Changing your name on Facebook is a simple process that can be done directly from the Facebook website. Your Facebook name is the name that appears on your profile and is visible to your friends and followers. While your actual Facebook username (the one you use to log in) cannot be changed, you can change how your name appears to others at any time.
Why Would You Want to Change Your Facebook Name?
There are a few common reasons people may want to change their Facebook name:
- You got married or divorced and want your Facebook name to match your legal name.
- You prefer to use a nickname rather than your legal first and last name.
- You want to use a middle name or initial instead of your first name.
- You are an artist, writer, or performer and want to use a stage name.
- You simply want to freshen up your online identity.
Facebook allows you to change your name every 60 days. This gives you the flexibility to modify your name if your circumstances or preferences change over time.
Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your Facebook Name
Changing your Facebook name only takes a few steps:
- Go to Facebook.com and log into your account.
- Click on the down arrow at the top right of any Facebook page and select “Settings” from the drop down menu.
- On the left column, click “Name.”
- In the text box, enter your new preferred name.
- Click “Review Change.”
- Confirm the change and click “Save Changes.”
Your new Facebook name should now be updated throughout the platform. All your existing friends and followers will see the change.
Changing Your Name on Facebook Messenger
When you change your name on Facebook, it will automatically update across most integrated apps like Facebook Messenger. However, if for some reason your Messenger name does not reflect the change, you can manually update it by:
- Opening the Messenger app.
- Tapping your profile icon in the top left.
- Going to your profile settings.
- Tapping “Name” and entering your new name.
This will sync the change across Messenger so your name is consistent in all Facebook-connected platforms.
Important Notes About Changing Your Facebook Name
Here are some important notes to keep in mind when changing your Facebook name:
- Your Facebook URL will not change – this is connected to your username which cannot be altered.
- Previous names may still be visible in some contexts, like conversations and notifications.
- You are limited to changing your name twice within a 60 day period.
- Facebook will not allow you to change your name to something inappropriate, misleading or impersonating.
- Pages, groups and events you created under your previous name will not change.
Overall the process is very straightforward, just be aware that remnants of your old name may still appear in some places until the change has fully propagated through Facebook’s systems.
Troubleshooting Name Change Issues
In most cases, changing your Facebook name is simple. But sometimes issues come up. Here are some common problems and solutions:
Problem: My name isn’t updating across Facebook
Give it some time. It can take up to 24 hours for the new name to fully take effect across Facebook platforms.
Problem: I’m unable to change my name and getting an error message
Double check that you are meeting Facebook’s name policies – your new name can’t have symbols, use trademark names, or impersonate someone. Also make sure you have not hit the limit for name changes within 60 days.
Problem: I changed my name but now want my old name back
You can revert back to a previous name via the same name change process in your account settings. Just enter your old name again.
Problem: My URL is showing my old name
Facebook URLs remain unchanged when you change your name. Only your username (which you cannot alter) affects your URL.
Problem: My past posts and conversations still show my old name
It may take some time for your new name to populate everywhere. You can manually edit old posts and conversations to reflect your new name if desired.
If you run into an error or bug when changing your Facebook name, report it to Facebook. There is likely a technical issue that their support team can quickly resolve.
Conclusion
While you can’t change your Facebook username, modifying your name and how it displays is simple and straightforward. With just a few clicks in your account settings, you can update your name to reflect your preferences. Just be aware it make take some time to fully propagate across Facebook’s platforms so remnants of your old name may still appear temporarily. But overall, the ability to change your Facebook name easily is a useful feature if your circumstances or personal preferences change.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Go to Facebook.com and log into your account |
| 2 | Click on the down arrow at the top right and select “Settings” |
| 3 | Click “Name” in the left column |
| 4 | Enter your new name in the text box |
| 5 | Click “Review Change” |
| 6 | Confirm the change and click “Save Changes” |
Common Name Change Issues and Solutions
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Name not updating across Facebook | Allow up to 24 hours for change to propagate |
| Unable to change name/getting error message | Make sure name complies with policies, and you haven’t reached the limit of changes in 60 days |
| Want to revert back to old name | Enter your old name again via the name change settings |
| URL still shows old name | URLs are connected to usernames which cannot be changed |
| Old name still visible in some places | Manually edit past posts/conversations to reflect new name |