You can change the name on your Facebook profile through your settings, and Facebook allows you to do this once every 60 days

Facebook stores your name in two places: your profile name (what appears on your timeline and in search results) and the name tied to your account login. You can change your profile name whenever you want, but Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between changes to prevent misuse. The login name — your email address or phone number — follows different rules and rarely needs to change.

The process takes about two minutes and requires you to be logged into your account. You do not need to contact Facebook support unless you are trying to change your name more frequently than the 60-day window allows, or if you are locked out of your account.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your profile name once every 60 days through Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information.
  • Facebook accepts names with letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes, but rejects names that look like usernames or titles.
  • If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed, Facebook will show you the exact date you can change it again.
  • Changing your profile name does not change your login email or phone number — those stay the same unless you update them separately.
  • If your name change is rejected, Facebook usually tells you why and what format it needs instead.

Steps to change your profile name on Facebook

Open Facebook and tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right corner on mobile, or look for the downward arrow in the top right on desktop. Select Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings.

Scroll down to Personal Information and tap Name. You will see your current first and last name in separate fields. Type your new name into whichever field you want to change. You can change your first name, last name, or both. When you are done, tap Review Change at the bottom.

Facebook will show you a preview of how your new name will appear on your profile. If it looks correct, tap Save Changes. If you made a mistake, tap Back and edit the fields again. Once you save, your new name appears on your profile immediately.

What names Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook has rules about what counts as a real name. The platform accepts letters (including accented letters from other languages), numbers, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes. Names like "Mary-Jane," "José," "O'Brien," and "Jean-Pierre" all work.

Facebook rejects names that look like usernames, titles, or symbols. Examples include "xXMaryXx," "Dr. Mary Smith," "Mary_Smith," "MARY SMITH" (all capitals), or names with emojis. If your name change is rejected, Facebook shows a message explaining what went wrong. The most common reason is that the name looks like a username rather than a real name.

If you have a name that genuinely does not fit these rules — for example, a single name, a name with unusual characters, or a name from a language Facebook does not recognize — you may need to contact Facebook through their help center to request an exception. This process is slower but sometimes works.

The 60-day waiting period between name changes

After you change your name, you cannot change it again for 60 days. This rule applies whether you are changing your first name, last name, or both. If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed, Facebook will tell you the exact date you can change it again.

The 60-day timer starts from the date of your most recent name change, not from when you tried to change it. If you changed your name on January 15, you can change it again on March 16 (60 days later). There is no way to speed up this waiting period, and contacting Facebook support will not override it.

This limit exists to prevent people from impersonating others or evading blocks and reports by constantly changing their name. If you need to change your name for a legitimate reason and the 60 days have not passed, your only option is to wait.

The difference between your profile name and your login information

Your profile name is what other people see on your timeline and in search results. Your login information is the email address or phone number you use to sign into Facebook. These are separate, and changing one does not change the other.

If you want to change the email address or phone number you use to log in, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then scroll to Personal Information and select Email or Phone. You can add a new email or phone number, set it as your primary login method, and remove old ones. This process does not have a 60-day waiting period.

Most people never need to change their login information. You would only do this if you no longer have access to your old email or phone number, or if you want to use a different one to sign in.

What happens when you change your name

When your name changes, it updates everywhere on Facebook immediately: your profile, your comments, your posts, your messages, and your friend list. People who have you as a friend will see the name change in their news feed as a notification, similar to a status update.

Your old posts and comments do not disappear or get hidden. They stay on your timeline with your new name attached. People searching for your old name will not find you in search results, but anyone who already knows your new name can still find your profile.

If you change your name back to a previous name within 60 days, Facebook treats it as a new name change and enforces the 60-day waiting period again. For example, if you change from "Mary Smith" to "Mary Jones" and then want to change back to "Mary Smith," you have to wait 60 days from the second change.

If your name change is rejected or stuck

If Facebook rejects your name change, the most common reason is that it looks like a username or title rather than a real name. Try removing numbers, underscores, or extra capitals, and make sure your name does not include titles like "Dr." or "Mr." If you are using a name from a language with characters Facebook does not recognize, try using a transliteration or English version of your name.

If your name change is genuinely stuck — for example, if you see an error message that does not explain what went wrong — you can report the problem through Facebook's help center. Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Help & Support, and select Report a Problem. Describe what happened and what error message you saw. Facebook usually responds within a few days, though there is no may provide they will override their name rules.

If you are locked out of your account entirely and cannot access your settings, you will need to use Facebook's account recovery process. Go to facebook.com/login/identify on a device where you are not logged in, enter your email or phone number, and follow the steps to regain access.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Facebook enforces a strict 60-day waiting period between name changes. If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed, you will see a message telling you the exact date you can change it again. There is no way to bypass this limit.

Will my friends see when I change my name?

Yes. Your friends will see a notification in their news feed when you change your name, similar to a status update. The notification shows your old name and your new name. You cannot hide this notification or change who sees it.

What if I have a name that does not fit Facebook's rules?

If your name genuinely does not fit Facebook's format — for example, if you use only one name, or if your name includes characters from a language Facebook does not recognize — you can request an exception through the help center. Go to Settings, then Help & Support, then Report a Problem, and explain your situation. Facebook sometimes approves exceptions, but there is no may provide.

Can I change my name on Facebook if I am locked out of my account?

No. You must be logged in to change your name. If you cannot log in, use Facebook's account recovery process at facebook.com/login/identify to regain access first. You will need to verify your identity using a recovery email, phone number, or trusted contacts.

Does changing my name on Facebook change my email login?

No. Your profile name and your login email are separate. Changing your profile name does not change the email or phone number you use to sign into Facebook. If you want to change your login information, you can do that separately in your Personal Information settings.