What Is Your Name in Japanese
What is your name in Japanese is a spoken-exchange search: you want the question, a natural answer, and the politeness level that fits the room. This page teaches how to ask, how to say “my name is,” and how formal and casual versions change. You will see お名前は何ですか, 私は…です, and と申します with pronunciation and short dialogues. It does not convert a foreign name into katakana or kanji. After you can ask and answer, use the Japanese name converter if you still need the written form.
What This Page Covers and What It Does Not
People type what is your name in Japanese when they need a usable line for class, travel, or a first meeting. The job is to hear the question, say it clearly, and reply without mixing up polite and casual speech. The same intent also covers close variants such as “how do you say what is your name in Japanese” and “what’s your name in Japanese.” Those phrases want the same result: ask, answer, and sound appropriate.
A different job is writing a non-Japanese name in katakana. That conversion task belongs on My Name in Japanese. A third job is browsing Japanese given names, which belongs on boy-name and girl-name pages. Keep this page for the conversation. If you only need a written spelling, skip ahead to the converter after the phrases below.
Why the Question and the Answer Come as a Pair
English “What’s your name?” is short. Japanese usually adds a polite frame. Learning お名前は何ですか first keeps the question usable with teachers, staff, and people you just met.
If someone asks politely, 私は…です or a humble と申します fits. Answering with a clipped casual line can feel mismatched even when the words are correct.
Japanese often omits “I” and “you” when the meaning is obvious. Knowing when subjects disappear stops the reply from sounding like a textbook sentence in a casual chat.
How to Ask “What Is Your Name?”
The standard polite question is the one most learners need first. Casual versions exist, but they belong with friends, children, or a very relaxed setting. Start with the polite form, then shorten it only when the room is clearly informal.
お名前は何ですか
お名前は何ですか is the reliable polite way to ask what is your name in Japanese. Romaji: onamae wa nan desu ka. Break it as o-namae (name, with the polite o-), wa (topic), nan (what), desu ka (polite question). Say it evenly: o-na-ma-e wa nan des-ka. The お makes the question respectful; dropping it too early is the most common mistake in shops, classrooms, and first meetings.
Casual questions: 名前は？ and なんていうの
With friends, 名前は？ (namae wa?) is enough. Among young speakers, なんていうの (nante iu no) or 名前なんていうの can appear. These are not the default for adults you do not know. If you only remember one question, keep お名前は何ですか. You can understand the short forms without using them first.
How to Say “My Name Is…”
The answer is a separate sentence from the question. Do not translate word-for-word from English. Japanese replies usually place the name before です, or attach と申します in more formal self-introductions.
私は…です
私はエマです (watashi wa Emma desu) means “I am Emma” and works as “my name is Emma” in most learner situations. 私は (watashi wa) marks “I.” You can replace Emma with your own name in romaji while you practice the pattern, then check katakana on the converter. です keeps the line polite. 僕は (boku wa) is a more masculine “I”; 俺は (ore wa) is casual and can sound rough with strangers.
と申します
エマと申します (Emma to moushimasu) is a humble, formal way to give your name. 申します (moushimasu) is the humble verb for “to say / be called.” Use it in interviews, business, ceremonies, or when the other person is clearly senior. It does not replace お名前は何ですか; it is the answer, not the question. After either reply, よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu) is a natural closer.
Formal and Casual Versions
Politeness is not extra decoration. The same meaning changes with who you are talking to. Match the question you hear, or stay one step more polite if you are unsure.
When subjects are omitted
Once the topic is obvious, Japanese often drops 私は and even お名前. A short エマです can answer “what is your name?” after someone already asked. 名前はエマです is also common. In casual speech, エマだよ is possible with friends. Do not open a first meeting with だよ. If you omit too much in a formal setting, the line can sound unfinished; if you keep every pronoun in a casual chat, it can sound stiff.
Classroom, travel, and work
In class, teachers often model お名前は何ですか and expect 私は…です. At a hotel or event desk, the same pair is safe. At work, と申します plus a bow or a nod is the cautious choice. With close friends, 名前は？ / エマだよ is enough. If you are talking to children, a gentle 名前は？ is fine; they may answer with the name alone.
Pronunciation and Example Dialogues
Read the Japanese line, then the romaji, then the English. Keep a small pause before か at the end of a question. Names in the examples stay in English letters on purpose: this page is about the spoken frame, not a finished katakana spelling.
A: お名前は何ですか。 / Onamae wa nan desu ka. / What is your name? B: 私はアレックスです。よろしくお願いします。 / Watashi wa Alex desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. / My name is Alex. Nice to meet you.
A: お名前は何ですか。 / Onamae wa nan desu ka. / What is your name? B: マヤと申します。 / Maya to moushimasu. / I’m Maya. (formal)
A: 名前は？ / Namae wa? / What’s your name? B: レオです。 / Leo desu. / I’m Leo. A: レオさん、よろしく。 / Leo-san, yoroshiku. / Nice to meet you, Leo.
Pronunciation checks
Nan desu ka often sounds like nan des-ka, with a light u on desu. Moushimasu is mo-u-shi-mas-u, not “mo-shimas.” Watashi wa can sound like watashi-wa in one flow. If a name has an L or extra consonant, Japanese will later map it to katakana on the converter; do not invent kanji for a foreign given name in this conversation drill.
How to Practice the Exchange
1. Start with the polite question
Say お名前は何ですか out loud until the rhythm is stable. This is the default line for what is your name in Japanese in polite settings.
2. Answer with です or と申します
Use 私は…です for class and travel. Switch to と申します when the setting is formal. Add よろしくお願いします once.
3. Shorten only after you can hear the room
Drop 私は or use 名前は？ only when the other person is clearly casual. If you are unsure, stay polite.
4. Convert the written name separately
When you need katakana on a form or badge, leave this page and use the Japanese name converter. Do not treat a dialogue example as a legal spelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your name in Japanese?
The usual polite question is お名前は何ですか (onamae wa nan desu ka). A common polite answer is 私は…です (watashi wa … desu). In formal introductions, …と申します (… to moushimasu) is safer than a casual short reply.
How do you say what is your name in Japanese?
Say onamae wa nan desu ka for polite speech. Casual alternatives include 名前は？ (namae wa?) and なんていうの (nante iu no), which you should reserve for friends or very informal settings.
How do I say “my name is” in Japanese?
Use 私は[name]です for a standard polite answer, or [name]と申します to introduce yourself more formally. After either line, よろしくお願いします is a natural follow-up.
Can I omit “I” and “you” in Japanese names talk?
Yes. Once the question is clear, エマです or 名前はエマです is enough. Keep 私は in careful speech, and avoid ultra-short casual forms with strangers.
Does this page convert my name into Japanese writing?
No. This page only teaches the question and answer. For katakana or a written form of a foreign name, use the Japanese name converter. For Japanese given-name ideas, browse Japanese boy names or Japanese girl names.
Ask the Question, Then Convert the Written Name
You now have the polite question, a standard answer, a formal self-introduction, and casual shortenings. Practice the dialogues first. When you need the written Japanese form of your own name, open the converter. If you are choosing a Japanese given name instead of introducing an English one, start with the name generator.