Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 私は……です | watashi wa … desu | |
| 名前は……です | namae wa … desu | |
| ……といいます | … to iimasu | |
| ……と申します | … to mōshimasu | formal |
These phrases are used to identify yourself to others. While you can say Watashi no namae wa [Your Name] desu. to be formal, it is often more natural in Japanese to omit the word for "my" (watashi no) and simply say 名前は……です (Name is…).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 名前は……です literally translates to "As for (my) name, it is …".
Which one should you use?
The forms differ in their focus: 私は……です focuses on the statement "I am [Name]", whereas ……といいます focuses on the act of being called or named [Name].
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In professional business settings or when meeting superiors, use the humble, highly formal version: ……と申します.
How do you pronounce it?
watashi wa … desu
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often over-use the possessive "watashi no" (my) when using 名前は……です. In Japanese, the context makes it clear that you are talking about your own name, so you do not need to include it.
Did you know?
- The word 名前 ('name') is composed of two characters: 名 meaning 'reputation' or 'name' and 前 meaning 'before'. This reflects an ancient idea that a name is what comes before a person.
- When introducing yourself, you might avoid using 私は ('I') and instead use your own name as if you were a third person, which can sound cute or childish depending on the context.
- Depending on the gender and social status of the speaker, there are many other words for 'I' besides 私 ('watashi'), such as 僕 ('boku') for boys or 俺 ('ore') for men in casual settings.
Example sentences for Japanese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my name is” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
