The quickest way to change your Facebook name

You can change the name on your Facebook profile in about two minutes through your account settings. Facebook lets you change your name every 60 days, so if you changed it recently, you may have to wait before making another change.

Go to the top right of Facebook and click the downward arrow next to your profile picture. 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 — you can change your first name, middle name, or last name separately. Click Review change, then Save changes.

Your new name appears on your profile and in comments and posts immediately. Friends will see the change in their activity feed, and Facebook will note that you changed your name if they look at your profile.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook name through Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Edit next to your name.
  • Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes, so you cannot change it again until two months have passed.
  • Your new name shows up right away on your profile, in your comments, and in posts you make going forward.
  • Facebook has rules about what names are allowed — you cannot use numbers, symbols, or multiple spaces, and the name must match how you go by in everyday life.
  • If Facebook rejects your name change, you can appeal the decision by uploading a document that shows the name you want to use.

What names Facebook will and will not accept

Facebook requires that your name match the name you go by in everyday life. This means you cannot use a name that is purely fictional, a business name, or a name made up of numbers and symbols. Facebook's system automatically rejects names with numbers in them, multiple spaces between words, or special characters like underscores or hyphens in unusual places.

Names with accents, umlauts, or characters from non-Latin alphabets are allowed — Facebook accepts names in most languages and writing systems. If you have a name with a hyphen, apostrophe, or period (like Mary-Jane or O'Brien), Facebook usually accepts it. The rule is that your name should be something people actually call you, not a username or nickname you use only online.

What to do if Facebook rejects your name change

If you try to change your name and Facebook says it does not meet their standards, you will see a message explaining why. Common reasons include using numbers, using too many spaces, or using a name Facebook thinks is not your real name.

You can appeal the rejection. Facebook will ask you to upload a document that shows the name you want to use — a driver's license, passport, birth certificate, or other government ID works. Upload the document and explain why you want to use that name. Facebook usually reviews appeals within a few days and either approves your name or explains what still does not meet their rules.

If you are changing your name for safety reasons — such as escaping a situation where someone is harassing you — you can contact Facebook's support team directly and explain your situation. They may be able to help you use a name that does not match your ID.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

Once you change your name, you cannot change it again for 60 days. This limit exists to prevent people from constantly switching names to avoid being identified or to confuse others. If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed, Facebook will tell you when you can make your next change.

The 60-day timer starts from the date you made your last change, not from when Facebook approved it. If you changed your name on March 15, you can change it again on May 14. There is no way to speed up this waiting period, even if you contact Facebook support.

How your name change affects your profile and privacy

When you change your name, it updates everywhere on Facebook — your profile, your comments, your posts, and your messages. Old posts you made before the change still show your new name, not the old one. This means if someone looks at a post you made a year ago, they will see your current name as the author, not the name you had when you posted it.

Your friends will see a notification that you changed your name. The notification appears in their activity feed and on your profile. If you have a public profile, anyone on Facebook can see that you changed your name and when you changed it. If your profile is private, only your friends see the notification.

Changing your name does not change your username (the part of your profile URL that looks like facebook.com/yourname). Your username stays the same unless you change it separately through the same Settings menu.

Changing your name versus changing your username

Your name is what appears on your profile and in your posts — the thing your friends see. Your username is the handle in your profile URL (facebook.com/yourname) and what people use to search for you or tag you in comments. They are two different things, and you can change them separately.

To change your username, go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information. Next to your username, click Edit. Type a new username and click Save. You can change your username once every 60 days, just like your name. Usernames can include letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, but they cannot have spaces.

If you want people to find you by a specific name or handle, changing your username is often more useful than changing your name, because usernames do not change on old posts and are easier to search for.

Changing your name on Facebook if you have a business page

If you have a business page or a public figure page in addition to your personal profile, changing your personal name does not change the page name. Business pages have their own separate names that you change through the page settings, not your personal account settings.

To change a business page name, go to the page, click Settings in the top menu, then Edit page info. Find the page name field and click Edit. Type the new name and click Save. Business pages have different rules than personal profiles — you can change a business page name more often, and the name does not have to match your real name.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, as long as 60 days have passed since your last change. You can change your name to anything Facebook accepts, including a name you used in the past. The 60-day rule applies whether you are changing to a completely new name or reverting to an old one.

What happens to my messages if I change my name?

Your messages stay in your inbox and in your friends' inboxes, but they will show your new name as the sender. If someone looks back at an old conversation, they will see your current name, not the name you had when you sent the message.

Can I use a nickname or stage name instead of my real name?

Only if it is a name you actually go by in everyday life. Facebook's rule is that your name should match how people know you. If you perform under a stage name and that is what people call you, you may be able to use it, but Facebook might ask for proof that it is a real name you use.

Does changing my name affect my Facebook login or password?

No. Your login information stays the same. You log in with your email address or phone number, not your name, so changing your name does not affect how you sign into Facebook.

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

No. Facebook enforces the 60-day limit strictly. You cannot pay to skip it or contact support to have it waived. If you need to change your name for safety reasons, contact Facebook support to explain your situation — they may be able to help in other ways.