How to Easily Change Your Name on Facebook Account

Understanding Facebook's Name Policy

Facebook has a specific policy regarding names on the platform. Your Facebook name should be the name that you go by in everyday life. This allows friends to recognize you and builds an authentic community.

Facebook does not allow fake or misleading names. Your name must use real first and last names as you are known in your community. Numeric characters, special characters, and exceedingly long names are also prohibited.

Why You May Want to Change Your Name

There are a few common reasons people may want to change their name on Facebook:

• You got married or divorced and changed your last name
• You prefer to go by a nickname rather than your legal name
• You want to adjust the spelling or order of your name
• You are transgender and have transitioned to a new name

Steps to Change Your Facebook Name

Changing your name on Facebook only takes a few quick steps:

1. Click on the down arrow at the top right of any Facebook page and select "Settings"
2. On the left sidebar, click "Profile"
3. Click "Edit" next to your name
4. Enter your new preferred name
5. Click "Review Change"
6. Check the box confirming this aligns with Facebook's name policy
7. Click "Save Changes"

Important Considerations When Changing Your Name

Your Profile URL Will Not Change

It's important to note that even if you change your name, your personal Facebook profile URL will remain the same.

For example, if your profile used to be facebook.com/john.smith your URL will still be facebook.com/john.smith even if you legally change your name to Jane Jones after getting married.

Friends Will Receive a Notification

When you change your Facebook name, all of your friends will get a notification that you changed your name. This helps avoid confusion about who is in their friends list.

The notification will simply state "[Old Name] changed their name to [New Name]." Friends have the option to remove you from their friends list if they can no longer identify who you are.

Past Posts Will Reflect New Name

Any posts, photos or other content you shared on your Facebook page under your old name will automatically update to reflect your new name.

For example, a post that used to say "[Old Name] checked in at Starbucks" will now say "[New Name] checked in at Starbucks."

This retroactive name change helps keep all your Facebook activity organized under your consistent identity.

What to Do If Your Name Change Request Gets Rejected

If Facebook rejects your request to change your name, first double check that your new name complies with their policy. Make sure you are using a real first and last name without strange punctuation or excessively long lengths.

If you believe your new name does meet the policy requirements, you can go through an online verification process to prove your identity. You will need to submit legal documentation showing you have officially changed your name in order to override the rejection.

Appealing a Rejected Name Change

To appeal a rejected Facebook name change:

1. Click "Learn More" when you receive the rejection notification
2. Select the option "My name is my legal name"
3. Upload a legal document like a drivers license, passport, birth certificate, or marriage certificate displaying your new legal name
4. Await Facebook's review of your documentation
5. If approved, change your name following the steps above

Easy Identity Updates Across Social Media

Updating your name on Facebook makes it simple to propagate that change to other social networks as well through their own name change procedures.

Or you can use a centralized social media management platform that allows you to push profile changes across your different accounts.

Either way, changing your name on Facebook is fast and simple, helping you maintain your online identity aligned with major life events.

FAQs

What happens to my profile URL if I change my name?

Your profile URL will remain the same even if you change your name. The URL is tied to your account, not your name.

Will my friends get notified if I change my name?

Yes, your friends will receive a notification that you changed your name from [old name] to [new name].

Will my old posts and photos also show my new name?

Yes, Facebook will automatically update your new name across posts, photos, check-ins and any other activity associated with your profile.

What if Facebook rejects my name change request?

If rejected, you can re-submit a request that complies with policy or file an appeal with legal documentation verifying your name change.