How to change your surname on facebook


How to Change Your Name on Facebook in 2023 — Easy Directions

Follow these simple steps to update, add or change your name on your Facebook profile

Whether you’re a Facebook newbie or a longtime user, there may come a time when you need to know how to change your name on Facebook. You might recall that the site requires you to use the name you go by on an everyday basis when you create a Facebook account. But there are times when you may need to change your name after opening an account, such as updating your last name after a recent marriage or divorce, or adding a nickname. You might also be wondering if you can be a little more incognito on your Facebook account. 

The steps for how to change your name on Facebook are straightforward—as long as you follow Facebook’s naming standards. Ready to get started? We’ll break down the nitty-gritty details of Facebook’s naming policy and how to successfully change or add a name on your Facebook account. For more Facebook how-tos, we can also show you how to save a video on Facebook, how to hide friends on Facebook, how to see who follows you on Facebook, how to delete photos on Facebook and how to tell if someone blocked you on Facebook.

Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more tech tips, travel, cleaning, humor and fun facts all week long.

What to know about Facebook’s naming policy

Under Facebook’s official naming policy, users’ profiles must include the name they go by on a day-to-day basis. When you register for a Facebook account, you will be prompted to enter the name you most identify with. This can be your legal birth name or a variation of your name, like Bob instead of Robert. If your name is unusual, the site may ask you to submit a copy of an official ID or document like a driver’s license or passport to confirm your name.

Facebook has other rules for profile names too. For example, users are not allowed to add unusual symbols or numbers, titles or offensive or suggestive words to their profile names. While these standards may seem strict, they are intended to protect users from imposters, online scams and phishing on the platform, according to Facebook.

Here’s the good news: Facebook does allow users to include nicknames or an additional name such as a maiden or birth name on their profiles. If you want to update or add a name on your profile, follow the step-by-step instructions in the sections below.

How to change your name on Facebook

To change your name on Facebook, you’ll first need to log in to your Facebook account from a desktop computer or mobile device. Keep in mind that you can only change your name on Facebook once every 60 days. To be clear, the following process will allow you to change your legal name on your Facebook profile for certain circumstances like a marriage or divorce. We’ll share advice for adding additional names like nicknames in the next section.

How to change your name on a computer

RD.com

  1. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner of your screen.
  2. Select Settings & privacy > Settings > Name.
  3. Enter your new name.
  4. Click “Review Change.”
  5. Enter your password, then select “Save changes.”

How to change your name on Facebook mobile

RD.com

  1. In the Facebook app, tap the Menu icon in the bottom right corner of the screen for iPhones or the top right corner of the screen for Androids.
  2. Select Settings & privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name.
  3. Enter your new name.
  4. Tap “Review change.”
  5. Enter your Facebook password, then tap “Save changes.”

Yep, it’s that easy! Of course, this isn’t the only Facebook secret that can improve your life—check out the Facebook secret conversations feature next.

How to add another name to your Facebook account

Adding another name to your profile on Facebook is just as simple as changing your name. This process comes in handy when you want to list a name on your account that is different from your official name, such as a nickname, birth name or maiden name.

While Facebook allows you to use a nickname as your first name, you might want to include your official name as well as your nickname on your profile. If that’s the case, you can use this feature. Facebook might ask you to confirm your name with an official ID or document if your nickname is not a typical variation of your legal name.

Unlike your actual profile name, which appears in bold at the top of your profile page, this name will appear in a lighter font and inside parentheses next to your official name. Just beware of adding too much information about yourself, which could leave you vulnerable to Facebook scams.

How to add a name to your Facebook account on a computer

RD.com

  1. Click on your profile picture in the top right-hand corner of your screen.
  2. Click About > Details about you.
  3. Under “Other names,” select “Add a nickname, birth name.”
  4. Find “Name type,” then choose the type of name you want to add.
  5. Enter your other name.
  6. Check the box next to “Show at top of profile” if you want your other name to appear next to your full name at the top of your profile.
  7. Click “Save.”

How to add a name to your Facebook account on Facebook mobile

RD.com

  1. In the Facebook app, tap the Menu icon in the bottom right corner of the screen for iPhones or the top right corner of the screen for Androids.
  2. Select Settings & privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name.
  3. Tap “Add a nickname, birth name.”
  4. Choose a name type from the drop-down menu.
  5. Enter your other name, then tap “Save.”

Frequently asked questions

Why can’t I change my Facebook name?

If Facebook denies your name-change request, it’s possible that your name does not follow the platform’s policies. For example, maybe you included symbols or numbers that aren’t permitted. Facebook could also block your name change if you have already submitted a change in the last 60 days or your name doesn’t match the name that appears on an official form of ID.

Still having trouble changing your name, even though it abides by Facebook’s standards? You can submit an online form to notify Facebook of the issue and confirm your name.

Can I create multiple Facebook accounts?

Facebook’s rules limit users to one personal account per person, so you cannot create more than one Facebook profile. Since your personal account is for individual use, you’ll need to enter your legal name and then, if necessary, add an additional name to the account rather than opening a new one.

Although you can have only one personal profile, Facebook does allow users to create and run a Facebook “Page” for their businesses, organizations, brands or products through their individual accounts. If your Facebook profile is hacked, here’s how to recover it so you don’t have to create another account.

Sources:

  • Facebook: “Names allowed on Facebook”
  • Facebook: “Names on Facebook”
  • Facebook: “Help Center: Changing your name”
  • Facebook: “Can I create multiple Facebook accounts?”

Popular Videos

How to Change Your Name on Facebook

  • You can change your name on Facebook in the Settings section of the website or mobile app.
  • You can only change your Facebook name once every 60 days.
  • Nicknames can be used if they adhere to Facebook's community standards.

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:

  • Symbols, numbers, nonstandard capitalization, repeating characters, or punctuation
  • Characters from more than one language
  • Titles of any kind (whether professional, religious, or something else)
  • Words or phrases instead of a name
  • Words or phrases that go against Facebook's Community Standards
  • Words or phrases that represent organizations instead of people. Facebook Profiles are for individuals, while Pages are for businesses, organizations, and ideas

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.

Navigate to "Settings" to change your Facebook name. Abigail Abesamis Demarest

3. Click Name.

The option to change your Facebook name is under "General Account Settings." Abigail Abesamis Demarest

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

Double check the spelling of your name before saving. Abigail Abesamis Demarest

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.

The menu icon will appear at the bottom-right on iPhone. Abigail Abesamis Demarest

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

"Settings & Privacy" is at the bottom of this page. Abigail Abesamis Demarest

4. Tap Personal and Account Information.

5. Tap Name.

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

After setting your new name, tap "Review Change." Abigail Abesamis Demarest

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. 

Instead of changing your Facebook name, you can enter a nickname that appears on your profile page. Abigail Abesamis Demarest

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

Set a name type and a secondary name for your Facebook profile. Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Abigail Abesamis Demarest is a contributing writer for Insider based in New York. She loves a good glazed donut and nerdy deep dives into the science of food and how it's made.  

Read moreRead less

Change your first and last name on Facebook - change according to the instructions

It's no secret that not all Facebook users follow one of the basic rules of the social network. This rule is about the obligation to enter your reliable passport data during registration. And for many, at a certain stage, there is a need to still enter real data.

Let's talk about how to correct your first and last name on Facebook, how to change your nickname. You'll learn how to do this from a computer or mobile app. 9Ol000

This procedure is not complicated and does not require the approval of the administration of the social network. You only need to have access to the account, as well as know the password.

How to change Facebook name from PC:

  1. Find and press ∇.

  1. Then, in the settings, click the "General" button located on the left.

  1. Find "Name" and click "Edit".
  2. Make the changes you want.
  3. Click "Check Changes" and see how the new nickname is displayed on the social network.
  4. Enter password and save.

On mobile devices

The procedure for changing your Facebook name on a mobile device is very simple:

  1. Find Ξ in the app or on the mobile site.

  1. Next, find the "Settings and Privacy" section, and in it - "Settings".

  1. Click on "Personal Information" and then on "Name".

  1. After editing, click "Check", make sure everything is done correctly;
  2. Save.

What problems may arise

The procedure for changing your name on Facebook is not long and not complicated. But sometimes you do everything right, but there is no expected result. Why is this happening?

  • according to the rules of the system, at least 60 days must elapse between each editing of the username - perhaps you simply did not stand this period;
  • Facebook caught you using someone else's data, which is strictly prohibited;
  • the spelling of a new nickname does not comply with the rules of the social network, that is, it contains symbols, several capital letters in a row in a word;
  • technical problems. In this case, you should try again to change the name on Facebook from another device, and it is desirable that the user has already logged into the social network from it;
  • Invalid account password entered.

Attention! In case of excessively frequent name changes, the administration may require the user to confirm his identity by submitting scans of documents.

In case of problems with changing the name on Facebook, you can use the option that prescribes other names. Then additional data will be added to the existing ones and will be displayed next to the nickname.

Create a nice link to your profile

By default, the social network assigns a special ID during registration, and the user profile looks like this: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001870802123. However, some users make changes to links to make them look more presentable.

How to do it:

  1. This option is available only in the desktop version of Facebook, that is, in the PC version.
  2. Press ∇ - "Settings" - "General".
  3. Find "Facebook Username", click "Edit".

  1. Come up with a beautiful Latin nickname for yourself. The nickname must be original, and at the same time somehow resonate with the data specified in the user profile. Nicknames of other users cannot be repeated. It is unacceptable to use profanity, as well as spaces and dashes. Dots are allowed. The minimum number of characters in a nickname is 5.
  2. After checking the system for originality, the user will be given the opportunity to either enter a different nickname, or save the changes.

After this procedure, it is no longer possible to return to the old address.

What is this link for? At least in order to indicate in a business card a memorable link to your page on the social network, which will be easy to reproduce on a computer or smartphone.

How to change your Facebook name (iOS, Android and web)

Changing your Facebook name is relatively easy, but there are a few restrictions and rules you need to be aware of before going down this path. So if you ever wondered - "How do I change my name on my Facebook profile?" then it's your lucky day. Because in this article, we will show you how to change your Facebook name using iOS app, Android app and website. The process we describe below will work whether you have a personal Facebook account or a business page.

Table of contents

How to change your Facebook name (2021)

Things to remember before changing your Facebook name

Change your name on the Facebook website

Change your name on the Facebook mobile app

On Android

On iOS and iPadOS

Change your FB profile name on Android, iPhone and on the web

How to change your name on Facebook (2021)

Here we will show you how to change your Facebook profile name on iPhone, Android and web. We will also explain how to change the name of your Facebook page for business accounts. Please note that you will only be able to change your name if the new name for your page or personal profile meets the company's strict guidelines. However, let's get right to it.

Things to remember before changing your Facebook name

Facebook has a set of strict "Naming Standards" that all users must follow. If your new name does not comply with these rules, you may not be allowed to change your name at all. Even worse, the social media giant may even have your account banned for not meeting its community standards. So, here's what Facebook says you should remember before trying to change your name on their platform:

  • The name on your account must match the name your friends call you in everyday life. This name must also appear in the form of an ID or a document from our list of IDs. There may be times when a name other than the one on your ID document is used from our list of identifiers for some profiles.
  • Nicknames can be used as a first or middle name if they are a variation of your real name (for example, Bob instead of Robert).
  • You can also enter a different name on your account (for example, maiden name, nickname, professional name).
  • Profiles are for individual use only. You can create a page for a business, organization, or idea.
  • Impersonation of anything or anyone is prohibited .

Moreover, Facebook mentions that your profile or business name cannot include the following:

  • Symbols, numbers, unusual capital letters, repeated characters or punctuation.

  • Multilingual characters

  • Any titles (e.g. professional, religious)

  • Words or phrases instead of a name

  • Offensive or obscene words of any kind

All of the above are direct quotes from Facebook's official community policy. So, now that you have all the rules and regulations right out of the horse's mouth, let's take a look at the steps you need to follow.

Change your name on the Facebook website

To change your name on the Facebook website, you must first log in with your credentials. Then do the following:

  • Click the down arrow icon in the top right corner of the Facebook home page. From the pop-up menu, select the " Settings and Privacy " option.
  • Then click " Settings " in the same pop-up menu.

  • You will be taken to your account settings page. In the General Account Settings section, click your name or the icon " Edit " sign next to it.

  • Now enter the new first name, middle name (if any), and last name that you want others to see on your Facebook profile. Then press the blue button labeled " View Change ".

  • Facebook will display variations of your name in a new pop-up window. Choose the one you like best. Finally enter your password and press Save changes ".

Your Facebook account will reflect your new name with immediate effect. Note, however, that unlike Twitter and most other social networks, you can only change your Facebook name once every 60 days. This means you won't be able to make any further changes to your profile name for the next few months.

Change your name on the Facebook mobile app

On Android

Changing your name using the Facebook app for Android is also easy. Here's how to do it:

  • Open the Facebook app on your Android device and tap the hamburger menu icon (three parallel lines) in the top right corner. On the next screen, scroll down and tap on " Settings & Privacy ".

  • Then select " Settings " from the drop-down menu. On the next screen, navigate to " Personal data » section.

  • Now click on your name and enter a new name (including first name, middle name and last name) on the next screen. Then press the blue button labeled " View Change ".

  • Finally, select the display setting for your name, enter your password, and click the " Save Changes " button. Congratulations! You have successfully changed your Facebook profile name using the Android app.

On iOS and iPadOS

The process for changing your profile or page name using the Facebook app on your iPhone or iPad is the same as on Android. Here's how to do it:

  • Open the Facebook app on your iPhone or iPad and tap the hamburger menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner of the screen. Then scroll down and navigate to " Settings & Privacy -> Settings".

  • Then select " Personal details " and click on your name.

  • On the next screen, enter the new name you want on Facebook. Once you're done, click the blue icon " View Change " button.