How to say “What’s your name?” in Spanish (Formal and informal)

Key takeaways

• ¿Cómo te llamas? is the informal way to ask “What’s your name?” and is the most common in everyday conversation.
• ¿Cómo se llama usted? is the formal version, used with strangers, professionals, and older adults.
• Llamarse is a reflexive verb meaning “to call oneself,” and its conjugation changes with each pronoun.
• To answer, use Me llamo… (My name is…), Mi nombre es…, or the informal shortcut Soy… (I am…).
• Follow-up phrases like Mucho gusto (Nice to meet you) and Encantado/a (Delighted to meet you) complete the introduction.

Getting introductions right is worth spending real time on. From its community of 30,000+ tutors across 150+ languages, italki has Spanish teachers who help learners practice first-meeting conversations in real time.

This guide covers all four main ways to ask “What’s your name?” in Spanish, the full conjugation of llamarse, how to answer naturally, when to use formal versus informal form, and follow-up phrases for a complete first meeting exchange.

The four main ways to ask “What’s your name?”

Expression	Register	Literal meaning
¿Cómo te llamas?	Informal	How do you call yourself?
¿Cómo se llama usted?	Formal	How do you call yourself? (formal)
¿Cuál es tu nombre?	Informal	What is your name?
¿Cuál es su nombre?	Formal	What is your name? (formal)

¿Cómo te llamas? is the most common in everyday speech across all Spanish-speaking regions. The formal versions ¿Cómo se llama usted? and ¿Cuál es su nombre? appear in professional settings, official contexts, and anytime you are speaking to someone older or in a position of authority.

Start with the informal version in casual settings. Switch to formal with authority figures and strangers. Work with a Spanish online tutor and practice code-switching between both until it comes naturally.

Understanding llamarse: a reflexive verb

Llamarse (to call oneself, to be named) is a reflexive verb. The base verb llamar means “to call.” Add the reflexive pronoun and it becomes “to call oneself,” meaning “to be named.”

Pronoun	Conjugation	Meaning
Yo	Me llamo	My name is
Tú	Te llamas	Your name is
Él / Ella / Usted	Se llama	His/her name is / Your name is (formal)
Nosotros	Nos llamamos	Our names are
Vosotros	Os llamáis	Your names are (Spain, informal plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes	Se llaman	Their names are / Your names are

The reflexive pronoun always comes before the conjugated verb in a standard sentence: always me llamo, te llamas, se llama — never “llamo me.”

Run through a series of introductions with an online Spanish teacher, switching between formal and informal registers until the right pronouns come out automatically.

How to answer “What’s your name?”

Me llamo… (My name is…)

Me llamo Ana. Me llamo Carlos. This is the most natural and widely used answer.

Mi nombre es… (My name is…)

Mi nombre es Elena. Mi nombre es Diego. Both me llamo and mi nombre es are common and interchangeable in most situations.

Soy… (I am…)

In casual conversation: Soy Marta. Soy Luis. This informal shortcut works well among peers. In a professional or formal context, me llamo or mi nombre es sounds more complete.

Choose the version that feels most natural for your context. Work with a Spanish tutor on italki and practice all three response types in actual introductions.

Formal versus informal: when to switch

The informal form is the right default in most everyday situations. The formal form belongs in professional settings, when speaking to someone noticeably older than you, and in official or administrative contexts. In many parts of Latin America, usted is used more broadly than in Spain.

Follow-up phrases for a complete introduction

Phrase	Meaning	Notes
Mucho gusto	Nice to meet you	Works in all registers
Encantado / Encantada	Delighted to meet you	Encantado for male speakers, Encantada for female speakers
El gusto es mío	The pleasure is mine	A response to Mucho gusto
Igualmente	Likewise	Used to return the greeting
¿Y tú? / ¿Y usted?	And you?	Used after introducing yourself

A short example conversation

Informal

A: Hola, ¿cómo te llamas? B: Me llamo Sofía. ¿Y tú? A: Soy Pablo. Mucho gusto. B: Encantada, igualmente.

Formal

A: Buenos días. ¿Cómo se llama usted? B: Mi nombre es Señora Ramírez. ¿Y usted? A: Me llamo Diego Fernández. Mucho gusto. B: El gusto es mío.

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Move beyond isolated phrases and practice complete introductions with Spanish tutors on italki. Work through both formal and informal scenarios until you introduce yourself naturally in any setting.

With over 15 years of experience connecting learners to qualified teachers, italki has helped students in 190+ countries achieve their language learning goals. Book a trial lesson on italki today.

FAQ Can I just say my name without any formula? Yes, in very casual settings it is common to just say your name. But using Me llamo or Soy sounds more natural and polished, and mirrors what Spanish speakers do in practice.

How do I ask someone to spell their name if I did not catch it?

You can say ¿Cómo se escribe? (How is it spelled?) or ¿Lo puedes repetir? (Can you repeat it?). If you want them to write it down, ask ¿Me lo puedes escribir?

FAQ

Is llamarse the same verb as llamar?

Llamar (to call) and llamarse (to call oneself) are related but different in use. Llamar is used when you call someone else: Te llamo mañana (I will call you tomorrow). Llamarse is reflexive and refers specifically to one’s name.