Can you use a user name on facebook instead of your real name?

Question

If not, why not?

Answer 1

If you do then it'll just seem weird, and since the only people that can see your profile are your friends (and people in your network if you choose that) there's no reason to hide your identity or anything.

Using a common nickname like Luke instead of Lucas or Mike instead of Michael is of course fine.

Also if you don't use your real name, then people that do know you (like friends you haven't seen in awhile) will have a harder time finding you if they want to look you up.

Answer 2

Facebook's goal is to connect you with the people around you. Using a "user name" or other alias isn't condusive to that goal. You could probably put just about anything as your name, but won't it seem odd to people you try to add as friends when they don't see your real name and may not have a clue who you are other than the tiny profile picture?

I also think that Facebook did have a "nickname" field for a while, but am not sure if that still exists

Answer 3

I think should at least put your first name, that way your friends can find you on facebook and add you as a friend, otherwise they won't know it's you. You make your profile private as well and put your first and last name. I don't have a picture on my profile and that's why I put my first and last name-so my friends could find me!

Answer 4

Their terms of use state that you must use a real name, and if you attempt to change your name to anything else, they will deny it. Of course, people sign up with Organization names and DJ names, and these don't get changed...

I wish they would enable aliases...

Answer 5

yeah. just lie about your name.