facebook's systems may take a few hours to update it everywhere.
  • If you see an error message saying you cannot change your name, wait at least 60 days from your last change before trying again.

What name format Facebook accepts

Facebook requires that your name contain only letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes. You cannot use symbols like @, #, or &. The name must be between 1 and 50 characters long.

Your name should also be something you actually go by — Facebook's rules say you cannot use a name that is primarily a business name, a URL, or a string of numbers meant to look like a phone number or ID. If you are changing your name to something that looks like a business account or a fake profile, Facebook may reject it or disable your account later.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

After you change your name, you cannot change it again for 60 days. This limit exists to prevent people from constantly switching names to evade detection or confuse others. If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed, the app will show you an error message telling you when you can change it next.

The 60-day timer starts from the date you last saved a name change, not from when you started the process. If you change your name on a Monday, you cannot change it again until the following Monday, 60 days later.

If Facebook rejects your name change

The most common reason Facebook rejects a name change is that the name violates their rules — it looks like a business name, contains too many numbers, or uses symbols Facebook does not allow. If you see a rejection message, read it carefully: it usually tells you which rule your name broke.

If you believe your name is legitimate and Facebook rejected it by mistake, you can appeal. Tap the error message and look for an option to Request Review or Appeal. Facebook will ask you to provide more information about why this is your real name. This review can take several days.

Changing your name versus your username

Your name and your username are two different things on Facebook. Your name is what appears on your profile and in comments — this is what you change in Settings. Your username is the handle that appears in your profile URL (for example, facebook.com/yourname). You can change your username separately, and the rules are different.

Most people only need to change their name. You would change your username if you want a shorter or different web address for your profile, or if you want to make your profile harder to find by search. Usernames can be changed once every 60 days as well, but they have stricter rules about what characters you can use.

What happens to your old name after you change it

When you change your name, your old name disappears from your profile when ready. People who knew your old name will see your new name when they visit your profile or see your posts. Old comments and messages you sent before the change will still show your new name — Facebook does not keep a public record of your old names.

However, Facebook's internal systems do keep a record of name changes for security reasons. If someone reports your account or if Facebook suspects fraud, they can see your change history. This is one reason to avoid changing your name frequently or using names that look fake.

Changing your name if you are under 18

If your account is registered to someone under 18, the same process applies — go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Name. The 60-day waiting period is the same. However, if a parent or guardian set up parental controls on the account, they may have restricted name changes. If you see a message saying you cannot change your name because of account settings, a parent or guardian may have blocked it.

If you believe the restriction was set by mistake, you can ask the account owner to remove it. They would go to their own Facebook settings, find the account they are supervising, and adjust the privacy controls for that account.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, you can change your name back to a previous name as long as 60 days have passed since your last change. Facebook does not prevent you from reusing old names. However, if you are changing your name back and forth frequently, Facebook may flag your account as suspicious.

What if I changed my name and now I cannot find my profile?

Your profile is still there — it just has your new name now. Search for your new name in Facebook's search bar, or ask a friend to find you. If you changed your username as well, the old URL will not work, but your profile is still accessible through search or through your friends' lists.

Does changing my name on Facebook change it on Instagram or other Meta apps?

No. Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other Meta apps have separate name settings. Changing your name on Facebook does not change it on Instagram. You would need to change your name in each app separately using that app's settings.

Can I use special characters or emojis in my Facebook name?

No. Facebook only accepts letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes. Emojis, accents, and other special characters will be rejected. If your name includes accented letters in another language, you may be able to use them — test it and see if Facebook accepts it.

What should I do if someone else is using my name on Facebook?

Report the account to Facebook. Tap the three dots on their profile, select Report, and choose the reason that best fits — usually Pretending to be someone or Fake account. Facebook will review the report, but they cannot force someone to change their name unless the account is impersonating you or violating their rules in another way.