Open Facebook settings and find the name change option

To change your name on Facebook from your iPhone, open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right of your screen. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings.

Once you're in Settings, scroll down to find Personal Information and tap it. You'll see your name listed there. Tap on your name to edit it.

Facebook lets you change your name once every 60 days. If you've changed it recently, you'll see a message telling you when you can change it again. The 60-day timer starts from your last change, not from when you requested it.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your name through Settings > Personal Information > Name on the Facebook app for iPhone.
  • Facebook allows one name change every 60 days, and the timer runs from when you made your last change.
  • Your new name takes effect when ready, but Facebook may review it if it doesn't follow their naming rules.
  • If Facebook rejects your name, you'll see a message explaining why — usually because it contains numbers, symbols, or appears fake.
  • You can use your real name, a nickname, a professional name, or a name you go by, but not a business name or random characters.

What names Facebook will and won't accept

Facebook has rules about what counts as a valid name. Your name can include letters, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. It cannot include numbers, emojis, symbols like @ or &, or repeated characters (like "Jjjjohn"). Facebook also won't accept names that look like they're trying to impersonate someone famous or a business.

You can use a nickname, a professional name you go by, or a name from a different culture or language. You cannot use all capital letters, a business name, a website URL, or a name designed to look like a title (like "Dr." or "Princess" if that's not actually part of your legal name). If your name includes special characters from another language — like accents, tildes, or non-Latin scripts — Facebook usually accepts those.

If Facebook rejects your name change, tap the notification or go back to your name field to see the specific reason. The most common reasons are numbers in the name, too many capital letters, or a name that looks like it's meant to be fake or promotional.

How to enter your new name correctly

When you tap on your name in Personal Information, a text field appears with your current name highlighted. Delete the old name and type your new one. Make sure you spell it the way you actually want it to appear — capitalization and spacing matter.

After you type your new name, tap Review Change (or the checkmark, depending on your app version). Facebook will show you a preview of how your name will look on your profile. If it looks right, tap Save Changes or Confirm.

Your new name appears on your profile when ready. Other people see it right away in their friends list, in comments you make, and on your profile page. There's no waiting period for the name to become visible.

What happens if Facebook flags your name as suspicious

Sometimes Facebook's system automatically reviews a name change if it looks unusual or breaks their naming rules. When this happens, you'll see a message saying your name is under review. During this time, your new name is live on your profile, but Facebook is checking whether it follows their rules.

The review usually takes a few hours to a few days. If Facebook approves it, nothing changes — your name stays as you set it. If Facebook rejects it, you'll get a notification explaining why, and your name will revert to what it was before. You can then try again with a different name, or contact Facebook if you think the rejection was a mistake.

If your name keeps getting rejected and you believe it's a legitimate name you use, you can appeal. Tap the notification about the rejection and look for an option to provide more information or appeal the decision. Facebook may ask you to explain why you use that name or provide context about it.

Changing your name back or trying again after rejection

If you want to change your name again, you have to wait 60 days from your last successful change. This applies whether your previous change was approved when ready or went through a review period. The timer starts when you saved the change, not when Facebook reviewed it.

If your name was rejected and you want to try a different name right away, you can do that — the 60-day rule only applies to successful changes. Go back to Settings > Personal Information > Name and enter a new name that follows Facebook's rules. Make sure it doesn't include numbers, too many symbols, or anything that looks promotional.

If you're locked out of changing your name because of the 60-day timer, the only way around it is to wait. Facebook doesn't offer exceptions to this rule, even if you contact them. You can check when you'll be able to change it again by going to your name field — Facebook usually shows you the date.

Privacy considerations when changing your name

When you change your name on Facebook, everyone who can see your profile can see the change. Your friends will see it in their notifications, and it shows up in your activity log. If your profile is public, anyone on Facebook can see your new name when ready.

If you're changing your name for safety reasons — like leaving a relationship or moving away from a former identity — consider also reviewing your privacy settings. You can limit who sees your profile, who can message you, and who can look you up by name. Go to Settings > Privacy to adjust these controls.

Changing your name on Facebook doesn't change your username (the part that appears in your profile URL). Your username stays the same unless you change it separately. If you want a new username to go with your new name, you can change that in Settings > Personal Information > Username, though you can only change your username once every 60 days as well.

Troubleshooting common name change problems on iPhone

If the name change button isn't appearing or the text field won't let you type, try closing the Facebook app completely and opening it again. Sometimes the app needs to refresh to show the full settings menu. Make sure you're using the official Facebook app from the App Store, not a web browser version.

If you see an error message when you try to save your new name, check that your name doesn't include numbers, emojis, or too many symbols. Also make sure you're not using all capital letters or a name that looks like a business or URL. If the error persists and your name seems to follow the rules, try waiting a few minutes and trying again — sometimes it's a temporary connection issue.

If your name change was rejected and you don't understand why, look at the rejection message carefully. It usually tells you exactly what rule your name broke. Common issues are numbers (like "John123"), repeated characters (like "Jooohn"), or names that look fake. If you believe your name is legitimate and the rejection was wrong, use the appeal option in the notification to explain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook name more than once every 60 days?

No. Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes. The timer starts when you successfully save a name change, not when you request it. If you've already changed your name, you'll have to wait until the 60 days are up before you can change it again.

What if I use a nickname or name that's not my legal name?

Facebook allows nicknames, professional names, and names you actually go by. You don't have to use your legal name. However, your name still has to follow Facebook's rules — no numbers, no excessive symbols, and nothing that looks fake or promotional. If your nickname is something you genuinely use, Facebook will usually accept it.

Does changing my name on Facebook change my username?

No. Your name and username are separate. Changing your name doesn't change your username (the part in your profile URL). If you want a different username, you have to change it separately in Settings > Personal Information > Username. You can only change your username once every 60 days as well.

Will my friends get notified when I change my name?

Yes. Your friends will see a notification that you changed your name. The notification appears in their feed or notifications section. If your profile is public, anyone on Facebook can see your new name. There's no way to hide a name change from people who can see your profile.

What should I do if Facebook keeps rejecting my name?

Check that your name doesn't include numbers, emojis, symbols, or excessive capital letters. If your name follows the rules and keeps getting rejected, use the appeal option in the rejection message to explain why you use that name. Facebook may ask for more context, and you can provide it there. If the appeal doesn't work, try a slightly different version of the name.