Language-specific Names | Facebook

Language-specific Names

>What is a language-specific name?

A language-specific name is your name, as it appears in another language. This way, your friends can see your name in a language they understand.

Here are examples of language-specific names:

• Hanako Yamada / 山田花子
• Chen WeiJie / 陳偉傑
• Young Hee Kim / 김영희
• Marina Petrova / Марина Петрова

When you add a language-specific name to your timeline, your friends will see your name in the way that's most natural for them. So if they use Facebook in the same language as your language-specific name (example on the right), that's what they'll see. Everyone else will see the name you signed up with (example on the left).

Right now language-specific names are only available in a few countries. We hope to expand to more places in the future.

>How is a language-specific name different from an alternate name?

A language-specific name is:

• Your real, full name, as it appears in a different language
• Shown in place of the name you signed up with throughout the site (on your timeline, in search results, posts, comments and photo tags)
• Only visible to people using Facebook in that language

An alternatate name is:

• A different version of your name, like your nickname or maiden name
• Displayed in parenthesis next to your name, but only on your timeline and in search results
• Visible to anyone who views your timeline or search results

>How do I add, edit or delete my language-specific name?

If you're using Facebook in another language, you may have the option to add a language-specific name to your account.

To add or edit your language-specific name:

1. Click at the top-right corner of Facebook and select Account Settings
2. Click General in the left-hand column and click on the Name setting
3. Enter your name as it appears in another language in the language-specific name fields
4. Click Save Changes

Note: You'll only see the option to add a language-specific name if you have that language listed on your account. You can add a language to your timeline by following these directions.

>I'm trying to change my language-specific name but my request wasn't approved.

This might be because the name you requested doesn't follow our name standards. If you've read our name policies and think that your name was rejected by mistake, let us know.

>Why is the name listed on my timeline different from the name I signed up with?

If you entered a language-specific name in addition to your registered name, then your language-specific name will display for people who use Facebook in that language.

Here are examples of language-specific names:

• Hanako Yamada / 山田花子
• Chen WeiJie / 陳偉傑
• Young Hee Kim / 김영희
• Marina Petrova / Марина Петрова

Your friends will see your name in the way that's most natural for them. So if they use Facebook in the same language as your language-specific name (example on the right), that's what they'll see. Everyone else will see the name you signed up with (example on the left).