What's your name? is how you ask someone's name. People ask it when they meet: in class, at a party, in a new team. The answer is short: I'm Anna or My name's Anna.
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What's your name?; What's his/her/your friend's name?; My name's… / I'm…; Could I have your name, please?
- Hi, I'm Kate, I've just joined the team. What's your name?
- What's your dog's name? He's so friendly with everyone in the park!
- Sorry, what's your name again? I'm terrible with names.
What changed
First versionHi, I'm Oleg. How is your name?
RevisionHi, I'm Oleg. What's your name?
In many languages the question about a name starts with a word meaning how, so How is your name? can seem right. But in English you ask about a name with what, literally “what is your name?”. So How is was replaced with What's.
What's your name? is a direct question, and it's fine when you meet someone. In a hotel, a shop or on the phone, staff ask more gently: Could I have your name, please? or Can I take your name? And if the name is tricky, people check the spelling: How do you spell it?
Your turn
Hi, I'm Tom, I've just joined the sales team. ___ your name?
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What's — You ask about a name with what: what's your name. How's your name isn't English; how's asks how things are going or how someone is: How's your mum?
You've joined an English course and sat down next to someone you don't know. Write how you'd introduce yourself, name your course and ask their name.
Hi, I'm Dmitry, I'm on the evening IELTS course. What's your name?
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