Change your Facebook name directly in the mobile app

Open Facebook on your phone and tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) at the bottom right. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Look for Personal Information and tap it. You'll see Name listed there — tap it to edit.

Type your new name in the field that appears. Facebook lets you use your real name, nicknames, maiden names, or other variations you go by. You don't have to use your legal name, but Facebook does check that what you enter looks like an actual name (not random characters or numbers). When you're done typing, tap Review Change at the bottom.

A confirmation screen will show your old name and new name side by side. Tap Save Changes to finish. The change takes effect when ready, and everyone on Facebook will see your new name right away.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Facebook name changes when ready across your profile, posts, and comments once you save it in Settings.
  • You can change your name as often as you want, but Facebook enforces a waiting period if you change it very frequently (usually 60 days after your last change).
  • Your username (the part that appears in your profile URL) does not change when you change your display name — those are separate settings.
  • The mobile app process is faster than using a browser on your phone, because the Settings menu is designed for touch navigation.

What happens if Facebook rejects your name change

Facebook's automated system checks that your name entry looks like a real name. If you use symbols, numbers, or unusual spacing, the system may reject it. Common rejections happen with names that include apostrophes in unexpected places, multiple capital letters in a row, or numbers mixed in.

If your change is rejected, try removing extra spaces or special characters. If your name genuinely includes a symbol (like an apostrophe in O'Brien or a hyphen in Mary-Jane), try entering it without the symbol first, then contact Facebook Support to add it back. You can reach Support through the same Settings menu — scroll to the bottom and tap Help & Support, then Report a Problem.

The difference between your name and your username

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 appears in your profile URL (facebook.com/yourname). These are two separate things, and changing one does not change the other.

If you want to change your username instead, go back to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information and look for Username (it's below Name). You can change your username once every 60 days. Your username is what you give people when you want them to find you by a short handle, while your name is what they see when they visit your profile.

Waiting periods and how often you can change your name

If you've never changed your name on Facebook before, you can do it right now with no waiting period. After your first change, Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period before you can change it again. This is to prevent people from constantly switching names to evade blocks or hide their identity.

If you try to change your name and see a message saying you have to wait, the date when you can change it again will be shown on that same screen. The timer starts from the date of your last change, not from today. You can still change other profile information (like your bio, profile picture, or cover photo) while you're waiting — the restriction only applies to your name.

Changing your name back to what it was before

If you changed your name and want to revert to your old one, follow the same steps: Menu > Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Name. Type your previous name and tap Review Change, then Save Changes. This counts as a name change for the 60-day waiting period, so you won't be able to change it again for 60 days after you change it back.

If you're trying to undo a name change you just made and realize you made a typo, act quickly — you can change it again when ready if you haven't left the confirmation screen yet. Once you tap Save Changes and close the menu, the 60-day timer starts, even if you change it back seconds later.

Why your name change might not show up everywhere at once

In rare cases, your new name takes a few minutes to appear everywhere on Facebook — in your profile, on your posts, in search results, and in your friends' friend lists. This is normal and happens because Facebook's servers update at slightly different times. Refresh the app by closing it completely and opening it again if you don't see your new name after a few minutes.

If your name still hasn't changed after an hour, log out and log back in. This forces your phone to pull the latest version of your profile from Facebook's servers. If the problem persists after that, your name change may have been rejected silently — go back to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Name and check what name is actually saved there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a fake name on Facebook?

Facebook's rules say you should use the name you go by in everyday life, but the system doesn't verify your legal identity. You can use a nickname, stage name, or name variation as long as it looks like an actual name to Facebook's filter. If you use something that looks like random characters or symbols, it will be rejected.

Will my friends get notified 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 visit your profile or see your posts, but they won't receive an alert about the change.

Can I have two names on Facebook at the same time?

No, you can only have one name active on your profile at a time. Some people use their full name in their profile name and a nickname in their username to get around this, but your display name can only be one thing.

What if I changed my name and Facebook locked my account?

Facebook rarely locks accounts over name changes alone. If your account was locked, it's usually because Facebook detected something else unusual (like a sudden location change or login from a new device). Check your email for a message from Facebook explaining why. If you received no message, go to facebook.com and follow the prompts to unlock your account.

Does changing my name on Facebook change it on Instagram or WhatsApp?

No. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are owned by the same company, but they have separate name settings. You have to change your name on each app individually if you want them all to match.