Facebook Vanity URL Requirements
When you first create a Facebook profile, the website assigns you a URL that consists of a series of random numbers. To personalize your page, create a username. Usernames are turned into unique URLs, which make it easier for you to direct a potential contact to your page and initiate a friend request.
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It Must Be Unique
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The URL you choose for your personal Facebook page absolutely must be unique. Duplicate URLs would defeat the purpose of the feature, which is to create an easy way to direct traffic to your specific page. When you are setting the username for your account, Facebook automatically checks to see if the one you have chosen is available. If your desired URL has already been claimed by another user, your only option is to select another one.
You Can't Use Special Characters
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The URL for your Facebook profile can only contain alphanumeric letters and numbers. In short, this means that any symbol, such as "!" or "*", cannot be included in a URL. Facebook will reject any username submission that contains them. At the time of publication, Facebook was unable to accommodate submissions using non-romanized characters from foreign languages.
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You Can Only Change it Once
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Select your username carefully, because you can only alter it one time for the life of your Facebook account. Using the name of your current boyfriend or a phrase that is mildly offensive probably isn't a good idea for this reason. If you are unsure about whether or not you have ever changed your username, go to the "Settings" menu--a "Change" link will appear next to your username if your one-time change is still available.
Other Considerations
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Your username must be at least five characters long. While you can use a "." (period) in your name, its use does not constitute a unique URL. For example, if janedoe11 is already in use, adding a "." to make your URL jane.doe11 is unacceptable--Facebook would consider them the same username. Usernames are also not case sensitive, so if someone looking for your page types in a lowercase letter in lieu of a capital letter, or vice versa, they will still reach your profile.
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References
- Photo Credit Dan Kitwood/Getty Images News/Getty Images
