Change your name directly in Facebook settings
You can change the name that appears on your Facebook profile by going to your settings and editing it yourself. Facebook lets you change your name once every 60 days, and the change takes effect immediately across your profile, posts, and comments. The name you enter is the one everyone sees when they visit your profile or interact with your posts.
Open Facebook on a computer or phone and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines on mobile, or the down arrow on desktop in the top right). Select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal information. Find the line that says Name and click Edit. Type your new name in the field that appears and click Review change. Facebook will show you how your new name will look across the site. Click Save changes to confirm.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your Facebook name once every 60 days through Settings > Personal information > Name.
- Facebook accepts first and last names, but not numbers, symbols, or unusual spacing that looks like an attempt to game the system.
- Your old name stays visible in your activity log and to people who saw posts before you changed it, but all future posts show your new name.
- If you changed your name recently and the 60-day window has not passed, you will see the date you can change it again.
- Changing your name on Facebook does not change your username (the part that appears in your profile URL) unless you change that separately.
What names Facebook will and will not accept
Facebook has rules about what counts as a valid name. The site rejects names that contain numbers, most symbols, or excessive punctuation. It also flags names with unusual spacing or capitalization that look designed to stand out in search results or trick the system — for example, a name with dots between every letter or multiple spaces between words.
You can use accented characters, hyphens, and apostrophes if they are part of your actual name. If Facebook rejects your name choice, it will tell you why and ask you to try again. If you believe your name is being rejected unfairly, you can appeal through the same settings screen, but Facebook may ask you to provide identification to prove the name is genuine.
The difference between your name and your username
Your name is what appears on your profile and in posts. Your username is the custom web address for your profile — the part that comes after facebook.com/ in your profile URL. Changing one does not change the other.
If you want to change your username as well, go to Settings > Personal information > Username and click Edit. You can change your username once every 60 days, just like your name. Your username is what people type if they want to search for you directly or send you a message using the @ symbol.
What happens to your old name after you change it
When you change your name, Facebook does not erase your old one from the site. Your activity log — a record of everything you have posted and done on Facebook — still shows posts under your old name if you posted them before the change. People who saw those posts before you changed your name will still remember the old name, but any new posts appear under your new name.
If someone searches for your old name, they will not find your profile, because Facebook indexes profiles by current name. However, if they already know your profile URL (your username), they can still reach you that way. Your old name does not become searchable again unless you change back to it.
Changing your name on a business or creator page
If you manage a Facebook Page (not a personal profile), the process is slightly different. Go to your Page, click Settings in the top menu, then select Edit page info on the left. Find Page name and click the pencil icon to edit it. Type the new name and click Save.
Business and creator pages have different rules than personal profiles. You can change a page name more frequently, but Facebook may ask you to wait a few days between changes if you change it repeatedly. If your page represents a business or public figure, Facebook may require you to keep the name consistent with how you are known publicly.
Troubleshooting when Facebook will not let you change your name
If you see a message saying you cannot change your name, the most common reason is that you changed it within the last 60 days. Facebook enforces this waiting period to prevent spam and impersonation. Check your settings to see the exact date you will be able to change it again.
If you have not changed your name recently and Facebook still blocks the change, your name choice may violate the site's rules. Try removing numbers, symbols, or extra spaces. If you believe the rejection is a mistake — for example, if your name genuinely contains a number or symbol — you can request a review by clicking Appeal in the same settings screen. Facebook will ask you to upload a photo of your ID to confirm the name is real.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my name affect my Facebook friends or messages?
No. Your friends will still be your friends, and your message history will not change. They will see your new name the next time they visit your profile or when you send them a new message, but old messages will show your new name retroactively.
Can I change my name back to what it was before?
Yes, but you have to wait 60 days between changes. If you changed your name and want to revert, you can do so after the waiting period passes. You do not need special permission — just follow the same steps to change it back.
What if someone is impersonating me with a similar name?
Report the fake account to Facebook by visiting their profile, clicking the three dots in the top right, and selecting Report. Choose It is pretending to be someone and follow the prompts. Facebook investigates impersonation reports and can remove accounts that violate this rule.
Does changing my name on Facebook change it on Instagram or other Meta apps?
No. Facebook, Instagram, and other Meta apps have separate profiles and separate name settings. Changing your name on Facebook does not affect your Instagram account or any other app. You have to change each one separately.
Can I use a nickname or stage name instead of my legal name?
Yes. Facebook does not require you to use your legal name — you can use a nickname, stage name, or any name you go by regularly. However, if Facebook suspects the name is fake or designed to evade the site's rules, it may ask you to verify it with ID.