Want to know how to tag first names on Facebook?
Tagging names is a fun way to get attention, and get your Facebook engagement rolling.
But it’s a bit formal to tag your friends by their full name in a casual comment on Facebook.
Here’s how to mention someone on Facebook with a shorter name than the full name they have on their profile.
Facebook also uses “tagging” to describe adding a person’s name to a photo or video, saying you were with that person, or that they appear in the photo/video.
I will show that in this article as well, but that kind of tag can’t be shortened.
So here’s how to tag someone in a mention to get their attention 😉
How to shorten a name tag on Facebook
You can easily delete a last name or first initial (or both) to tag a friend by the part of their name you’d normally use in conversation.
Just start typing your friend’s name, beginning with a capital letter – the @ symbol isn’t necessary.
Once you’ve typed 5 letters, a drop down will appear with tag suggestions. Even similar names will appear!
For instance if I type Kathy, Cathy also pops up. If typing Stevie, Stephanie names appear. How cool is that?!
Just click to choose the one you want, and use the backspace or delete key to remove the last name.
If a friend has more than two words in their name, the tag can be shortened to any word or adjacent words.
You can leave the first and middle name, or middle and last name, but you can’t remove just the middle name. You can leave just the middle name though!
The tagged name will alert your friend that you mentioned them, and also will appear as blue hyperlinked text in a status update or comment.
You can also tag names in a Facebook post with color background! In this case the name will be a hyperlink that’s underlined.
How to tag a nickname on Facebook
Type the nickname into your status update or comment.
If the nickname appears within your friend’s Facebook name, you can use it as a hyperlink tag. If it doesn’t, you can’t tag the nickname.
You’ll know if it’s hyperlinked if it turns blue.
But if you start typing a nickname, their profile name should appear. If you type “Stevie,” you’ll be able to tag “Stephanie,” if that’s the name your friend has on her profile.
Similarly, if your friend has “Kathy” on her profile, you can’t tag “Katherine.”
In addition, only tags of friends can be shortened. Tags of Pages, Events, Groups and other Facebook properties will become inactive if a you try to shorten them.
How to tag first names on Facebook
Here’s a quick video to show you name tagging in action. Use of the @ symbol is no longer necessary.
How to tag someone on Facebook when their name doesn’t come up
While this feature can be flaky, there are some times when you can’t tag someone:
- You can’t tag someone who doesn’t have an active Facebook profile.
- You can’t tag a person who has blocked you or has turned off tagging.
- You can’t tag a person in a group if they’re not a group member.
- You can’t tag a person who hasn’t liked your Page in a business page post.
- You can’t tag a Page that has disabled tagging and mentions.
You can’t force a tag. If none of the above issues apply to you, it could be a temporary glitch. Try again later.
If you’re having trouble tagging a Page from another Page, there is a workaround.
- Create your post without the tag and schedule or post it.
- Edit later to add the tag after it’s been posted.
Remember, you can’t shorten the tagged name of a Page.
It’s also possible the Page disabled tagging, but for the most part, Pages appreciate being mentioned.
And so do friends, if you use tagging appropriately and not to excess.
Doug Cuff says
Thank you so much for this! I had been looking for this information everywhere.
Michele Welch says
I’m with the last few who have commented, as soon as I type a name and try to delete the last name it erases the entire name. Very frustrating and it just started happening in May, 2021. I’ve tried on all my devices, Samsung phone, windows based laptop and iPad. It does it on all platforms. Can’t find an answer through Facebook either!! Help!!! It’s so “formal” to use the whole name, I hate it!
Louise Myers says
Sorry to hear this is happening. Oddly I still have the ability on my Mac, iPhone and iPad. If I find out a solution I’ll be sure to let everyone know. Hopefully it’s a temporary bug.
AJ says
Hello, you can use double space then delete the last name. Just make sure there is a space not erased to be able to tag only the first name.
Laura says
I found that on an Android phone the cursor has to be right next to the name but you have to position it by tapping not using the backspace. That worked for me anyway. However, since the last big update, a couple of weeks ago, I now can’t get tags to stay blue. Has anyone else had this? Samsung S10.
The dude says
Yes, doesn’t for me anymore either & I had been doing it just like this article explains for years 🤷♂️
Louise Myers says
Curious. What device or browser are you using? It still works for me on iPhone and Chrome for Mac.
Jukes says
This has worked for me for years and now, all of the sudden, as soon as I delete the last letter of the last name, the last name disappears & so does the tag! I have no idea what has changed but, I don’t like it!
Louise Myers says
Oh no! I’ll have to check into this. I’ve noticed a lag with the tag showing up. But I definitely did see a first name tag just yesterday. I’ll have to try it.
Mike says
This doesn’t work for me. As soon as I backspace one letter, the tag disappears. What’s the solution to that?
Louise Myers says
Perhaps try a different device or browser. I haven’t come across this issue so I don’t have a solution. Would love to hear if you find one though!
Hale says
I belong to a private group and just found out the people who have been invited and have not accepted the invitation CAN be tagged (butnonly using the @ method. ) A msg appears that says the person will not be notified. Can we use this somehow? Do they get notified after they accept the invitation? Any insight would be appreciated
Louise Myers says
“Can we use this?” I can’t imagine how it could be used, and particularly used for anything positive.
TNT says
Is there a way to display only a nickname in a mention instead of their profile name. For example, when I mention my mother in a post, I know I can type “Mom” and it will automatically bring up her formal name as a tagging option, but I can’t figure out how to do it in reverse. In other words, I want to be able to type her profile name, “Jane Elizabeth Doe” for example and have then have tag display as “Mom” in my posted comment. To use another analogy, is there a Facebook tag equivalent to the unlimited possibility of alt text for a URL hyperlink that I might use in an email?
Louise Myers says
I covered this in the article – you can only link on a word that appears in their Facebook display name.
SHRISHTI says
suggestion box doesnt show my friend instead of that other related pages come up
Louise Myers says
You may have to type more, or type something specific to the friend you want – either first or last name, whichever is more unique.
Taylor Cole says
Same here, I’m got the Samsung Galaxy S7edge and it will not allow me to only tag the first name…it only will let me tag the full name.
Louise Myers says
Bummer. I hope someone will let us know if they find a fix.
Tricia says
Android. Samsung galaxy S7. Just stopped working for me too 🙁 I can tag, but not shorten.
Louise Myers says
Sorry to hear this. Still works on iPhone. Maybe you’ve gotten a new OS, and FB will update the app to take care of this? That’s my best guess!
Rebecca Lindsey says
I used to be able to do this. ….then I had my broken touch screen replaced and I can no longer tag by backspacing to first name. Don’t know any that should matter, but that’s when I started having problems. If I tag it has to be full nme. Any suggestions?
Louise Myers says
Sorry, no ideas.
John Whitehead says
Doesn’t work. I’ve tried tagging a friend and FB won’t let me get by with just the first name.
Louise Myers says
Very strange. This works for me daily. The only time it won’t work is if it’s a Fan Page name. Then you must use the entire name.
ThornyLittleFlower says
It used to work but since an update nolonger works. Ive tried everything. On my fone i havent got the laptop out yet.
Louise Myers says
Interesting, this works even easier for me on phone than desktop. What kind of phone do you have?
ThornyLittleFlower says
Samsung s6
Louise Myers says
The 2 other reports of this issue were also from Android users. Hope they fix it soon!
Patrick says
Very helpful thanks … i was hoping that i could shorten down to a custom nickname, but it looks like you still have to use their regular first name … oh well, still better than the full name.
Louise Myers says
Exactly, Patrick, unfortunately you must use their Facebook first name.
Rehan Gillani says
Dear Louise Myers,
I have been trying to mention a Facebook PAGE in my comment but the technique you mentioned in this blog post works for an “individual’s” Timeline only.
Is there a way to mention a page without using it’s Full Name?
For Example: I wanted to Mention “Imran Khan”, but it appeared as “Imran Khan (Official)”.
Any help would be highly appreciated.
Thanks.
Louise Myers says
Hey Rehan, as far as I know that’s not possible. You can only tag a page with the full page name.