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

Facebook has long required people to use their real names; it is even punished(Opens in a new window) for using real names that sounded wrong to the social network’s algorithm. But if you want to change your name, use a nickname, or just try to play Facebook’s system, you can change the name that appears on your profile in just a few clicks (although there are some limitations(Opens in a new window)).

---

change your name

Click on your profile picture and open it Settings & Privacy > Settings. Select your name in the sidebar, then click To edit Link next to your current name.

Mobile users can tap their profile icon in the app and then select the gear icon. Open Personal Information, and then select Surname to reach the same place.

You can then change your first, middle or last name in the appropriate field. Select the Verify 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 do it right.

This change will also sync to meta-owned Instagram if you’ve enabled that in settings, so you don’t have to worry about changing it there too. If you need to turn that on, choose the Manage sync settings Link above the name fields.

On the web you can activate Sync profile information on the next page. Mobile users must type profiles, and then select the correct profile. Tap on your Instagram profile and then activate it Sync profile information.

---

Add alternative names

You can also add additional names to your profile, such as B. Nicknames, married names, maiden names, legal names or other nicknames someone uses to find you on the Platform.

To add an alternate name, open your profile and then click Around tab and select the details about you Possibility. Go to your profile on mobile and tap edit profile. Scroll down and tap Edit your info. Choose Add nickname (Add another name on mobile) and select the type of name you want to add from the drop-down menu. Enter the name and click Save on computer.

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

To make sure everything is as it should be, you want to see your profile through the eyes of your friends. You can do this from your profile by selecting the three-dot menu under the Edit Profile button. Select the view as Option to see what information is public and make sure your new name is visible to everyone.