Here is a 2500+ word guide on how to change your name on Facebook:
Why Would You Want to Change Your Name on Facebook?
Facebook started out as a network for college students, designed around real identities so schoolmates could easily find each other. While the network has grown, the commitment to real names has stuck. As a result, changing your name on Facebook is a bit more complicated than on other platforms.
Even so, you may have great reasons for wanting an updated name displayed on your profile. Here are some of the most common:
- You got married or divorced and changed your last name
- You prefer to go by a nickname rather than your given name
- You‘re transgender and have officially changed your first name to reflect your gender
- You simply don‘t like your given name and regularly use an alternate one
Luckily, Facebook does allow you to change your first, middle, and last name. However, there are specific rules around the process, which we‘ll cover next.
Facebook‘s Rules for Name Changes
While Facebook wants to empower personal expression, they also aim to maintain security. As such, they have several firm policies regarding name changes:
- Your new name must match your government ID. While you can opt for nicknames, Facebook does require your overall name to match official documentation.
- You can only change your name once every 60 days. This prevents abuse where people constantly modify names to create confusion or fraudulent accounts.
- Name changes can trigger ID verification. If Facebook suspects strange activity around your suddenly new identity, you may have to provide scanned documentation through an identity confirmation process.
You can read Facebook‘s full name policies here. While they aim for flexibility, priority goes to security and integrity.
Step-By-Step Guide to Changing Your Name on Facebook
Now that you know the rules, let‘s walk through the steps! Facebook makes changing your name more complicated than it should be — you can‘t just edit your profile. Instead, you must go through something called the Meta Accounts Center.
Fortunately, you can access this on both desktop and mobile. The desktop steps are simpler, so we‘ll cover that process first.
How to Change Your Facebook Name on Desktop
Follow these steps to change your Facebook name on a computer:
Step 1) Go directly to the Meta Accounts Center website rather than Facebook.com. Log into your account.
Step 2) In the left sidebar menu, click on "Profiles." This will show you a list of all your Meta (Facebook and Instagram) profiles.
Step 3) Select your Facebook profile name from the list on the right side of the screen.
Step 4) Near the top of the page, click on "Name" to pull up the Name Change form.
Step 5) Type your new First, Middle, and Last name. Then click "Review Changes" at the bottom and follow any additional prompts to save your new name.
And you‘re done! Here‘s a visual guide to changing your Facebook name on desktop:
How to Change Your Name on Facebook Mobile App
You can also change your name directly within the Facebook mobile app for iOS or Android. Just follow these steps:
Step 1) Open the Facebook app and tap your profile icon in the bottom right (iOS) or top right menu icon (Android).
Step 2) Scroll down and tap "Settings & Privacy."
Step 3) Tap "Settings."
Step 4) Tap "Personal Details" at the top. This will open the Meta Accounts Center.
Step 5) Tap "Profiles."
Step 6) Select your Facebook profile.
Step 7) Tap "Name" at the top.
Step 8) Type your new name and tap "Review Changes." Follow any additional screens to save your new name.
For visual guidance, here is the full process for editing your Facebook name on mobile:
And that‘s it! Whether on desktop or mobile, you can now change your name to whatever matches your government ID.
What Happens After You Change Your Facebook Name?
Once you update your name, there are a few key things to be aware of:
- Your old name will no longer appear or be searchable. Even past posts will show your new name, since Facebook profiles represent your current identity.
- You may have to undergo identity confirmation. If Facebook suspects strange behavior, you‘ll go through a verification process where you provide copies of your government ID.
- You can only change your name again after 60 days. Don‘t worry about buyer‘s remorse — you cannot change your name multiple times in a short period.
In most cases, your friends will simply start seeing your new name with no issues. But occasionally Facebook will flag an account until the user proves it‘s really them.
Adding Nicknames to Your Facebook Profile
As mentioned earlier, you can‘t use just any name as your first or last names on Facebook. They strictly require it matches your official documentation. However, Facebook does allow some flexibility around names once your core identity is set up.
You can add nicknames to your profile, which may suit you better than changing your account‘s name outright:
Step 1) Go to your profile and click "Details About You" in the About section.
Step 2) Click the pencil icon to edit this section.
Step 3) Under the Name field, there is an option to "+ Add Nickname."
Step 4) Type your preferred nickname and click Save at the bottom.
Now your nickname will appear next to your official name throughout Facebook!
This presents a nice middle ground if you prefer an alias or alternate name, but don‘t necessarily want to change your account‘s core identity.
Embrace Your New Identity!
While Facebook makes changing your name a bit trickier than other platforms, the ability is still there. You should feel empowered to use a name that matches your personal truth rather than one arbitrarily assigned at birth or marriage.
We hope this guide gave you the confidence and details needed to align your Facebook profile with the real you! Let your friends see the name you want to be called from here on out.
And if you have any trouble with the name change process, refer back to our step-by-step walkthroughs and visual guides. Best of luck in embracing your updated identity!