You can change the name on your Facebook profile in Settings, and Facebook allows this change once every 60 days

To change your name on Facebook, open the app or website, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Name. Type your new name in the field and click Review Change. Facebook will show you how your new name appears across the platform. Click Save Changes, and the update takes effect immediately.

Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes. If you changed your name recently, you will see a message telling you when you can change it again. This limit applies whether you change your name once or multiple times — the clock resets each time you make a change.

Your new name appears on your profile, in comments, on posts you share, and in messages. People who know you under your old name will still be able to find you by searching, because Facebook keeps a record of previous names in your profile history.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings & Privacy, select Settings, go to Personal Information, then Name to reach the name change field.
  • Facebook shows you a preview of how your new name will look before you save, so you can catch typos or formatting issues.
  • You can change your name once every 60 days, and this limit resets each time you make a change.
  • Your old names remain searchable in your profile history, so people can still find you even if they knew you by a previous name.
  • Name changes take effect immediately and appear everywhere on your account — profile, posts, comments, and messages.

Step-by-step instructions for the Facebook app

On the Facebook mobile app, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll to the Personal Information section and tap Name. The name field will open with your current name highlighted.

Delete your current name and type your new name. Tap Review Change at the bottom of the screen. Facebook will display a preview showing how your new name appears on your profile and in other places. If the preview looks correct, tap Save Changes. If you need to fix something, tap Back and edit the name again.

Step-by-step instructions for Facebook on a computer

On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook and select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information. Find the Name row and click Edit next to it. Your current name will appear in a text field.

Clear the field and type your new name. Click Review Change. Facebook shows a preview of how your new name will appear across the site. If it looks right, click Save Changes. The change takes effect right away. If you need to make corrections, click Back and edit the name field again before saving.

What name format Facebook accepts

Facebook requires that your name contain only letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and spaces. You cannot use symbols like asterisks, ampersands, or special characters. Facebook also does not allow all-caps names or names that look like they are trying to advertise something.

Your name must be the name you go by in everyday life. Facebook may reject names that appear to be fake, offensive, or designed to impersonate someone else. If Facebook rejects your name change, you will see an error message explaining why. Common reasons include using only numbers, including symbols Facebook does not allow, or using a name that violates Facebook's policies.

If your name includes characters from other languages — accents, umlauts, or non-Latin alphabets — Facebook usually accepts these. You can include middle names, nicknames in parentheses, or hyphens between parts of your name.

How to see your previous names

Your name history is visible to you but not to other people. To see all the names you have used on your account, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Name. Below the name field, you will see a list of previous names you have used and the dates you changed them.

This history helps you remember what name you were using at a particular time, and it also shows Facebook's record of your account activity. Other people cannot see this list — they only see your current name and can search for you by your current name or any previous name.

Troubleshooting name change problems

If Facebook will not let you change your name and you have not changed it in 60 days, the problem is usually a formatting issue. Check that you are not using symbols, all caps, or numbers only. If your name contains an apostrophe or hyphen, make sure it is in the right place — Facebook sometimes rejects names with these characters in unexpected positions.

If you see a message saying you have changed your name too recently, you must wait until the 60-day period has passed. There is no way to speed this up or request an exception. If you changed your name by mistake and want to change it back, you still have to wait 60 days from your last change.

If Facebook rejects your name for policy reasons — saying it looks fake or violates community standards — you can try a different version of your name. If the problem continues, you can contact Facebook through the Help Center, though Facebook does not always overturn name rejections.

How name changes affect your privacy and who can see them

When you change your name, everyone on Facebook sees the new name immediately. There is no way to hide a name change from specific people or make it private. Your friends, followers, and anyone who visits your profile will see your current name.

Your old names remain in your profile history and are searchable, which means people can still find you by typing an old name into the search bar. This is useful if someone knew you by a previous name and wants to reconnect, but it also means your name history is part of your searchable profile data.

Name changes do not affect your privacy settings, who can message you, or who can see your posts. They only change what name appears next to your activity on the platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between any name changes. This applies even if you are changing your name back to a previous name or making a small correction. The only exception is if you have never changed your name before — your first change has no waiting period.

Will my friends be notified when I change my name?

Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your name. They will see your new name the next time they visit your profile or see you in their feed, but they will not receive an alert about the change.

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

Yes. Facebook requires that you use a name you go by in everyday life, but this does not have to be your legal name. You can use a nickname, stage name, or any name people actually call you, as long as it follows Facebook's formatting rules and does not appear to be fake or designed to advertise something.

What happens to my old name if I change it?

Your old name stays in your profile history and remains searchable. People can find you by searching your previous names, and you can see a complete list of all names you have used by going to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Name.

Can I change my name on Facebook if my account is restricted or limited?

If your account is restricted due to a policy violation, you may not be able to change your name until the restriction is lifted. If you are unsure whether your account is restricted, check your Settings to see if Facebook has posted any notices about your account status.