How to Say "My Father's Name Is" in French

mon père s'appelle

To say my father's name is in French, use mon père s'appelle, followed by his name.

What does it mean word for word?

Word for word, mon père s'appelle means my father calls himself.

The verb is the reflexive form of the verb to call, so the pronoun s' comes before appelle.

English speakers often translate word for word as le nom de mon père est. It is understood, but mon père s'appelle is the natural way to say it.

The reflexive structure of s'appelle is so common that French uses it not just for people, but for naming cities, shops and streets.
The French word mon was likely influenced by a word from the ancient Gaulish language that existed in France before the Roman conquest.
If you were to use le nom de mon père est instead of mon père s'appelle, you would sound like you are reading a formal legal document rather than speaking naturally.

Mon père s'appelle Jean.
My father's name is Jean.
Mon père s'appelle Marc, et toi ?
My father's name is Marc, and you?
Est-ce que tu sais comment mon père s'appelle ?
Do you know what my father's name is?

Two friends are talking about their families at a cafe.

Manon

Mon père s'appelle Pierre.
My father's name is Pierre.
Hugo

C'est un joli prénom.
That is a nice name.
Manon

Et toi, comment s'appelle ton père ?
And you, what is your father's name?
Hugo

Mon père s'appelle Thomas.
My father's name is Thomas.

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