How to change name to facebook

How to Change Your Name on Facebook

Update your Facebook profile name

What to Know

This article explains how to change the name on a Facebook profile and how to add a nickname.

How Do You Change Your Name on Facebook?

Here’s how to change your name on Facebook. The process itself is fairly simple, but there are few things to watch out for when editing your handle since Facebook won’t let you change it to just anything.

Press the inverted triangle icon (▼) in the top right corner of Facebook. Then, choose Settings & Privacy > Settings.

Select Edit in the Name row.

Change your first name, middle name and/or surname, and select Review Change.

Choose how your name will appear, enter your password, and press Save Changes.

How Not to Change Your Name on Facebook

The above are the only actions you’ll need to perform in order to change your Facebook name. However, Facebook has a number of guidelines in place which prevent users from doing absolutely anything they want with their names. Here’s what it disallows:

It’s worth noting that the last prohibition on this list isn’t exactly clear-cut. For example, it’s sometimes possible to change your Facebook name to something including characters from more than one language, at least if you stick exclusively to languages that use the Latin alphabet (e.g. English, French or Turkish). However, if you mix one or two non-Western characters (e.g. Chinese, Japanese or Arabic letters) in with English or French, then Facebook’s system won’t allow it.

More generally, the social media giant advises users that the «name on your profile should be the name that your friends call you in everyday life.» If a user violates this guideline by calling themselves, say, «Stephen Hawking,» it can happen in rare cases that Facebook eventually finds out about this and require the user to confirm their name and identity. In such an event, users are locked out of their accounts until they provide scans of identity documents, such as passports and driving licenses.

How to Add or Edit a Nickname or Other Name on Facebook

While Facebook advises people to use only their real names, it is possible to add a nickname or other alternative name as a complement to your legal one. Doing so is often an effective way of helping people who know you by another name find you on the social network.

To add a nickname you need to complete the following steps:

Select About on your profile.

Select Details About You on the sidebar of your About page.

Select the Add a nickname, a birth name. option under the Other Names subheading.

On the Name Type dropdown menu, choose the type of name you’d like (e.g. Nickname, Maiden Name, Name With Title).

Type your other name in the Name box.

Select Show at top of profile if you’d like your other name to appear beside your primary name on your profile.

Press Save.

That’s all you have to do, and unlike with full names, there aren’t any limits on how often you can change your other name. And to edit a nickname, you complete steps 1 and 2 above but then hover the mouse cursor over the other name you’d like to change. This brings up an Options button, which you can then click to choose between either an Edit or Delete function.

How to Change Your Name on Facebook After Having Already Confirmed It

Users who have previously confirmed their name with Facebook may sometimes find it difficult to change it afterward since verification provides Facebook with a record of their real names. In such a case, users won’t generally be able to change their Facebook name completely unless they happen to have legally changed their name since first confirming. If they have, they will need to go through the confirmation process once again via Facebook’s Help Center.

How to Change Your Name on Facebook

Changing your name on Facebook is both easier and harder than you would think. Facebook has long required people to use their legal names. Whether you are getting married, updating your name to reflect your current status in life, or for whatever reasons you may have, the Social Media giant does give you some name change options but with restrictions.

These days, Facebook still requires users to use their true names, with minor exceptions. They have long maintained that people are more accountable to their words and actions when forced to act under their real identity.

Facebook requires them to do so in an effort to foster an online environment where users feel secure. There is just one problem. While the steps for changing your name are rather straight-forward, you might find yourself roadblocked by Facebook’s name policies. This guide will show you how to change a profile name and walk you through the naming rules you’re expected to follow.

Why Change Your Name At All?

If Facebook only wants your legal name, what is the point in allowing people to change it at all? In truth, there are a handful of instances where users might want or need to make changes. For example:

Whatever your reasons, the steps for getting the job done are pretty simple.

How to Change Your Facebook Profile Name

If you need to change or update your name on Facebook, follow these steps below to complete the process:

These steps may vary slightly depending on whether you are using the New Facebook or the older version.

Your name change must be approved by Facebook before it registers on your account. The approval process can take up to 24 hours but assuming that your change falls within Facebook’s guidelines you should be fine. Also, keep in mind that it does take 60 days to change your name again, so give it some thought before saving the changes.

Why Was My Name Change Rejected?

Facebook may not approve the change for a variety of reasons. Let us say you did your research and know for a fact that your name falls within their guidelines. Why else might they be stopping the change?

Whatever the reason, do not sweat it. Facebook is not out to get you. They want your profile to be safe and accurate for you and your friends. Chances are you will be able to get the name change resolved with time.

Facebook Name Guidelines and Rules

So, what names are allowed on Facebook? The more accurate question is what names are not allowed. Facebook has a detailed list of items that names can not be or have. Make sure your new name does not have any of the following:

Of course, some names have odd capitalization or punctuation. Some names might even legally contain special characters. Does that mean Facebook just does not like your name? There’s a good a chance Facebook will make an exception for you if you provide acceptable ID proving that your name looks exactly the way you’ve spelled it. In the meantime, they have some other guidelines to help users choose the right name for their account.

Second Names and Professional Accounts

Let us say your name is Jeffrey Miller, but your nightly DJ name is Dr. Spinz-a-lot. If you are forced to use Jeffrey Miller as your account profile name, how are your fans going to know who you are? You can get your DJ name out there in one of two ways.

Either you associate your DJ name with your personal account by adding a second name to the account (this can be a maiden name, professional name, etc) or you create a professional Facebook page for your DJ alter ego and leave your personal account personal. Adding a second name to your account is almost as easy as adding the first, and the naming rules are far more relaxed.

Now everyone will know that Jeffrey Miller and DJ Spinz-a-lot are one and the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the name on my Business account?

Yes, although similar guidelines apply here too. Visit your Business page and click on the Settings options to update the name displayed on your account.

Only administrators or page owners can change the name of a Facebook page and there are separate guidelines for these as well. For example, you can not use the word Official in your page’s name (there are verification badges for that) and you can not include your tag line (the About section is for that.

For a complete list of guidelines visit the Facebook help center.

Can you have a joint Facebook account?

Technically no, according to Facebook it goes against guidelines but people still do it. Whether you put your first names together and then your last name, or you put one as the first name and the other as the middle, it is possible to have two people on the same account.

Can I create a new Facebook page with a new name?

You can. But, this will delete all of your data, friends, pictures, and posts. Another reason this isn’t the best way to display the name you want is that Facebook now requires a phone number. If you try using the same phone number and email as your old account, Facebook will take you to an account reactivation page.

How to change your Facebook username, and help others better identify your profile or page

Twitter LinkedIn icon The word «in».

LinkedIn Fliboard icon A stylized letter F.

Flipboard Facebook Icon The letter F.

Email Link icon An image of a chain link. It symobilizes a website link url.

Unlike the name that displays on your Facebook page — your display name, in other words — a Facebook username operates relatively unseen in the background. Facebook usernames are designed to help users find the people or pages they seek among the billions of profiles and Facebook pages that amount to this massive social media platform.

And when you create a link that uses your Facebook username, you can send it along to anyone, letting them immediately find your profile or page. Facebook usernames help cut through the clutter of all those many names.

Think of it like this: finding the Facebook account of your new friend John Smith is like finding a needle in a haystack in a field full of haystacks. Finding the Facebook page of John.Smith.314159 is going to be a bit easier. Especially if John has sent you the link to www.facebook.com/john.smith.314159.

Facebook automatically assigns a username when you create an account, and it’s likely nothing inspired, just your name and a bunch of numbers.

If you want to change your Facebook username, or change the username of a Facebook page you manage, do it with care: once you change your current username, you can’t go back to a previous one, as each unique username can only be used once.

How to set or change a Facebook username on a profile

1. Log into your Facebook account on a desktop computer and click the dark blue triangle at the top-right of the page.

2. Click the word «Settings» from the dropdown menu.

3. On the next page, on the row that reads «Username» and displays your current username, click «Edit.»

4. Enter your new desired username (if it’s unavailable, a red X will appear along with a message saying «Username is not available»).

5. Click «Save Changes» once you have your desired, available username.

How to set or change a Facebook username on a page

1. Click the «About» section on the left side of your page.

2. Select the «Edit» option next to the section for your page’s username.

3. Type in your desired username, and if it’s available, click «Create username.»

Your new usernames are now set, and any previous username you used is unavailable to anyone, including you.

How to change your Facebook name on desktop or mobile, and add nicknames

Twitter LinkedIn icon The word «in».

LinkedIn Fliboard icon A stylized letter F.

Flipboard Facebook Icon The letter F.

Email Link icon An image of a chain link. It symobilizes a website link url.

Whether you’ve recently changed your last name or want to add a fun nickname, changing your name on your Facebook profile is a fairly straightforward process.

Note: You can only change your Facebook name once every 60 days, though, so if you’re going for something humorous, make sure you can live with it for at least two months.

Here’s what you need to know about Facebook’s name change policy and how to change your name on a desktop browser or the Facebook mobile app.

What is Facebook’s name change policy?

While you don’t have to use your full legal name on Facebook, there are rules as to what types of names you can and cannot use.

Facebook prefers its users to use the name they go by in everyday life. Facebook names cannot include the following:

As far as nicknames go, Facebook allows them for first or middle names as long as they are a variation of your actual name (like Abby instead of Abigail). Impersonating other users is not allowed on Facebook and violates their Community Standards.

Note: Choosing a name that matches an ID or document on Facebook’s approved ID list can help you regain access to your Facebook account

How to change name on Facebook

You can change your name on Facebook via a desktop browser or the Facebook mobile app once every 60 days. Here’s how it’s done.

On desktop browser:

1. Log in to Facebook. Click the down arrow at the top-right of the screen.

2. Click Settings & Privacy, then Settings.

3. Click Name.

4. Enter your new name, then click Review Change.

5. Enter your Facebook password, then click Save Changes.

Quick tip: If you’re unable to change your name using the steps outlined above, fill out this form.

On mobile app:

1. Open the Facebook app for iPhone or Android.

2. Tap the Menu icon at the bottom-right of the screen for iPhone, top-right of the screen for Android.

3. Scroll down the list. Tap Settings & Privacy, then Settings.

4. Tap Personal and Account Information.

5. Tap Name.

6. Enter your new name, then click Review Change.

7. Enter your Facebook password, then click Save Changes.

How to use a nickname on Facebook

1. Open the Facebook app for iPhone or Android.

2. Tap the Menu icon at the bottom-right of the screen for iPhone, top-right of the screen for Android.

3. Scroll down the list. Tap Settings & Privacy, then Settings.

4. Tap Personal and Account Information.

5. Tap Name.

6. Tap Add a nickname, a birth name.

7. Choose a Name Type (nickname, maiden name, alternate spelling, etc.), enter your name, then tap Save.

How to change your name on Facebook

Need a new Identity? Here’s how to change your name on Facebook

In this day and age, a Facebook name carries more weight and identity than a physical listing in the Yellow Pages. Your online name serves as a portal of sorts, ushering friends and family to discover and navigate your timeline, while offering a touch of personalization in the form of additional nicknames, professional titles, and the like. However, there are more plausible reasons than you might expect for changing your Facebook name to something more appropriately suited for you. The best part? It only takes a matter of seconds to get that new title of yours.

Perhaps you recently married and want to take on your significant other’s last name or want a way to better hide your online identity from prospective job employers. Or you may decide you have a newfound fondness for your middle name or simply want a way to distance yourself from that horrendous alias that donned the top of your profile page throughout your college career. We can’t blame you.

Here’s our guide on how to change your Facebook name no matter the embarrassing, lucrative, or otherwise smart decision for doing so. It’s time to set the record straight once and for all.

Review Facebook’s name standards

If you’re going to change your Facebook name, you might as well make sure it fits the service’s name standards. Facebook supposedly requires each individual to provide his or her real name — something many people skirt around — but certain characters, punctuation marks, and inappropriate words will not pass muster regardless. Keep in mind Facebook only allows you to change your name “a few times,” so make sure you decide upon a name you can live with as you’ll never know when it’s the last time.

Log in to your Facebook account

Once you know what you can and can’t do with your new name, it’s time to get started. Launch your favorite browser and sign in to Facebook as you would normally, entering your email or phone number and providing your password before navigating to the homepage.

Access the General Account Settings

Next, go to your feed and click the blue down arrow in the upper-right corner of the homepage. From the dropdown menu, select Settings. The General Account Settings tab should open by default, but simply click the General option on the left-hand side to bring up the main interface if it doesn’t.

Change your name

Now you can make the big name change. Click the blue Edit button in the top-right corner next to your name to access the main name settings. Type in your desired first, middle, and desired last names before specifying your display name from the drop-down menu below the three text boxes.

Additionally, you can add an alternate name to your account (i.e. maiden name, nickname, professional title) by entering your desired name in the text field to the right of Alternate name and checking the box to the left of Include this on my timeline. Similar to your actual name, your alternate name must adhere to certain alternate name policies to pass confirmation.

Be sure you like any changes you make because you can’t change your name again for 60 days. When finished, click Review Change, enter your password in the field below and click the blue Save Changes button.

What happens next

Allow up to 24 hours for the appropriate name changes to take effect. If you choose to display your alternate name alongside your real name, it will appear below your actual name at the top of your personal timeline.