How to Say My Name Is in Spanish
How to say my name is in Spanish: 'Me llamo…' (meh YAH-moh) or 'Mi nombre es…' (mee NOM-breh ess). Pronunciation, formal vs casual intros, and how to ask names.
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Quick answer
To say 'my name is' in Spanish, say 'Me llamo…' (meh YAH-moh), literally 'I call myself,' followed by your name — e.g. 'Me llamo Ana.' A more literal alternative is 'Mi nombre es…' (mee NOM-breh ess, 'My name is…'). Both are correct; 'Me llamo' is the most natural and common.
Me llamo
/meh YAH-moh/ — Spanish
How to Say My Name Is in Spanish
Introducing yourself is the very first step in any conversation, and Spanish has a friendly, slightly unexpected way of doing it.
The Phrase
Me llamo… — pronounced meh YAH-moh (“My name is…”)
Copy the Phrase
The Spanish phrase for “my name is” is Me llamo (meh YAH-moh), followed by your name.
Pronunciation Guide
| Part | Pronunciation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Me | meh | Short ‘e’ as in “met” |
| llamo | YAH-moh | ”ll” = “y” sound; stress on “YAH” |
| Mi nombre | mee NOM-breh | ”My name” |
The double ll is pronounced like the English “y” in most regions (and like a soft “j”/“zh” in Argentina and Uruguay).
The Literal Meaning
Me llamo doesn’t literally mean “my name is” — it means “I call myself.” It comes from the reflexive verb llamarse (to be called):
- Me llamo Ana — I call myself Ana → My name is Ana
- Se llama Pedro — He calls himself Pedro → His name is Pedro
Once you see the “I call myself” logic, the grammar clicks into place.
Two Ways to Say It
| Spanish | Literal | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Me llamo… | I call myself | Most natural, conversational |
| Mi nombre es… | My name is | More literal, slightly formal |
Both are correct. Me llamo is what you’ll hear most in conversation; Mi nombre es appears more in writing, forms, or formal introductions.
Asking Someone’s Name
To complete an introduction, you need to ask back:
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Register |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Cómo te llamas? | KOH-moh teh YAH-mas | Informal (tú) |
| ¿Cómo se llama? | KOH-moh seh YAH-mah | Formal (usted) |
| ¿Cuál es tu nombre? | kwahl ess too NOM-breh | ”What is your name?” |
A Full Introduction
Putting it together:
- Hola, me llamo Laura. ¿Y tú? — Hi, my name is Laura. And you?
- Mucho gusto — Nice to meet you (literally “much pleasure”)
- Encantado / Encantada — Delighted (men say encantado, women encantada)
- Igualmente — Likewise
Cultural Notes
In formal or business settings, switch to the usted form (¿Cómo se llama?) to show respect, especially with elders or strangers. After exchanging names, a warm mucho gusto is the standard, polite follow-up. Note the gender ending on encantado/encantada — it agrees with the speaker, so women say encantada regardless of who they’re addressing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say my name is in Spanish?
The most natural way is 'Me llamo…' (meh YAH-moh) followed by your name, e.g. 'Me llamo Carlos' (My name is Carlos). It literally means 'I call myself.' You can also say 'Mi nombre es…' (mee NOM-breh ess), which is a more literal 'My name is…' Both are correct.
How do you pronounce me llamo?
'Me llamo' is pronounced meh YAH-moh. 'Me' = meh (short 'e' as in 'met'). 'Llamo' = YAH-moh, where the double 'll' sounds like the English 'y' in 'yes' (in some regions it's a 'j' sound, like 'ZHAH-mo' in Argentina). Stress falls on 'YAH.'
What does me llamo literally mean?
'Me llamo' literally means 'I call myself' — it comes from the reflexive verb 'llamarse' (to be called/named). So 'Me llamo Ana' literally is 'I call myself Ana,' which Spanish uses to mean 'My name is Ana.' This is why it's not a word-for-word match with English.
What is the difference between me llamo and mi nombre es?
'Me llamo' (I call myself) is the everyday, most natural way to give your name. 'Mi nombre es' (My name is) is more literal and slightly more formal or careful — common in writing, forms, or when stating a full name. Both are correct and widely understood; 'Me llamo' is more conversational.
How do you ask someone's name in Spanish?
Informally, ask '¿Cómo te llamas?' (KOH-moh teh YAH-mas, 'What's your name?'). Formally (with usted), say '¿Cómo se llama?' (KOH-moh seh YAH-mah). You can also ask '¿Cuál es tu nombre?' (What is your name?). To respond, just say 'Me llamo…' plus your name.