How to Change Your Name on Facebook
Learn how to change your Facebook name, what rules usually apply, and what to check if the option is not available.
Quick answer
Open Accounts Center, choose the Facebook profile, then review the name setting under personal details. Enter the name you use in everyday life, preview the change, and confirm it with your password if Facebook asks.
What this means
A display-name change affects how people recognize the profile; it does not automatically change the profile username or URL. Menu names can differ between the mobile app and desktop website, so use the labels shown in your own Accounts Center.
Facebook changes labels and rolls out account features gradually. The exact wording on your device can differ from screenshots or older guides, but the underlying task should remain inside the official app, facebook.com, or Accounts Center. Read the page that appears on your own account instead of forcing a menu path that is no longer present.
Step-by-step
- Sign in through the official Facebook app or facebook.com and switch to the profile whose name you want to edit.
- Open Settings and privacy, choose Settings, and enter Accounts Center.
- Open Profiles or Personal details, select the Facebook profile, and choose Name.
- Enter the first, middle, and last name fields as appropriate, avoiding promotional wording, symbols, unusual capitalization, or titles.
- Review how the name will appear, enter the account password if requested, and save the change.
Checks before you continue
- Make sure the spelling matches the name you use in normal life.
- Remember that Facebook can limit how frequently a name is changed.
- Do not upload identity documents to anyone outside an official facebook.com flow.
- Update friends or Page collaborators if the new name may be unfamiliar.
Common reasons it does not work
- A recent name change can trigger a waiting period.
- Numbers, mixed scripts, repeated punctuation, professional titles, and business slogans may be rejected.
- An account under security review may need recovery or identity confirmation before profile details can change.
If the result is different from what this guide describes, stop and note the exact message. Try the desktop website if the app hides a setting, update the app if a menu is incomplete, and use a familiar device for identity or recovery checks. Avoid repeating the same request many times because temporary rate limits can make diagnosis harder.
Safety and privacy notes
Account changes can affect Pages, groups, Messenger, Marketplace, and third-party services. Confirm the selected profile at every step, keep a separate recovery method, and take screenshots of important warnings before a permanent action.
Never use remote-access software or share a screen with an unknown “support agent.” Facebook does not need your password, two-factor code, gift card, or cryptocurrency payment to complete a normal account setting. When a permanent action is involved, keep an independent backup of the information and access records you may need later.
Official source
Review Facebook Help Center: Names on Facebook for the latest labels and eligibility rules. This guide explains the process in plain language, but the options displayed by Facebook for your account are the final authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often can I change my Facebook name?
Facebook commonly limits name changes for a period after a recent change, so check the current notice in your account settings.
Can I use a nickname?
A nickname may work when it is a real variation of your name, but unusual symbols or misleading names may be rejected.