How to Say What Is Your Name in German: 10+ Ways to Ask and Answer

The Short Answer

The most common way to ask "what is your name?" in German is Wie heißt du? (vee HYSST doo) in casual settings and Wie heißen Sie? (vee HY-sen zee) in formal situations. The verb heißen literally means "to be called," making the German question structure fundamentally different from English. You are not asking someone to state their name, but rather asking how they are called.

German is spoken by over 130 million people worldwide and is an official language in six countries, according to Ethnologue's 2024 data. Across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the du/Sie distinction (informal vs. formal "you") plays a crucial role in first introductions. Choosing the right form signals respect, social awareness, and cultural competence, making name-asking one of the most socially loaded exchanges in the language. Whether you're looking up "what is your name in german" for travel, study, or conversation, this guide covers everything you need.

"The choice between du and Sie in German is not merely grammatical; it encodes the entire social relationship between speakers. A first introduction sets the tone for all future interactions."

(Claire Kramsch, Language and Culture, Oxford University Press, 1998)

This guide covers every way to ask and answer "what is your name?" in German, organized by formality level: casual, formal, and regional variants. Each phrase includes pronunciation, an example sentence, and cultural context so you know exactly which form to use and when.

Quick Reference: German Name Phrases at a Glance

Understanding "Heißen", The Key Verb

Before diving into the phrases, it helps to understand the verb heißen. Unlike English ("What is your name?") or Romance languages that use reflexive constructions (Spanish ¿Cómo te llamas?, literally "How do you call yourself?"), German uses heißen, which simply means "to be called."

This makes German name questions structurally straightforward. There is no reflexive pronoun to worry about. You conjugate heißen for the subject and you are done:

Note the ß (Eszett) in heißen. This character, unique to German, represents a sharp "ss" sound. In Switzerland, where the Eszett is not used, you will see it written as heissen. According to the Duden, the authoritative German dictionary, heißen has been the standard verb for stating one's name since Middle High German.

Casual Ways to Ask Someone's Name

Use these with peers, fellow students, children, and anyone in a relaxed social setting. The Institut für Deutsche Sprache (IDS) in Mannheim notes that du usage has expanded significantly in modern German, especially among younger speakers and in digital communication.

Wie heißt du?

This is the phrase you will use most often. It is direct, warm, and natural. In casual settings (a house party, a university seminar, a gym class), Wie heißt du? is always the right choice.

The word order follows the standard German question pattern: question word (wie), verb (heißt), subject (du). This same pattern appears in dozens of other German questions, so learning it here gives you a template for the language.

Wie ist dein Name?

While Wie heißt du? asks "how are you called," Wie ist dein Name? asks "what is your name?" more directly. Native speakers reach for this version when they need clarification, for instance when they did not catch a name in a noisy room, or when they need the exact spelling for a form.

Formal Ways to Ask Someone's Name

The Sie form is essential for professional settings, meeting elders, addressing authority figures, and any first encounter where respect is expected. Getting the du/Sie choice right is one of the most important social skills in German. For more on navigating formal registers in German, our German learning hub has interactive exercises.

Wie heißen Sie?

This is the formal counterpart to Wie heißt du? The only grammatical change is the pronoun (du becomes Sie) and the verb conjugation (heißt becomes heißen). But the social weight of this switch is enormous. Using Sie signals that you recognize the other person's status and the formality of the situation.

A key rule: when in doubt, always start with Sie. The other person can then offer the du form by saying Wir können uns duzen (We can use "du" with each other). Going straight to du with a stranger in a formal context is considered presumptuous.

Wie ist Ihr Name?

This version sounds more official and bureaucratic. You will hear it at check-in desks, over the phone with customer service, and in any context where someone needs your name for a record. It is not rude, but it lacks the interpersonal warmth of Wie heißen Sie?

Darf ich nach Ihrem Namen fragen?

This is the "white glove" version. You are asking permission to ask, which adds a layer of politeness. Reserve it for situations where extra courtesy matters: approaching a senior executive at a conference, for example, or introducing yourself at a formal dinner.

How to Answer: Stating Your Name

Knowing how to ask is only half the equation. Here are the three standard ways to state your name in German, plus guidance on when to use each one.

Ich heiße...

This is the response that matches the question most naturally. When someone asks Wie heißt du? or Wie heißen Sie?, answering with Ich heiße... creates a seamless conversational flow. It is the answer taught in every German textbook and the one native speakers use most often in daily life.

Mein Name ist...

This version sounds more polished and is the go-to for professional self-introductions. Notice the common German convention of stating the Nachname (last name) first, then the full name: Mein Name ist Schmidt, Klaus Schmidt. This mirrors how Germans answer the phone, with their last name alone.

Ich bin...

Short, simple, and casual. Ich bin... works perfectly at parties, in group introductions, and whenever speed matters more than formality. The example above shows a distinctive regional feature: in southern Germany and Austria, people commonly add the definite article (der for masculine, die for feminine) before their first name. Saying Ich bin der Thomas would sound odd in Hamburg but perfectly natural in Munich or Vienna.

How to Respond: The Full Exchange

Here is what a complete name exchange looks like in both registers:

German Compound Surnames

German is famous for its compound words, and surnames are no exception. Names like Schwarzenegger (black plowman), Steinmeier (stone farmer), and Beckenbauer (brook farmer) reflect historical occupations and geography. According to the Institut für Deutsche Sprache (IDS), approximately 850,000 distinct surnames exist in Germany alone.

When introducing yourself with a long compound surname, Germans often slow down and emphasize the syllable breaks: Mein Name ist Schwar-zen-eg-ger. In phone calls, it is common to spell out the surname using the German spelling alphabet (Buchstabiertafel): "S wie Siegfried, C wie Cäsar, H wie Heinrich..."

Double-barreled surnames (Doppelnamen) joined with a hyphen are also common in Germany, especially after marriage: Müller-Schmidt or Fischer-Weber. If someone gives you a hyphenated name, make sure to use the full form, because shortening it is considered impolite.

Regional Variants: Austria and Switzerland

While the core phrases work everywhere in the German-speaking world, regional differences in introductions reflect the distinct cultures of Austria and Switzerland.

Austrian German

In Austria, introductions tend to be warmer and often begin with the regional greeting Grüß Gott rather than Hallo or Guten Tag. A typical Austrian introduction sounds like this:

Grüß Gott, ich bin der Thomas. (Hello, I'm Thomas.)

The definite article before the first name (der Thomas, die Maria) is standard in Austrian German and southern Bavarian dialects. It is not grammatically incorrect; it is a deeply rooted regional feature that the Duden acknowledges as colloquial southern usage. Dropping the article would actually sound more foreign in Vienna than including it.

In formal Austrian settings, you will hear the same Wie heißen Sie? and Mein Name ist... used in Germany. The formality system is identical; only the casual register shows regional color.

Swiss German

Swiss German (Schweizerdeutsch) dialects differ significantly from standard German in pronunciation and some vocabulary. The question "What is your name?" in Swiss German sounds like:

Wie heissisch du? (vee HY-sish doo), the Zurich dialect form

Notice heissisch instead of standard heißt. The Eszett (ß) does not exist in Swiss German orthography and is always written as ss. In formal and written contexts, Swiss Germans use standard High German (Hochdeutsch), so Wie heißen Sie? works perfectly in any formal Swiss setting.

A common Swiss introduction also includes the hometown or canton, reflecting the strong local identity in Switzerland: Ich bin de Marco us Züri (I'm Marco from Zurich).

The du/Sie Decision: A Cultural Guide

The du/Sie distinction is not just grammar; it is a social contract. The Institut für Deutsche Sprache has documented a steady shift toward more du usage in modern German, particularly in tech companies, startups, and among younger generations. Still, the rules matter.

The transition from Sie to du is called Duzen and is traditionally offered by the older or higher-ranking person. In a professional context, your boss offers du to you, never the reverse. Among peers of similar age, it often happens naturally after a few minutes of conversation, sometimes with an explicit Sollen wir uns duzen? (Shall we use "du"?).

Practice With Real German Content

Reading about name phrases is a solid start, but hearing them spoken naturally by native speakers is what makes them stick. German-language films and shows are an excellent resource because introductions happen in the first minutes of nearly every episode, giving you dozens of natural examples of Wie heißt du? and Wie heißen Sie? in context.

Wordy lets you watch German movies and shows with interactive subtitles, tapping on any phrase to see its meaning, pronunciation, and cultural context in real time. Instead of memorizing phrases from a list, you absorb them from authentic conversations with real intonation and body language.

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