Facebook Adds Alternative Name Display

This evening Facebook added the ability to display your alternative names. Apparently the alternative feature existed previously but I personally was unaware of it. The difference is that now you can actually display that name and as Sophia Huang writes, you can also make it “visible on your profile, in search results, in friend requests, and on other places on the site.” One group that will find this extremely useful is multi-lingual groups, something Sophia Huang happens to be a member of.

Configuring your username is pretty easy. All you need to do is visit your account settings page and click on “change” next to the “Name” section. You then can type in whatever you want into the “Full Alternate Name” space. I decided to use my alternative name of “Nicky Biggs”, a street name that I tend to go by within my neighborhood (I live in the D.C. hood … represent!).

This will be useful for people trying to navigate the site and searching for their friends who have alternative nick names. The only issue now is for those users to search out the page and section that’s necessary for managing their name. Facebook has been trying to simplify their interface but with all the features in the site, that’s becoming more challenging to accomplish.

It will be interesting to see if Facebook can make things easier to manage while adding on things. There are many things they could improve. For example, I would imagine that clicking the name in this instance, from within the profile would be much easier than making two other clicks to the account settings.

-Alternative Name Screenshot-

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626832 CommentsFacebook+Adds+Alternative+Name+Display2009-06-23+04%3A38%3A15Nick+O%27Neill »

This is interesting news. I'm wondering now if the alternate name can be the name of your business. Or, would that cause unnecessary problems?

Thanks!

Comment by Barney Davey — June 22, 2009 @ 8:55 pm
I've known about this for quite some time however, what bothers me about this is that I can not use my first name and last initial. Facebook touts privacy as it's number one priority yet forces full names. This just defies logic.

I don't want to use a nick name, I just want my first full and last initial. I'm constantly frustrated by account management on facebook.

Comment by Stew Brennand Jr — June 22, 2009 @ 9:03 pm
I don't understand the point of not letting you pick a single word as your alternate name?

Comment by Luka Kladaric — June 22, 2009 @ 10:19 pm
Yes, that's weird it HAS to be two words… if that's supposed to be a nickname, most nicknames are single words.

Comment by Facebook User — June 22, 2009 @ 10:36 pm
Unfortunately the story is not true. I choose my brand "traumurlaub" and was not able to save it. They also wanted my real name. Other companies were able to handle it immediately. So where is the difference in treatment?

I need now still 996 friends at facebook to be able to change to my brand "traumurlaub". Probably you want to add yourself to my facebook? Thks.

Comment by traumurlaub — June 22, 2009 @ 11:08 pm
The Alternate Name section is for people that have previously had a different real name to the one they had now (because they married, divorced, changed their name, etc), so they can be more easily found by older friends.

It's not really a section for nicknames, and this is why a full name is required.

Comment by Dominic Grant — June 22, 2009 @ 11:36 pm
Ewwww… that makes it too MySpace-y for my tastes. The thing I had really liked most about facebook was the need for people to be legit. I've recently noticed all the changed names, and I think it's for the worst. Besides, what's so bad about just a first and last name? If you need THAT much privacy, you really don't need to be on facebook.

Comment by Lisa Jeffries — June 23, 2009 @ 7:59 am
It doesn't even work for me, I tried entering "Joe Fresh" which is what most people know me as, and it said it wasn't saved and the automated system wouldn't approve it (or something like that).

Anyone else getting this message, and know what I can do to fix it?

Comment by Joe Funicelli — June 23, 2009 @ 9:05 pm
I set up a Page, but I don’t want MY name (as the creator of the Facebook account) to display.

I de-activated the Facebook account because of that.

I want the product name: Black Iguana to be the display name.
How can I do this?

Comment by Gloria Hernandez — July 1, 2009 @ 12:24 pm
just how does the alternate name work, does it show you the persons alternate name when looking for them or, i am lookin for a relative who has had their name changed when they were younger thru marriage,i have their pic up thru serch and it says under alternate name but when i click on nothing, i dont understand?

Comment by c greaves — July 10, 2009 @ 7:10 am
i want my name on my facebook to be dominique sheeperlicious perry.. but it wont lt me it keeps sayin the automatic system has rejected it…..help wah can i do is there a way round this

Comment by dominique perry — September 28, 2009 @ 7:28 pm
i belong to facebook/farmtown.get me there, please

Comment by Earline Stewart — October 29, 2009 @ 11:45 am
Why can't I see my farm on FarmVille? I can hear it, but I have not been able to see it the last two days. Roseb1950@suddenlink.net Rose Allbright Barrows

Comment by Rose Allbright Barro — December 16, 2009 @ 7:58 pm
the prob with FB now that it wont create an alter. name for anyone unless you use your full name which is annoying..

Comment by Yosra — February 20, 2010 @ 10:45 pm
have you heard about the new adult version of facebook, it looks really well put together, profesional like! it is called Rudebook.com, they are allowing you to pre-register, because i dont think the website is finished yet.. take a look guys!!

Comment by Stella — March 3, 2010 @ 2:58 am
hey im looking for a boyfriend so I can piut his last name on facebook im really looking 4 a boyfriend please go out with me

Comment by bailey — June 2, 2010 @ 3:51 pm
Hi all

I had deactivated my Facebook account for months and imagine my surprise when I reactivated today and found that I had an alternative name which meant nothing to me!!!!

Obviously some insecure individual( also known as a hacker) had got into my account details and for some weird reason only known to this individual with this particular Personality Disorder had inserted an Alternative name''''''

Thing is I have a good idea who did it!!!!!

YOU NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP HONEY

DO THE RIGHT THING AND GET YOUR SELF LOOKED AFTER

Comment by Margaret Kiely — June 11, 2010 @ 6:38 am
My former name keeps getting rejected – very sad. It's real and facebook won't believe me!

Comment by Toni — June 30, 2010 @ 7:32 pm
hey but it says your alternate name has not been save can you explain why??

Comment by Nagi fujima — August 20, 2010 @ 9:58 am
The alternative name thing doesn't work. It was blank before, and now I want to change it to Kouta Yoshida. Help?

Comment by Keenen Davis — August 21, 2010 @ 4:01 pm
Will not work for me no matter what name or names I enter. It keeps saying that I need to use my full name or it says that it is already my name.

Typical Facebook BS!

Comment by Anthony DiChi — August 21, 2010 @ 6:06 pm
I have tried to add an alternate name many…many…MANY times today and it will not accept my first and last name as a full name…any suggestions

Comment by Esther — August 23, 2010 @ 9:56 am
I hve tried it dozen times but it says that "Your Alternate Name has not been saved. You must provide your full name

Comment by Lelouch Vi Britannia — August 24, 2010 @ 4:33 am
HI there,

if you can get blogs & websites to display live status, comments, photos and all of these.

how do i get a blog or website to display the name of the current logged in user on facebook.

for example

i've logged into http://www.allfacebook.com, and this website has a header displaying

" welcome "

any idea how this trick can be done?

Comment by gopster — August 25, 2010 @ 9:52 am
what about in another langue?

Comment by googs — December 5, 2010 @ 5:48 pm
when ever i click to change my name i have no show for first name and last name for any other field plz solve to my problem

Comment by Dharmishtha — February 12, 2011 @ 9:10 am
help me plzzzzzzz

Comment by rabih chamas — February 16, 2011 @ 11:34 am
you can.

Comment by @ismalley — June 1, 2011 @ 3:56 am
please a nice alternative name name

Comment by zaka — August 3, 2011 @ 5:15 am
i need a name

Comment by Afiah — November 27, 2011 @ 9:10 am
barcha is the best

Comment by samir — December 26, 2011 @ 2:24 pm
happy new year <3

Comment by samir — December 31, 2011 @ 8:02 am

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This is interesting news. I'm wondering now if the alternate name can be the name of your business. Or, would that cause unnecessary problems?

Thanks!

Comment by Barney Davey — June 22, 2009 @ 8:55 pm

I've known about this for quite some time however, what bothers me about this is that I can not use my first name and last initial. Facebook touts privacy as it's number one priority yet forces full names. This just defies logic.

I don't want to use a nick name, I just want my first full and last initial. I'm constantly frustrated by account management on facebook.

Comment by Stew Brennand Jr — June 22, 2009 @ 9:03 pm

I don't understand the point of not letting you pick a single word as your alternate name?

Comment by Luka Kladaric — June 22, 2009 @ 10:19 pm

Yes, that's weird it HAS to be two words… if that's supposed to be a nickname, most nicknames are single words.

Comment by Facebook User — June 22, 2009 @ 10:36 pm

Unfortunately the story is not true. I choose my brand "traumurlaub" and was not able to save it. They also wanted my real name. Other companies were able to handle it immediately. So where is the difference in treatment?

I need now still 996 friends at facebook to be able to change to my brand "traumurlaub". Probably you want to add yourself to my facebook? Thks.

Comment by traumurlaub — June 22, 2009 @ 11:08 pm

The Alternate Name section is for people that have previously had a different real name to the one they had now (because they married, divorced, changed their name, etc), so they can be more easily found by older friends.

It's not really a section for nicknames, and this is why a full name is required.

Comment by Dominic Grant — June 22, 2009 @ 11:36 pm

Ewwww… that makes it too MySpace-y for my tastes. The thing I had really liked most about facebook was the need for people to be legit. I've recently noticed all the changed names, and I think it's for the worst. Besides, what's so bad about just a first and last name? If you need THAT much privacy, you really don't need to be on facebook.

Comment by Lisa Jeffries — June 23, 2009 @ 7:59 am

It doesn't even work for me, I tried entering "Joe Fresh" which is what most people know me as, and it said it wasn't saved and the automated system wouldn't approve it (or something like that).

Anyone else getting this message, and know what I can do to fix it?

Comment by Joe Funicelli — June 23, 2009 @ 9:05 pm

I set up a Page, but I don’t want MY name (as the creator of the Facebook account) to display.

I de-activated the Facebook account because of that.

I want the product name: Black Iguana to be the display name.
How can I do this?

Comment by Gloria Hernandez — July 1, 2009 @ 12:24 pm

just how does the alternate name work, does it show you the persons alternate name when looking for them or, i am lookin for a relative who has had their name changed when they were younger thru marriage,i have their pic up thru serch and it says under alternate name but when i click on nothing, i dont understand?

Comment by c greaves — July 10, 2009 @ 7:10 am

i want my name on my facebook to be dominique sheeperlicious perry.. but it wont lt me it keeps sayin the automatic system has rejected it…..help wah can i do is there a way round this

Comment by dominique perry — September 28, 2009 @ 7:28 pm

i belong to facebook/farmtown.get me there, please

Comment by Earline Stewart — October 29, 2009 @ 11:45 am

Why can't I see my farm on FarmVille? I can hear it, but I have not been able to see it the last two days. Roseb1950@suddenlink.net Rose Allbright Barrows

Comment by Rose Allbright Barro — December 16, 2009 @ 7:58 pm

the prob with FB now that it wont create an alter. name for anyone unless you use your full name which is annoying..

Comment by Yosra — February 20, 2010 @ 10:45 pm

have you heard about the new adult version of facebook, it looks really well put together, profesional like! it is called Rudebook.com, they are allowing you to pre-register, because i dont think the website is finished yet.. take a look guys!!

Comment by Stella — March 3, 2010 @ 2:58 am

hey im looking for a boyfriend so I can piut his last name on facebook im really looking 4 a boyfriend please go out with me

Comment by bailey — June 2, 2010 @ 3:51 pm

Hi all

I had deactivated my Facebook account for months and imagine my surprise when I reactivated today and found that I had an alternative name which meant nothing to me!!!!

Obviously some insecure individual( also known as a hacker) had got into my account details and for some weird reason only known to this individual with this particular Personality Disorder had inserted an Alternative name''''''

Thing is I have a good idea who did it!!!!!

YOU NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP HONEY

DO THE RIGHT THING AND GET YOUR SELF LOOKED AFTER

Comment by Margaret Kiely — June 11, 2010 @ 6:38 am

My former name keeps getting rejected – very sad. It's real and facebook won't believe me!

Comment by Toni — June 30, 2010 @ 7:32 pm

hey but it says your alternate name has not been save can you explain why??

Comment by Nagi fujima — August 20, 2010 @ 9:58 am

The alternative name thing doesn't work. It was blank before, and now I want to change it to Kouta Yoshida. Help?

Comment by Keenen Davis — August 21, 2010 @ 4:01 pm

Will not work for me no matter what name or names I enter. It keeps saying that I need to use my full name or it says that it is already my name.

Typical Facebook BS!

Comment by Anthony DiChi — August 21, 2010 @ 6:06 pm

I have tried to add an alternate name many…many…MANY times today and it will not accept my first and last name as a full name…any suggestions

Comment by Esther — August 23, 2010 @ 9:56 am

I hve tried it dozen times but it says that "Your Alternate Name has not been saved. You must provide your full name

Comment by Lelouch Vi Britannia — August 24, 2010 @ 4:33 am

HI there,

if you can get blogs & websites to display live status, comments, photos and all of these.

how do i get a blog or website to display the name of the current logged in user on facebook.

for example

i've logged into http://www.allfacebook.com, and this website has a header displaying

" welcome "

any idea how this trick can be done?

Comment by gopster — August 25, 2010 @ 9:52 am

what about in another langue?

Comment by googs — December 5, 2010 @ 5:48 pm

when ever i click to change my name i have no show for first name and last name for any other field plz solve to my problem

Facebook Adds Alternative Name Display

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Social Media Jobs

Let your next job find you!

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Jobs of the Day

Digital Strategist

Digital/Social Media Manager - Entertainment

Social Media Coordinator

See all jobs

Upcoming Events

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