🇯🇵 Japanese phrases

How to Say "What's your name?" in Japanese

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
お名前は何ですか?
"What's your name?" in Japanese · say it like oh-nah-mah-eh wah nahn des kah

The most natural way to say "What's your name?" in Japanese is お名前は何ですか?. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

あなたの名前は何ですか?
More casual, often used among friends.
お名前は?
A more informal way to ask, suitable in casual settings.

When to use it

Use this phrase when you want to politely ask someone for their name. It is appropriate in both formal and informal settings. You can use it when meeting someone for the first time or in a conversation where you need to know their name.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "What's your name?" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Japanese

JapaneseEnglish
初めまして。お名前は何ですか?Nice to meet you. What is your name?
Common mistake
Avoid using just '名前は何ですか?' as it sounds too direct and less polite.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear お名前は何ですか?, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Japanese with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Is it okay to ask someone's name directly?

Yes, but it's more polite to use 'お名前は何ですか?' especially in formal situations.

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