How to Change Company Name on Facebook

Changing your company's name on Facebook is a bigger deal than just typing into a new field and hitting save. It's an update that can affect your brand's visibility, follower trust, and even your verified status. This guide breaks down the entire process, from understanding Facebook’s rules to the essential steps you need to take *after* your new name is approved.

Before You Change Your Name: What You Need to Know

Diving into your Page settings without a plan can lead to rejections and headaches. Before you request a name change, take a moment to understand Facebook's rules and the potential outcomes. This preparation can save you a lot of trouble down the line.

Understanding Facebook's Naming Policies

Facebook isn't the Wild West, there are specific rules about what your Page name can and cannot be. If you ignore them, your request will be swiftly denied. Here are the core guidelines to follow:

• Authenticity is a Must: Your Page name should accurately represent what your business or organization is. It must be the name people know you by in the real world or online.
• No Generic Names: You can't name your page something generic like "Best Pizza" or "Social Media Marketing." However, you can use a generic term if it's part of a unique brand name, like "Brooklyn's Best Pizza."
• Avoid Impersonation: This should be obvious, but you can’t pretend to be another brand, organization, or person.
• Proper Formatting Matters: Facebook has specific rules about capitalization and characters.
  • Avoid excessive capitalization (e.g., "MARKETING GURUS"). Stick to standard grammar.
  • Symbols, like © or ™, are generally not allowed.
  • You can't use slogans or long descriptions (e.g., "Sunshine Bakery - The Best Cronuts in Town"). The description belongs in your "About" section.
  • You cannot use variations of the word "Facebook."
• Watch Out for Misleading Words: Your name shouldn't contain words that could mislead people about the page's purpose or relationship with official entities.

A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself: "Does this name clearly and honestly represent my business?" If the answer is yes, you're on the right track.

The Waiting Period and Follower Notification

Once you submit your name change request, it doesn't happen instantly. Facebook’s team reviews it to make sure it follows their policies. This review process can take anywhere from a few hours to three business days. Be patient during this time.

When the name change is approved, something important happens: Facebook automatically notifies everyone who follows your Page.

This is an alert that says something like, "[Original Page Name] is now called [New Page Name]." This transparency is designed to prevent shady takeovers or deceptive rebranding, but it also means your audience will know what’s happening. For this reason, it's best to prepare an announcement post *before* the change goes live so you can manage the message and explain the why behind the rebrand.

Know the Limits: Frequency and Reversibility

You can't change your Page name every other week. Facebook generally restricts page name changes to once every 60 days. This is why it’s so important to get it right. If you make a mistake or change your mind, you'll be stuck with your new name for at least two months.

If your name change is approved and you regret it, you unfortunately cannot just revert it back. You would have to submit another name change request, and again, you’d have to wait 60 days from the last change. Plan carefully to avoid this situation entirely.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your Company Facebook Page Name

Ready to make the switch? The process itself is quite simple. Here’s how to do it from a desktop computer, which we recommend for easier navigation.

To start, you must be a Page Admin to request a name change. If you're an Editor, Moderator, or have another role, you won't have the necessary permissions.

On Desktop:

1. Navigate to Your Page: Log in to your Facebook account and go to the company Page you wish to update.
2. Access Your Page Settings: In the left-hand menu, scroll down and click on "Settings." This will take you to the main settings area for your Page.
3. Go to General Page Settings: You should land on the "General" tab by default. If not, click it. The very first option you'll see is "Name." Click the "Edit" link next to your current Page name.
4. Enter Your New Company Name: A box will appear where you can type in your new desired name. Carefully enter the new name, double-checking for any typos and making sure it adheres to Facebook's naming guidelines we covered earlier.
5. Request the Change: After entering the new name, click the blue "Request Change" button. Facebook will pop up a confirmation window to make sure you're aware of the process and timeline. Click "Confirm" to submit your request.

That's it! Your part is done. Now it's up to Facebook to review and approve the change. You will receive a notification once the review is complete.

On the Facebook Mobile App:

The process is similar on mobile, but navigating the menus is slightly different.

1. Go to Your Page: Open the Facebook app and navigate to your company Page.
2. Open Settings: Tap the "Edit Page" button or look for the settings gear icon, usually in the top-right corner.
3. Find "Page Info": Tap on the "Page Info" option. This section contains your Page's name, category, location, and other key details.
4. Edit Your Name: Tap on the "Name" field. This will take you to a new screen where you can type in your new company name.
5. Save and Request: Enter the new name and tap "Continue." You’ll be prompted to confirm your request. Confirm the change to send it off for review.

What to Do if Your Name Change Is Rejected

Getting a rejection notification from Facebook can be frustrating, but don't panic. It's usually for a clear reason, and you can often fix it. Here's what to do.

Common Reasons for Rejection:

• Guideline Violation: This is the most common cause. You might have used excessive capitalization, a symbol, a slogan, or a word like "Official" when your Page isn't a verified representation.
• The Name Change Is Too Drastic: If you're changing "Jen's Cupcake Corner" to "Global Tech Innovations," Facebook's algorithm or a human reviewer will likely flag it as misleading. The new name needs to have a logical connection to the old one or your Page's existing content.
• It's a Restricted Name: The name might be infringing on a trademark or impersonating a well-known brand, even unintentionally.

How to Appeal or Try Again:

If you believe your name change was rejected in error and you do comply with all the policies, you'll see an option to appeal the decision within the notification you receive. You can provide additional context or documentation (like your business license displaying the new name) to support your case.

However, it’s often faster to simply try again after making some corrections:

1. Re-Read the Naming Policies: Go back and carefully review Facebook's naming guidelines. Compare them against your desired name. Most of the time, the issue is a small detail you overlooked.
2. Make an Incremental Change: If your new brand name is significantly different, try changing it in smaller steps. For example, if you're switching from "Dave’s Handyman Services" to "Oakwood Home Renovations," first try changing it to "Oakwood Handyman Services." Once that's approved, wait 60 days and then change it to "Oakwood Home Renovations." This signals a slower, more legitimate evolution of the brand to Facebook.
3. Align Your Web Presence: Make sure your website and other social media profiles already reflect the new name *before* you request the change on Facebook. Reviewers will check for consistency, and if your Page’s website URL has the new name, you're more likely to get approved.

After the Name Change: Your Marketing Checklist

Getting your new name approved is just the first step. To ensure a smooth transition for your brand and your audience, you need to update your digital footprint. This is where many businesses drop the ball.

1. Update Your Username and URL

Your page name is different from your username (e.g., @YourUsername). Your username dictates your Facebook URL (facebook.com/YourUsername). After changing your company name, you should change your username to match it for consistency. Go to Page Settings > General > Username to edit it. This makes your brand easier to find and tag.

2. Announce the Change to Your Followers

Don't rely solely on Facebook's automated notification. Create a high-quality post that explains the change. Share the story behind your rebrand. Are you expanding? Offering new services? Redefining your mission? This is a great opportunity to reinforce your brand identity and get your audience excited about the future. Pin this post to the top of your Page for a few weeks so new visitors see it immediately.

3. Update Your Other Digital Assets

Your Facebook Page is just one piece of your online presence. Go through and update your new company name on:

• Your website (header, footer, about page)
• Other social media profiles (Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.)
• Email signatures
• Google Business Profile
• Local directory listings like Yelp
• Any print or marketing materials you have in circulation

Consistency across all platforms is essential for brand recognition and professionalism.

Final Thoughts

Changing your company name on Facebook is a straightforward process when you understand Facebook’s rules and prepare for the public announcement and a full update of all your online assets. By following the guidelines and having a solid post-change plan, you can rebrand smoothly and keep your audience happily along for the ride.

Making a change like this across all your platforms takes coordination, and we know that managing brand consistency can be a huge time sink. At Postbase, we designed a social media management platform focused on helping you organize your content schedule efficiently. Using our visual calendar, you can line up your rebrand announcements for every profile, ensuring the message is uniform and goes live exactly when you need it, which takes the stress out of keeping everything in sync during a brand transition.