How to Change Your Facebook Name Step by Step

Understanding Facebook Name Change Basics

Facebook allows users to change their name for various reasons—whether you've gotten married, prefer a different version of your name, or simply want a fresh start. The platform has specific rules about how often you can make changes and what types of names are acceptable. Understanding these guidelines before you start the process can prevent delays or issues with your request.

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According to Facebook's policies, you can change your name once every 60 days. This means if you've recently changed your name, you'll need to wait two months before making another change. Facebook implements this rule to prevent misuse and protect against fraud. The 60-day waiting period begins from your last name change, not from when your change was approved.

Facebook has specific requirements for what counts as a valid name. Your name should reflect the name you go by in everyday life. This can include your legal name, a nickname you commonly use, or a name from your cultural background. However, Facebook does not allow names that include numbers, excessive punctuation, symbols, or repeated characters. For example, a name like "John123" or "***Mary***" would likely be rejected.

Your name on Facebook is different from your username. Your username is the custom web address people use to find your profile (like facebook.com/yourname), while your display name is what appears on your profile and in comments. You can change your display name more frequently than your username. When you change your name through the settings, you're changing your display name, which is the primary identifier people see when they interact with you.

One important consideration is that changing your name on Facebook doesn't automatically change how you appear in old posts, comments, or messages. People who have screenshots of your previous name or remember it from before will still know your old name. However, going forward, your new name will appear on all new activity.

Practical Takeaway: Before starting the name change process, confirm you haven't changed your name in the last 60 days, decide what name you want to use that follows Facebook's guidelines, and understand that this change affects how you appear moving forward but doesn't erase your history under the old name.

Accessing Your Account Settings

The first step in changing your Facebook name is opening your account settings. Facebook's interface may look slightly different depending on whether you're using a computer, phone, or tablet, but the general process remains consistent. Knowing where to find the settings menu is essential because Facebook occasionally updates its interface, and these settings have moved to different locations over time.

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If you're using Facebook on a computer, start by logging into your account. Once you're on your home page, look for the downward-pointing arrow or menu icon in the top right corner of the screen. This icon is typically located next to the "Help & Support" question mark symbol. Click on this arrow to reveal a dropdown menu with various options.

From the dropdown menu that appears, you'll see a list of options including "Settings & Privacy," "Settings," "Log Out," and other choices. Click on "Settings & Privacy," which will expand to show additional options. Then select "Settings" from the submenu. This action takes you to your account settings page where all account-related information is stored and managed.

If you're using the Facebook mobile app on a smartphone or tablet, the process is similar but the menu appears slightly different. Open the Facebook app and look at the bottom right of your screen. You should see several icons—usually including a home icon, a friends icon, a video icon, and others. One of these will be a menu icon, typically represented by three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) or the word "Menu." Tap this icon to open the navigation menu.

Once you've opened the menu on mobile, scroll down until you find "Settings & Privacy." Tap on this option, which will expand to show a submenu. Select "Settings" from the options that appear. This takes you to your account settings on the mobile version, which has most of the same features as the computer version, though organized slightly differently.

Some users prefer using Facebook's mobile web version (accessed through a mobile browser rather than the app). If you're using this version, the menu structure is similar to the computer version. Look for the menu icon in the top right area of your screen and follow the same steps as described for the computer version.

Practical Takeaway: Locate and open your account settings by clicking the menu icon in the top right (computer) or bottom right (mobile app), then select "Settings & Privacy" followed by "Settings." Once you're in the settings page, you're ready to locate the name change option.

Finding the Personal Information Section

Once you're in your account settings, you need to locate the section that contains your personal information, including your name. Facebook organizes settings into different categories on the left side of the screen (on computers) or as a scrollable list (on mobile). The personal information section is where Facebook stores details like your name, birthday, email, phone number, and other identifying information.

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On a computer, look at the left sidebar in your settings page. You'll see several categories listed vertically. These typically include options like "Personal Information," "Security and Login," "Privacy," "Notifications," and others. Click on "Personal Information." This section is where your name, birthday, gender, and contact information are stored. It's the same place where you'd update your email address or phone number if needed.

On a mobile device using the Facebook app, scroll down through your settings menu. You're looking for an option labeled "Personal Information" or sometimes "Account Information." Once you find it, tap on it to open that section. The mobile version displays the same information as the computer version, just formatted to fit a smaller screen.

In the Personal Information section, you'll see several fields with your current information. Look for the field labeled "Name" or "Your Name"—this is what you're looking to change. Your current name should be displayed in this field. Next to it, there's usually an "Edit" button or pencil icon that allows you to modify this information. Click or tap on this edit option to begin changing your name.

It's worth noting that some Facebook accounts have additional name fields depending on how your account was set up. For example, some older accounts might have separate fields for first name and last name, while newer accounts may have a single name field. You may also see options for a "Name at Birth" field or a "Preferred Name" field on certain accounts. Focus on the main name field, as this is what appears on your profile and in your interactions with others.

If you're having trouble finding the Personal Information section, you can use Facebook's search function within settings. At the top of the settings page, there's typically a search box. Type "name" into this search box, and Facebook will highlight the relevant settings related to your name, making it easier to find what you're looking for.

Practical Takeaway: In your account settings, locate the "Personal Information" section on the left sidebar (computer) or by scrolling through the menu (mobile). Find the "Name" field and click the "Edit" button next to it to proceed with changing your name.

Entering Your New Name and Understanding Name Rules

When you click the edit button next to your name, a text field becomes active where you can type your new name. This is the moment to enter the name you want to use going forward. Before you start typing, it's important to understand Facebook's specific rules about what qualifies as an acceptable name. Following these rules from the start prevents rejection and saves you from having to resubmit your request.

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Facebook requires that names follow these guidelines: names must contain only letters from various alphabets (including accented letters, which Facebook recognizes for different languages), periods, hyphens, spaces, and apostrophes. Numbers, symbols, emojis, and special characters are not permitted. For example, "Mary-Jane" is acceptable because it includes a hyphen, "O'Connor" is acceptable because it includes an apostrophe, and "José" is acceptable because it includes an accented letter. However, "Mary123," "Mary@Smith," or "Mary★" would all be rejected.

The name you enter should be something you use in everyday life. This means it should be a name that people actually know you by. If you use a stage name, pen name, or nickname that others commonly use to refer to you, Facebook generally accepts these. For instance, if you're known professionally as "Samantha Black" but your legal name is "Susan Johnson," you can use "Samantha