How to have any name on facebook

How to Use a Fake Name on Facebook Without Getting Flagged

Eric Ravenscraft

PublishedSeptember 22, 2014

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Facebook has always had a policy of requiring users to supply their real name on the site. Enforcement has been lax, but there's still a risk of getting caught. Here's how to fly under the radar if you need to.

It should be noted that what we're discussing is technically against Facebook policy. It doesn't break any laws to use a pseudonym online (at least in the US), but getting caught with a fake name can result in having your profile banned or deleted. Until Facebook changes its policies, this is the risk you run.

We also can't guarantee what kind of name you can use. We'll talk about the red flags and how to avoid them, but if you have a particular name (like a stage name or chosen name that's not yet made legal), we can't promise you'll get to use that specific one without getting flagged. Again, we're operating in the gray area of Facebook policy, so there's only so much that can be done without changes on Facebook's end.

Why You Might Want a Fake Name

There are a number of different reasons why you might want to use a fake name in spite of Facebook's policy. While Facebook does not have an option that accommodates these reasons, it's not hard to imagine why an exception might be made:

You want to avoid a stalker. Using your real, legal name means you can be identified more easily. Whether you want to use a variant of your real name or a pseudonym altogether, avoiding your legal name also allows you to stay away from search results.
You want to change your name, but can't legally do so yet. Changing your name to a chosen—rather than given—one is complex. In addition to being a legal adult (note: Facebook does not require users to be over 18), some states require you to have been a legal resident of the county and state for six months to apply.
You want to distance yourself from a past relationship. Changing your surname upon getting married is fairly common. However, returning to an old name after a divorce is not always painless. While you may still be able to get it done, having your ex's name attached to your profile just because your license still says so can be emotionally troubling.
You want to use a stage name or pseudonym. Members of the theater, transgender, drag queen, and plenty of other communities frequently employ stage names, assumed names, or some other form of alternative identity for their daily lives. While Facebook has a "Page" system that allows alternative names, they're severely limited for personal communication. Someone who goes by an alternative name in daily life may still prefer to be called by their assumed name even for a personal profile, regardless of what their ID says.

There are surely other reasons why someone might want to use a fake name, but it all tends to boil down to choice. And a lot of paperwork. The legal ability to change a name is not always as fluid as identity itself is, so it makes little sense for a social network to have the same legal requirements. At least not without a method of seeking an exception.

How Fake Names are Flagged and Targeted

First, it's helpful to discuss how fake names are flagged by Facebook's internal systems. There are several methods by which a name might send up red flags:

Automated systems: Facebook has systems that crawl profiles, looking for fake names. While we don't know exactly what criteria they search for, something is looking. These computers likely catch many spammers and bot accounts that follow easily-defined patterns.
User reports: Any user can flag another account as using a fake name. While this may not result in an immediate deactivation, it's at least reviewed by the last method of finding fake names.
Facebook investigators: While this is likely a second-tier system designed to review the red flags from the previous two methods, an employee at Facebook can look at a profile, mark it as using a fake name, and have it pulled.

In short, we don't know exactly what criteria Facebook uses, but we can guess that it's some combination of automated systems and actual people looking for certain violations. We can use that to at least help understand how to avoid getting spotted.

How to Avoid Getting Red Flagged

The following tips are gathered from speaking with a number of people who use pseudonyms online (who, for obvious reasons, would like not to be named) as well as what can be reasonably inferred about Facebook's systems. Unfortunately, they don't fix any underlying issues with Facebook policy, but as a method of avoiding detection and getting your profile shut down, they should at least help somewhat.

Separate Out Public and Private Identities

Some people who use fake or stage names may do so because they have a public persona they want to maintain. Part of the reason Facebook is so strict about its fake name policy is because it believes you already have a method of using a stage name: a Page. While this is an extremely limited form of Facebook compared to a profile, it's useful for publicity.

If you're using a stage name, create a Page with the name you want to use in addition to your personal profile. Save the personal profile for people you know directly, are related to, or communicate with regularly. For your fans, events, and self-promotion, try to use the Page as much as possible. You can use Pages that have the same name as your private profile (I do), so this separation can help reduce red flags. Particularly because of the next reason.

Lock Down Your Privacy Settings

Put simply, increased exposure to people you don't know increases the chances that you will get red flagged by a user. If you have a couple thousand "friends" attached to your profile, there's no way to keep up with their reactions to things. For private, personal sharing, lock your profile down.

You can check out our guide here on how to keep your profile on lockdown. You can also use lists and per-post privacy settings to make sure that a particular post is only visible to the people you want to see it. If you have stalkers that are trying to locate you, making sure that all your posts and photos are only visible to specific people. That way, even if a stalker manages to find your profile, unless you give their profile explicit permission to see your posts, they won't.

Choose Your Name Carefully

If you're a public personality or you're choosing a specific name as a personal self-expression, this section may not be helpful to you, but it's at least worth knowing. For those creating fake identities to conceal their real ones, try to make names that sound typical without being outlandish or obviously fake.

"John Smith" is perhaps the most obvious-sounding fake name. By the same token, it's unlikely that a person's driver's license reads "Dudebro McFancybutt69". As a matter of policy (as well as pragmatism), Facebook will not ask you to prove your identity unless it's challenged. If a name sounds like something that would raise your eyebrow if you saw it on an official form of ID, it's probably not a good idea to use it as your Facebook name.

Avoid Behavior That's Likely to Get You Reported for Other Reasons

This is another tactic that may be a little unfair to you. However, if you're trying to avoid detection because of a fake name, it's probably not a good idea to post pictures of pornography or visit every one of your friend's profiles and trash their mother.

That doesn't necessarily mean that you have to be on your best behavior all the time and never do anything controversial. It's more about knowing your audience. If you limit the number of people who can see your profile or posts, and you know that a particular list of people will appreciate your controversial artwork, by all means share it. However, if you have the entire congregation of your church added on Facebook, it may not be prudent to let them see your erotic drawings of the Muppets.

Reach Out to Facebook

Let's be completely honest: this is a raw deal for people who want to use pseudonyms. While arguments can be made about personal identity and self-expression, the fact remains that for some people, keeping your real name hidden is a matter of personal safety. And Facebook doesn't exactly have the best track record for consistent, reliable privacy settings.

That being the case, requesting that pseudonyms be allowed on Facebook officially is your best course of action. All of the above tips help you fly under the radar, but they don't fix the policy. You can find places to provide feedback to Facebook here.

Photos by Martin Poulter, David Goehring, and Marco Paköeningrat.

Reinvent Yourself (or Disappear): How to Change Your Name on Facebook

(Credit: Bob Al-Greene)

Facebook has long required people to use their real names; it's even penalized people(Opens in a new window) for using real names that sounded fake to the social network's algorithm. But if you change your name, go by a nickname, or just want to try to game Facebook's system, you can change the name that displays on your profile with just a few clicks (though there are some restrictions(Opens in a new window)).

Change Your Name

Click your profile image, then open Settings & Privacy > Settings. Select your name in the sidebar, then click the Edit link next to your current name.

Mobile users can tap their profile icon in the app, then select the gear icon. Open Personal information, then choose Name to reach the same place.

You can then change your first, middle, or last name in the appropriate field. Select the Review Change button and enter your Facebook password to make it final. Facebook will warn you that your name can only be changed once in a 60-day period, so make sure you have it right.

This change will also synchronize with Meta-owned Instagram, if you have that turned on in Settings, so you don't need to worry about changing it there as well. If you need to turn that on, choose the Manage sync settings link above the name fields.

On the web, you can enable Sync profile info on the next page. Mobile users must tap Profiles, then choose the correct profile. Tap your Instagram profile, then enable Sync profile info.

Add Alternate Names

You can also add additional names to your profile, like nicknames, married names, maiden names, legal names, or any other moniker someone may use to find you on the platform.

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To add an alternate name, open to your profile, then click the About tab and choose the Details about you option. On mobile, go to your profile and tap Edit profile. Scroll to the bottom and tap Edit Your About Info. Select Add a nickname (Add Other Name on mobile) and select the type of name you want to add from the drop-down menu. Type the name and hit Save.

Alternate names are automatically public and will help others find you on Facebook. If you want the new name to be part of your display name, enable the Show at top of profile option.

In order to make sure everything is as it should be, you'll want to view your profile from the eyes of your friends. You can do this from your profile by selecting the three-dot menu under the Edit Profile button. Choose the View As option to see what information is public and make sure your new name is visible to all.

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How do I add a different name (such as a nickname or maiden name) to my Facebook account?

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Account Management

Facebook Names

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You can enter a name in your account that is different from the name on your ID (such as your maiden name, nickname, or professional title).

Classic version for mobile browser

Add another name

Click the icon in the upper right corner of the Facebook window, and then select your name.

Select the View Info section.

Scroll down and under Other names, click Enter your nickname or birth name.

Next to Name Type, select the one you want.

In the Name section, enter your other name.

Select the Show at top of profile check box to display a different name at the top of the profile. nine0003

Click Save.

Change or remove a different name

Click the icon in the upper right corner of the Facebook window, and then select your name.

Select the View Info section.

Scroll down to OTHER NAMES.

Click to the right of the name you want to edit or delete.

New version for mobile browser

Add another name

Click the icon in the upper right corner of the Facebook window. nine0003

Select Settings.

Select Personal Information under Account Settings.

Click on your name.

In the Other names section, click Enter a nickname or birth name.

Next to Name Type, select the one you want.

In the Name section, enter your other name.

Select the Show at top of profile check box to display a different name at the top of the profile.

Click Save.

Changing or deleting another name

Click the icon in the top right corner of the Facebook window, and then select your name.

Select More information about me.

Scroll down to the Other Names section.

Click to the right of the name you want to edit or delete.

Learn more about the rules for other names.

Note. If you don't check the "Show at the top of your profile" checkbox, your other name will still appear in your Profile Information section and will also appear in search results. nine0003

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How to change your name on Facebook (2021) • OKA DOKI

Change your name in the name Facebook is relatively easy, but there are a few restrictions and rules that you need to be aware of before going down this path. So, if you've ever wondered, "How do I change my Facebook profile name?" then this is 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. nine0003

How to change your Facebook name (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 name on Facebook

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. nine0130
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 company name cannot include the following:

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Symbols, numbers, unusual capital letters, repetitive characters or punctuation marks.
Characters from several languages
Any titles (e.g. professional, religious)
Words or phrases in place 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 straight from the horse's mouth, let's see what you need to do.

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 upper right corner of the Facebook home page. From the pop-up menu, select "Settings and Privacy."

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 Edit icon 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 click the blue button labeled View Change. nine0130

Facebook will display variations of your name in a new pop-up window. Choose the one you like best. Finally, enter your password and click Save Changes.

Your Facebook account will display your new name immediately. 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. nine0003

Change your name in the Facebook mobile app

On Android

Changing your name with 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 (three parallel lines) in the top right corner. On the next screen, scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy.

Then select "Settings" from the drop-down menu. On the next screen, go to the "Personal Information" section. nine0130

Now click on your first name and enter a new name (including first name, middle name and last name) on the next screen. Then click 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.

For iOS and iPadOS

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

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

Then select "Personal Information" and click on your name. nine0130

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

Finally, choose the name you want to display on your Facebook profile, enter your password, and click Save Changes.

Well, that's it! Now you know how to change your name in the Facebook iOS app as well. Again, you can only edit your name once every 60 days, so think twice before making changes. nine0003

Change your FB profile name on Android, iPhone and web

Unlike Twitter or other major social networks, Facebook insists it won't accept anything other than your "real" name. Any name it deems to be fake could result in a ban from accessing the social media platform. If you successfully comply with the strict restrictions, congratulations on your Facebook name change.

On the other hand, if you're fed up with the company's dubious privacy policies and numerous data breaches, learn how you can permanently remove Facebook from your life.