How to Say What Is Your Name in French: 10+ Ways to Ask and Respond

The Short Answer

The most common way to ask "what is your name?" in French is Comment vous appelez-vous ? (koh-MAHN voo zah-play VOO) in formal settings, or Comment tu t'appelles ? (koh-MAHN tew tah-PELL) in casual ones. The choice between these two forms depends entirely on the tu/vous distinction, one of the most important social rules in the French language.

French is spoken by approximately 321 million people across 29 countries, according to the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Unlike English, where "what is your name?" is a single, neutral phrase, French uses the reflexive verb s'appeler (to call oneself) and requires you to navigate the formal/informal divide before you even open your mouth. Whether you're looking up "what is your name in french" for travel, study, or conversation, this guide covers everything you need.

"The choice between tu and vous is never merely grammatical; it is a social act that signals respect, distance, intimacy, or solidarity between speakers."

(Brown & Levinson, Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage, Cambridge University Press)

This guide covers every way to ask and answer name questions in French, organized by formality level. Each phrase includes pronunciation, an example sentence, and the cultural context you need to use it correctly.

Quick Reference: Asking Names in French

Understanding the Reflexive Verb S'appeler

Before diving into individual phrases, it helps to understand why French asks "what do you call yourself?" instead of "what is your name?"

The verb s'appeler is reflexive, meaning the action reflects back on the subject. Here is the present tense conjugation:

Notice that the spoken pronunciation of appelle, appelles, and appellent is identical: "ah-PELL." The differences are only visible in writing. This is typical of French: spelling preserves historical forms while pronunciation has simplified over centuries, as documented by the Académie française.

Formal Ways to Ask Someone's Name

In French culture, formality is not optional, it is the default. According to the Alliance Française, the vous form is expected with any adult you do not know personally, regardless of age proximity. Getting this wrong can create an immediate negative impression.

Comment vous appelez-vous ?

This is the phrase you should learn first. The structure is comment (how) + vous appelez (you call) + vous (yourself), with the reflexive pronoun appearing twice, once as the object and once inverted after the verb for the question form.

The liaison between vous and appelez is mandatory: you must pronounce it as "voo zah-play," not "voo ah-play." Missing this liaison sounds noticeably unnatural to French ears.

In professional settings (job interviews, business meetings, conferences) this is the only appropriate form. Even among adults of similar age meeting for the first time, vous is expected until one person explicitly suggests switching to tu with the phrase On peut se tutoyer ? (Can we use tu with each other?).

Quel est votre nom ?

This is the closest word-for-word translation of "what is your name?": quel (what), est (is), votre nom (your name). However, it carries a more administrative, transactional tone compared to the reflexive form.

You will hear this at hotel check-in desks, doctor's offices, and government counters. In social contexts, Comment vous appelez-vous ? is warmer and more personal. An important nuance: nom in French administrative contexts typically refers to your last name (nom de famille), so this question may prompt someone to give their surname rather than their first name.

Casual Ways to Ask Someone's Name

These forms use tu and are appropriate with children, close friends, peers in relaxed settings, or when someone has already invited you to tutoyer (use tu).

Comment tu t'appelles ?

This is the informal mirror of Comment vous appelez-vous ? The structure is identical but uses tu (you, informal) and t'appelles (the tu conjugation of s'appeler).

Adults use this freely at parties, social gatherings among young people, and when being introduced to a friend's friend in a casual setting. It is also the universal way adults speak to children. According to Brown & Levinson's politeness research, this choice of tu signals solidarity and informality, it tells the other person you see them as a peer or someone in your in-group.

Tu t'appelles comment ?

This is simply Comment tu t'appelles ? with the word order flipped. In spoken French, moving the question word (comment) to the end of the sentence is extremely common and sounds relaxed and natural. Textbooks tend to teach the "proper" word order first, but in real conversation, this reversed form is just as frequent.

This version is particularly useful when you need to re-ask someone's name. Adding déjà (again) (Tu t'appelles comment, déjà ?) is the natural way to say "sorry, what was your name again?" without it sounding awkward.

C'est quoi ton prénom ?

This phrase specifically asks for the prénom (first name). It uses the informal c'est quoi (what is) structure, which is a hallmark of casual spoken French, the Académie française considers it colloquial, but it dominates everyday conversation.

The distinction between prénom and nom matters here. On French forms and documents, nom by itself almost always means your last name (nom de famille). Your first name is your prénom, literally "pre-name," because historically it came before the family name. English speakers often get confused by this on French paperwork, writing their first name in the nom field.

How to Respond: Giving Your Name

Knowing how to ask is only half the conversation. Here are the three main ways to respond, plus a quick-reference table.

Je m'appelle...

This is the default response and works in every context, formal dinners, casual parties, job interviews, playground introductions. The construction mirrors the question: if they asked using s'appeler, you answer using s'appeler.

Always follow up by asking their name in return. Use Et vous ? (and you, formal) or Et toi ? (and you, casual), matching the register they used with you.

Mon nom est...

This is the direct translation of "my name is" and carries a more formal, sometimes administrative tone. French speakers often use it when providing their last name, especially on the phone or in official contexts. Notice the classic French pattern of stating the surname first: Mon nom est Dupont, Martin Dupont.

Je suis...

Short, simple, and casual. Je suis works best when you are introducing yourself proactively rather than responding to a direct question. It is the French equivalent of walking up to someone and saying "Hi, I'm [name]."

Response Quick Reference

French Naming Culture: What You Need to Know

Understanding French names goes beyond vocabulary, it involves cultural protocols that shape how introductions work in practice.

Prénom vs. Nom de Famille

In France, the distinction between prénom (first name) and nom de famille (family name) carries real social weight. Using someone's prénom without permission in a professional context can feel presumptuous. In workplaces, colleagues who have worked together for years may still use Monsieur Dupont and Madame Leroy rather than first names.

According to Ethnologue's 2024 data on French sociolinguistic norms, the trend is slowly shifting in younger, international workplaces, but traditional industries like law, medicine, and government still follow strict nom de famille conventions.

The Monsieur/Madame Protocol

French introductions almost always include a courtesy title. When meeting someone for the first time in a formal context, the expected pattern is:

1. Bonjour, Monsieur/Madame (greeting + title)
2. Comment vous appelez-vous ? or state your own name first
3. Enchanté(e) (pleased to meet you)

Skipping the Monsieur/Madame feels incomplete to French speakers. Even in semi-casual settings like a dinner party at someone's home, using titles with older guests is expected until they suggest otherwise.

Children vs. Adults: The Tu/Vous Divide in Name Questions

One of the clearest rules in French: adults always use tu with children, and children always use vous with unfamiliar adults. A teacher meeting a new student will say Comment tu t'appelles ? without hesitation. That same teacher expects to be addressed as Comment vous appelez-vous ? by the student's parents.

Between adults, the rule is simple: use vous until explicitly invited to use tu. The invitation phrase (On peut se tutoyer ? or On se tutoie ?) is itself a small social ritual. Offering it too soon can feel pushy; waiting too long can feel cold. As Brown & Levinson's politeness framework explains, this negotiation of distance versus solidarity is a defining feature of French social interaction.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Practice With Real French Content

Reading about these phrases is a strong foundation, but hearing them used naturally in conversation is what makes them stick. French cinema and television are full of introduction scenes, from formal boardroom meetings in Intouchables to casual party introductions in L'Auberge Espagnole.

Wordy lets you watch French movies and shows with interactive subtitles. When you hear Comment vous appelez-vous ? or Moi, c'est... in a scene, you can tap the phrase to see its breakdown, pronunciation, and cultural notes in real time. Instead of memorizing phrases from a list, you absorb them from authentic conversations with natural intonation and body language.

For more French content, explore our blog for language guides including the best movies to learn French. You can also visit our French learning page to start practicing today.