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I’m just starting to learn the Japanese language and would like to befriend a Japanese boy near me (so I can have someone to talk to in Japanese for practice, haha). For starters, I’d like to ask him his name. How do you say “what is your name” in Japanese?
Thank you for your interest in our language!
The literal phrase for “What is your name?” is あなたの名前は何ですか？ (anata no namaê wa nandêsuka?). But is very textbook-ish.
Please note that Japanese people don’t really say “you” and just pronouns in general because there’s no grammatical requirement to include the subject in sentences.
You can say:
お名前を教えて下さい。
(onamaê wo, oshiêtê kudasai.)
Literal translation: The name, please tell.
Free translation: Please tell me your name.
Formal
お名前を、教えてくれませんか？
(onamaê wo, oshiêtê kurêmasênka?)
Literal translation: The name, can you tell?
Free translation: Do you mind telling me your name?
Formal
お名前は？
(onamaê wa?)
Literal translation: Your name?
Free translation: What’s your name?
Informal
Hope this helps!