I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “changing your name” before, but it’s an important decision. When dealing with online accounts or even just social media sites like Facebook and Instagram there are many considerations that need to be made before changing one’s legal first and last names on these platforms.
Not only that but in physical spaces where one may have associated themselves publicly under their new persona rather than sticking close by unchanging identify standards set out within law documents such as probate court proceedings here in the United States.
Changing Your Name or Username Online
The dog is always right! This phrase holds true for more than just the family pet. You should also think about your username carefully before getting started on any new social media accounts or email addresses because some websites/networks reserve those names and will not let you change them after registration has been completed.
So be sure that whatever name fits best in terms of style goes ahead with it (even if there isn’t much difference). Think about your username carefully!
Some websites/networks will not change your name or the URL you originally started with!
How to Change Your Name on Facebook
The biggest social network was probably the easiest to change but one thing to beware of – Your Facebook URL will be changed and if you used any posts from Facebook, the links will be broken. An easy fix though here on WordPress.
However, be sure it’s changed on your business accounts as well. Learn how to change it on Facebook below:
- Review our profile name standards
- Click in the top right of Facebook and select Settings
- Click Name
- Enter your name and click Review Change
- Enter your password and click Save Changes
Keep in mind, you can only change your name every 60 days. Your profile name should be one that appears on an ID or other official documentation.
Twitter Only if Available
Twitter – I really wanted to change my Twitter handle to Lisapats but it was already taken by someone who never used it. They set it up in 2009 and only had 1 tweet. Their tweet explained that they were chilling. I think that person is still chilling since they have tweeted since.
I had thought of adding a number or two to it but learned that is not a professional-looking Twitter handle. I did not want to appear spammy with my Twitter username and numbers can do that!
LinkedIn Simple To Do
LinkedIn was simple like Facebook and the URL was the same way. You must change the URL of any links you have pointing to it after changing your profile name.
- Click the Me icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
- Click View Profile.
- Click the Edit icon in the top section of your profile, to the right of your picture.
- On the Edit intro pop-up window, update your name in the First Name and/or Last Name text boxes.
- Click Save.
Where Else Should You Look for It?
Emails – If you change your email address and change them on the social networks be sure to verify your new email address when the emails pop in. Gmail is a difficult one to change your name.
Bookmarking Sites and Other Networking Places – There are many of these you may belong to so check each one and see if you can make the change on them. Try to keep it as uniform as possible online throughout all your networks and channels.
Your Gravatar – You know how important having a gravatar is when leaving blog comments on other blogs, right? That is easy to change on their website and it’s free to use.
Domain Name – Some bloggers and website owners use their name in their domain name. That can be tricky to change. You have to change the domain and point the nameservers to the correct one once completed.
Other social media accounts. You may also be on Pinterest, Medium, Substack, MeWe, Parler, Gab, etc.
Conversations with Different Names
I can’t tell you how many interesting conversations came about from my recent different last name, in person, at work, and online. Some people thought I remarried, others didn’t know what to make of it.
One customer actually called me to be sure it was my voice, the Lisa that they knew. Another emailed me, “I don’t mean to ask a personal question but why the name change?” I wrote back “Well, I am a person and it’s okay to get personal with me” and then I went on to explain that I had gotten divorced a year earlier but hadn’t the time to change the name till after my mom’s passing and getting things in order to do it.
I had been putting off knowing how much work it would be offline and online to make the change.
Your Turn
Have you had to change your name? How did you go about it? Did you know how to change your name on Facebook? (Were you able to?)
Or did you change a username when you changed your blogs or website’s name? I’d love to hear about your experience with your different name.
