How to change your name on Facebook (app and computer)

How to change name on Facebook from a computer

1. Go to facebook.com and click your profile picture at the top right.
2. Click Settings & privacy › Settings.
3. Click Accounts Center, then Profiles, and choose your Facebook profile.
4. Click Name. Edit the first, middle or last name.
5. Click Review change, pick how your name should appear, enter your password and click Save changes.

The steps are the same on iPhone and Android, only the starting point differs: tap the Menu button (bottom right on iPhone, top right on Android), then the gear icon. Facebook moved name settings into Accounts Center in recent years, so older guides that mention Settings › Personal information are out of date.

Facebook's name rules

Facebook wants the name you use in everyday life, the one friends would call you. A change will be blocked if the name has:

• Symbols, numbers, unusual punctuation or repeated characters.
• Characters from more than one language, such as English letters mixed with Arabic or Chinese characters.
• Titles of any kind, such as Dr., Pastor, Mr. or a job title.
• Words or phrases in place of a name, such as a motto or a business name.
• Offensive or suggestive words.
• Unusual capitalization, like ALL CAPS or alternating letters.

A nickname is allowed as your first or middle name if it is a real variation of your name, such as Bob for Robert or Liz for Elizabeth.

The 60 day limit

After a name change, you cannot change it again for 60 days. Facebook does this to stop people impersonating others or swapping names to dodge blocks. The screen tells you the date you can change it next. There is no form to skip the wait, so double check spelling before you tap Save.

Right after a change, Facebook sometimes shows an option to go back to your previous name. If you see it, it is the only way to undo a mistake quickly.

Why your name change was rejected

If you get a message that the name cannot be used, read it carefully. It usually names the rule. If the name is real and still rejected, Facebook may ask you to confirm it with an ID. You can upload a photo of a driver's license, passport or other accepted document. Facebook says it uses the ID to check the name and then deletes it after a set time. Cover any numbers on the ID you do not want to share, but leave your name, photo and date of birth visible.

Rejections also happen to names that look fake to an automated system, such as one word names, names with apostrophes in unusual places, or very short names. Uploading ID is the fix for these.

Add a nickname or other name instead

If you want people to find you by a maiden name or a nickname without changing your main name, add it as an Other name. Go to your profile, tap About or Edit profile, find Details about you or Other names, and add it. You can choose to show it at the top of your profile next to your main name. This does not count toward the 60 day limit.

Changing your name after marriage or divorce

Change your last name the normal way. To help old friends find you, add your previous last name as an Other name, with the type set to Maiden Name, and choose to show it on your profile. Friends searching for either name will find you.

Changing your name after a gender transition

Facebook allows you to use the name you go by, even if it does not match your ID. If the change is flagged, Facebook may accept other forms of proof, such as a piece of mail or a library card in that name. You can also update your pronouns in the About section.

Does the name change on Messenger and Instagram?

Messenger uses your Facebook name, so it updates automatically. Instagram has its own name and username, even if your accounts are linked in Accounts Center. Accounts Center may offer to sync names across both, which you can turn on or off. Usernames, the part in your profile link, are changed separately in Facebook under Accounts Center › Profiles › Username.

Changing a Facebook Page name

A Page is not a personal profile. To rename a Page, switch into it, open Settings › Page setup or the Page info section, and edit the name. Page name changes are reviewed and can be refused if the new name is very different, misleading, or looks like another brand.

Who sees that you changed your name?

Facebook does not post an announcement. Friends simply see the new name next to your posts and comments, including old ones. Your past name may still show for a short time in some places, such as old notifications. If you are changing your name for privacy, pair it with the steps in our guide to locking your Facebook profile.

Name option is greyed out or missing

• Update the Facebook app from the App Store or Google Play, then try again.
• Try from a computer browser. Some accounts see the option on the web before the app.
• Check whether your account is under review or restricted. A banner usually appears on your profile or in Support Inbox.
• Wait until the 60 day date shown, if you changed it recently.

If you no longer want the account at all, our guide on deleting your Facebook account for good explains how to download your data first.

Change the order your name appears

After you tap Review change, Facebook shows a few ways your name can appear, such as First Last or First Middle Last. Pick the one you want people to see. If you added a nickname as an Other name, you can show it in brackets after your full name instead of replacing it. In some languages Facebook also offers last name first.

Add or remove a middle name

A middle name is optional. Add it in the Middle name field on the Name screen. Removing one is the same step, and either way it counts as a name change, so the 60 day limit applies. If you only want the middle name to help people find you, add it as an Other name instead.

Using a business name or brand

Personal profiles must use a person's name. If you sell products or run a service, create a Facebook Page or turn on professional mode, and use the business name there. Putting a business name on a personal profile can get the account restricted until you change it back.

Name changes and account security

If your name changed and you did not do it, someone else may have access to your account. Change your password at once, review Where you're logged in in Accounts Center, and log out of devices you do not recognize. Then turn on two factor authentication. Facebook also emails you after a name change; if that email arrives and you did not make the change, follow the link in it to secure the account.

Hackers sometimes rename stolen accounts to run scams or crypto ads. If you cannot log in to fix it, use facebook.com/hacked from any browser to start recovery.