You change your name on Facebook through Accounts Center: open Profiles, choose your account, click Name, enter the new name, review it and save. Once you change it, you cannot change it again for 60 days, and the new name has to meet Meta's name standards, which rule out symbols, titles, numbers and anything that is not the name you use in everyday life. If a change is rejected, the reason is almost always one of those two limits.
How to change your name on a computer
Meta's steps for the website are:
- Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook.
- Select Settings and privacy, then click Settings.
- Click Accounts Center.
- Click Profiles, then click your account.
- Click Name.
- Enter your name and click Review change.
- Click Save changes.
Meta is gradually moving people to Meta Accounts, so you may see Meta Account settings instead of Accounts Center as the place to manage your details. The route is the same idea either way: find your profile in the account settings and edit the Name field.
On the Facebook app
In the app, open the menu, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, and tap Accounts Center or See more in Accounts Center at the top of the settings page. From there, the Profiles, your account and Name steps are the same as on a computer. The menu icon sits in a different place on Android and iPhone, but the Accounts Center screens look alike on both.
The 60 day limit
Meta documents the frequency limit clearly: you can change your name every 60 days, and if you change it you cannot change it again for 60 days. There is no documented way to shorten that wait by editing the name in a different app or through a different route. Because of this, check spelling and capitalization carefully on the Review change screen before you save. A typo you notice the next morning is yours for two months.
The limit applies to your profile name. Adding another name, such as a nickname, is handled separately and does not replace your main name.
Meta's name standards
Facebook is meant to be a place where people use the name they use in everyday life. Meta says this helps people know who they are connecting with, and helps protect against impersonation, scams and phishing. Its standards list what is not allowed in a name:
- Symbols, numbers, unusual capitalization, repeating characters or punctuation.
- Characters from multiple languages.
- Titles of any kind, such as professional or religious titles.
- Words or phrases instead of a name.
- Offensive or suggestive words of any kind.
Meta adds some guidance on what the name should be:
- The name on your profile should be the name your friends call you in everyday life.
- That name should also appear on a form of ID or a document from Meta's accepted ID list.
- A nickname can be used as a first or middle name if it is a variation of your authentic name, such as Bob instead of Robert.
- Profiles are for individuals. A business, organization or idea should use a Page instead.
- Pretending to be anyone or anything else is not allowed.
So Dr Jane Smith will be refused because of the title, J4ne will be refused because of the number, and a phrase such as Proud Mom will be refused because it is not a name. Jane Smith, or Janie Smith if that is what people call you, fits the rules.
Adding a nickname, maiden name or other name
If people know you by more than one name, you do not have to choose. Facebook lets you add another name to your profile, such as a nickname, a maiden name or a professional name, alongside your main name. This is often a better answer than changing your main name, because it helps old friends find you without triggering the 60 day limit or a name review. You can also add a name pronunciation to your profile if people often get it wrong.
If you only have one name rather than a first and last name, Meta has separate guidance for that situation, so do not invent a surname to get past the form.
Why a name change can be refused
Meta's list of reasons is short. A change can fail because:
- You changed your name within the last 60 days.
- The new name does not follow the name standards above.
- Facebook asks you to confirm your name, and you have not yet done so.
If Facebook asks you to confirm your name, it may ask for ID, and Meta says your Facebook name should match the name on an ID. If you believe the name meets the standards and it is still being refused, the Help Center has a form to tell Meta you are having trouble changing your name.
Name changes after marriage, divorce or transition
Life events are the most common reason for a name change, and Meta has a separate article on which name to use when you are changing your name. The practical approach is the same in each case. Change the main name to the one you now use in everyday life, then add your previous name as another name if you want people who knew you before to be able to find you. If Facebook asks you to confirm the new name, have an ID or accepted document ready that shows it.
Facebook and Instagram names
Your Facebook name and your Instagram name can differ, even when both accounts are in the same Accounts Center, and Meta has a separate help article for changing your name on Instagram. Meta notes that if your Facebook and Instagram accounts share the same first and last name, it can help people find you through recommendations. If you want them to match, edit each profile's name in Accounts Center. The 60 day limit described here is Facebook's rule for your Facebook name.
Changing a Page name instead
If the name you want to change belongs to a business or community Page rather than your personal profile, you need Meta's Page name process, which follows different rules and guidelines. Changing your personal profile name will not rename a Page you manage, and a business name is not allowed as a personal profile name.
Before you save
Decide whether you really need to change your main name or only add another name. If you are changing it, type the name exactly as it appears on your ID, avoid titles and decorative characters, and check the preview on the Review change screen. Once it is saved, the next change is 60 days away, so it is worth the extra minute.
