How to Change Your Name on Facebook

Changing your name on Facebook should be simple, but the settings can sometimes feel buried in a maze of menus. Whether you’ve recently gotten married, are aligning your profile with your professional identity, or just want to use a name that feels more authentic, the process is straightforward once you know where to look. This complete guide walks you through the exact steps for desktop and mobile, explains Facebook's specific naming rules, and shows you what to do if you run into any trouble.

Why You Might Want to Change Your Facebook Name

Your name is a core part of your digital identity, and there are many valid reasons for wanting to update it. People often change their Facebook name to reflect significant life events or professional shifts. Understanding common reasons can help clarify if a name change is the right move for you.

• Life Events: Getting married or divorced are the most common reasons people update their last names to reflect their new legal status.
• Personal Identity: You might want to use a preferred nickname, a name that reflects a gender transition, or simply revert to your maiden name.
• Professional Branding: Authors, artists, entrepreneurs, and freelancers often align their social media profiles with the name they use professionally to build a consistent brand.
• Correcting Mistakes: Sometimes, it's as simple as fixing a typo you made when first setting up your account years ago.
• Privacy: Some users shorten their last name or use a middle name to make them less easily searchable while remaining identifiable to friends and family.

Whatever your reason, making sure your Facebook name is accurate and reflects who you are is a small but important step in managing your online presence.

Before You Start: Facebook's Name Rules You Must Know

Before you jump into the settings, it’s important to understand Facebook's Name Policy. The platform has specific rules to prevent fake accounts, impersonation, and spam, and your requested change will be rejected if it doesn’t comply. Taking a moment to review these guidelines can save you from a lot of frustration.

The 60-Day Rule

This is the most critical rule: You can only change your name once every 60 days. If you make a typo or change your mind, you'll be stuck with it for two months. Double-check your new name for spelling errors before you hit that final save button.

What Your Name CANNOT Include:

Facebook's system automatically flags names that seem inauthentic. To avoid rejection, steer clear of the following:

• Symbols, numbers, or unusual punctuation: Characters like @, #, %, *, or numbers aren't allowed.
• Unusual capitalization: Using alternating caps (e.g., jOhN sMiTh) or all caps for a single name is not permitted.
• Repeating characters or punctuation: Facebook might flag a name like "Johnnnn Smith" as spammy.
• Titles of any kind: You can't include professional, religious, or formal titles in your name fields. Do not add "Dr.", "Rev.", "Mr.", "PhD", or "Esq.". These can be mentioned in other parts of your profile.
• Words or phrases instead of a name: Your name must be a name, not a statement like "Loves to Read" or "Your Marketing Guy."
• Offensive or suggestive words: Any name containing words that violate Facebook's Community Standards will be immediately rejected.

The "Authentic Name" Policy

Facebook asks that you use "the name you go by in everyday life." This doesn’t strictly mean it has to be your legal name that appears on your government-issued ID. For many people, their authentic name might be a common nickname (like "Mike" instead of "Michael") or a professionally recognized stage name. However, if your name change is flagged for review, Facebook may ask for identification to verify that it's a real name associated with you.

How to Change Your Name on Facebook (Desktop Version)

Changing your name from a desktop computer or laptop is all done through the Meta Accounts Center, which now centralizes your settings for Facebook, Instagram, and Meta accounts. The interface is clean and the steps are logical once you know the path.

Follow these steps carefully:

1. Navigate to Settings: Log into your Facebook account. Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen. In the dropdown menu, select Settings &, Privacy, and then click on Settings.
2. Open the Accounts Center: On the left-hand menu, you'll see a blue box for the Accounts Center. Click anywhere in this box to proceed. This is the new hub for managing your personal details across Meta's platforms.
3. Select Your Profile: Inside the Accounts Center, click on Profiles at the top. You'll see a list of the profiles you manage (e.g., your Facebook profile and any linked Instagram profiles). Click on your Facebook profile.
4. Choose the Name Option: On the next screen, you’ll see several options like Name, Username, Profile Picture, and Avatar. Click on Name.
5. Enter Your New Name: You can now update the fields for First name, Middle name (optional), and Last name. Fill these out with your desired new name, paying close attention to spelling and capitalization rules.
6. Review and Confirm: After entering your new name, click the blue Review Change button. Facebook will show you a preview of how your new name will appear. You will be given a couple of display options, such as "Mary Jones" or "Jones Mary." Select the one you prefer.
7. Save Your Changes: To finalize the process, you must enter your Facebook password. This security step confirms that you are the one making the change. After entering your password, click Save Changes.

That's it! Your name will be updated across your profile. Remember, you won't be able to change it again for 60 days.

How to Change Your Name on the Facebook Mobile App (iOS &, Android)

The process on the mobile app is nearly identical to the desktop version, as it also routes you through the Meta Accounts Center. The button locations are just a bit different. These instructions work for both iPhone and Android devices.

1. Open the Menu: Launch the Facebook app. Tap on the Menu icon, which is represented by three horizontal lines. On iOS, it's in the bottom-right corner. On Android, it's typically in the top-right.
2. Access Your Settings: Scroll down and tap on Settings &, Privacy to expand the section, then tap on Settings.
3. Go to Accounts Center: At the very top of the Settings screen, you'll see the Accounts Center panel. Tap on it.
4. Choose Your Profile: Tap Profiles, and then select the Facebook profile you want to update.
5. Select "Name": On the profile settings page, tap on Name.
6. Update Your Name: Fill in the First, Middle, and Last name fields with your new name.
7. Review and Save: Tap Review Change. Choose your preferred display order for your new name, then enter your password to confirm. Tap Save Changes to complete the process.

What to Do if Your Name Change Is Rejected

It can be alarming if Facebook rejects your request, but there's usually a simple reason behind it. If your name change doesn't go through, here's how to troubleshoot the issue.

Common Reasons for Rejection:

• You Violated the Name Policy: This is the most common reason. You may have accidentally included a symbol, professional title, or unusual capitalization. Review the rules mentioned earlier and try again with a compliant name.
• You Changed it Recently: If you're trying to change it again before the 60-day period is over, the system will block you. Unfortunately, there is no way around this, and you just have to wait.
• Your Name was Flagged as Inauthentic: Sometimes, an uncommon or unique name might be flagged by Facebook's automated systems. If you believe your authentic name was unfairly rejected, you can appeal the decision.

How to Appeal a Rejection

If your name complies with the policies but was still rejected, Facebook has an appeal process. You'll need to submit a form to confirm your name. You can find this by searching for "Confirm your name with Facebook" in the Help Center or by following the link provided in the rejection notice.

You may be asked to provide a copy of a government-issued ID (like a driver's license or passport) or non-government documents (like a utility bill, bank statement, or library card) that show your authentic name. Be patient, as this review process can take several days or even weeks.

Bonus: Adding a Nickname or Other Names to Your Profile

If you don't want to formally change your primary name but still want another name to appear on your profile, you can add an "other name." This is perfect for maiden names, professional names, or common nicknames.

How to Add an Other Name:

1. Follow the steps above to navigate to the Name settings in the Accounts Center.
2. Instead of changing your name, go back one step and select Manage Other Names. On older interfaces, this might be under "Add a nickname, a birth name..."
3. Choose the "Name Type" from the dropdown menu (e.g., Nickname, Maiden Name, Former Name).
4. Type the name in the "Name" field.
5. If you want this name to appear at the top of your profile next to your primary name in parentheses, check the box labeled Show at top of profile.
6. Click Save.

This provides a flexible middle ground, allowing you to represent different facets of your identity without altering your main account name.

Final Thoughts

Changing your name on Facebook is a straightforward process once you locate the Meta Accounts Center and follow the platform's rules. As long as you stick to their naming policy and are mindful of the 60-day cooldown period, you can easily update your profile to better reflect who you are today.

Of course, keeping your digital identity consistent goes beyond just one platform. For our team, managing everything from brand voice to content rollout across all social channels is essential. We use Postbase because having a single visual calendar to plan our scheduled posts for Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok makes it incredibly simple to ensure our branding is consistent everywhere - especially after a major update like a name change. It just works without making simple tasks complicated.