To change your name on Facebook, open Accounts Center from Settings, choose Profiles, pick your account, tap Name, type the new name and confirm with Review change. Facebook lets you change your name only once every 60 days, so check the spelling before you save. The steps are nearly the same on Android, iPhone and a computer.
Before you start
Your display name, the one friends see on your profile, is not the same as your username, the facebook.com/yourname address. Facebook’s Help Center covers them in separate articles. This guide is about the display name.
A few things save you a second attempt:
- A change locks the name for 60 days. If you save a typo, you wait.
- The name has to follow Facebook’s name standards (see below).
- Your name has to match what appears on an ID or document Facebook accepts.
Keep your password handy. Some accounts are asked to confirm the change.
Change your name in the Facebook app (Android and iPhone)
Facebook’s published instructions cover the desktop site, and the app follows the same route through Accounts Center. Menu labels can differ slightly between versions.
- Open the Facebook app.
- Tap the menu, then the gear icon (or scroll down to Settings & privacy and open Settings).
- Tap Accounts Center.
- Tap Profiles, then your Facebook profile.
- Tap Name.
- Enter the new name and tap Review change.
- Tap Save changes.
If you can’t find Accounts Center, search the settings for “name.” Facebook moves menu items around, and on some accounts the page is labeled Meta Account instead, depending on the rollout.
A quick check before you tap Save
Facebook’s article tells you to read the name standards before you start, and the Review change screen is your last chance to catch a mistake. Read the name out loud, compare it with your ID, and make sure it has no number, title or symbol. Since a saved change locks the name for 60 days, those ten seconds are cheaper than a wait.
Change your name on a computer
Facebook’s own instructions for the desktop site:
- Click your profile picture at the top right of Facebook.
- Select Settings & privacy, then Settings.
- Click Accounts Center.
- Click Profiles, then click your account.
- Click Name.
- Enter the new name and click Review change.
- Click Save changes.
What names Facebook accepts
Facebook says your profile name should be the one your friends call you in everyday life, and it should also appear on an ID or document the company accepts. The standards rule out:
- symbols, numbers, unusual capitalization, repeating characters or punctuation;
- characters from more than one language;
- titles of any kind, such as professional or religious titles;
- words or phrases used in place of a name;
- offensive or suggestive words.
A nickname can work as a first or middle name if it’s a variation of your real name. A different name, such as a maiden name, a nickname or a professional name, can be listed on your account as an additional name without replacing the main one.
Profiles are for individuals. A business, an organization or an idea belongs on a Page, and pretending to be someone or something else isn’t allowed.
If Facebook won’t let you change it
The Help Center lists five reasons a change fails, each with its own fix:
| Reason | What to do |
|---|---|
| You changed your name in the last 60 days | Wait until the 60 days are over |
| The name breaks the standards (symbols, titles, mixed languages) | Remove whatever isn’t allowed |
| The name doesn’t match your ID | Use the name that appears on your official ID |
| Facebook asked you to confirm your name | Complete the confirmation when it appears |
| Something else | Contact Facebook through the link in the Help Center article |
The 60-day limit is the cause most of the time, and it can’t be skipped from the settings screen. Facebook’s article gives two options: wait, or reach out to Facebook through the contact link it provides. Be careful with websites that promise a shortcut. Facebook’s Help Center doesn’t describe one, and any form that asks for your ID should be one you reached through Facebook’s own pages.
Related account guides
If you’re tidying up other accounts while you’re at it, we’ve written step-by-step guides on changing your Instagram password and on recovering an Instagram account without email or phone access.
Frequently asked questions
How often can I change my name on Facebook?
Once every 60 days, according to Facebook’s Help Center.
Can I use a nickname instead of my legal name?
Yes, as long as the nickname is a variation of your real name. For a different kind of name, like a maiden name or a professional name, add it as an additional name on your account.
Why does Facebook mention my ID?
Your profile name should be one that also appears on an ID or document Facebook accepts. If the name is questioned or the change fails, Facebook may ask you to confirm it.
Can I use my profile for my business name?
No. Profiles are for individuals. Facebook says businesses, organizations and ideas should use a Page.
