Your name is one of the first things you share when meeting someone — so it makes sense to learn how to say name in German right away. This word plays a big role in everyday interactions, official forms, and cultural etiquette.
The German word for name is der Name. It’s masculine, and the plural is die Namen. If you’re still building your sense for gender and article patterns, watch my gender video lesson for a fast and clear explanation.
Name is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and shows up in everything from introductions to bureaucracy.
Let’s look at how it behaves in the four grammatical cases:
Nominative:
Der Name ist schwer auszusprechen.
The name is hard to pronounce.
Accusative:
Ich habe den Namen vergessen.
I forgot the name.
Dative:
Ich helfe dir mit dem Namen.
I’ll help you with the name.
Genitive:
Die Bedeutung des Namens ist interessant.
The meaning of the name is interesting.
You’ll often hear Name with verbs like heißen (to be called), nennen (to name), vergessen (to forget), aufschreiben (to write down), and kennen (to know).
Phrases include:
Wie ist dein Name? — What’s your name?
Mein Name ist Müller. — My name is Müller.
Hast du ihren Namen gehört? — Did you catch her name?
Adjectives and descriptions that pair with Name include schön (beautiful), lang (long), kompliziert (complicated), selten (rare), or geläufig (common). You’ll also find Vorname (first name) and Nachname (last name) as important related words.
In formal settings in Germany, it’s common to say your last name first:
„Mein Name ist Schneider. Peter Schneider.“ This is standard in offices, customer service, and polite situations.
Here’s a simple beginner dialogue using the word naturally:
A: Entschuldigung, wie ist Ihr Name?
B: Mein Name ist Julia Becker.
A: Excuse me, what’s your name?
B: My name is Julia Becker.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it out loud. Use Name or Namen in your sentence.
“Welcher Name gefällt dir besonders — und warum?”
Which name do you especially like — and why?
Speaking the word aloud helps make it stick and strengthens your confidence.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say name in German — and how der Name plays a key role in introductions, identity, and communication. This is one of those foundational words that opens doors in any conversation.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and keep growing your vocabulary with context and confidence.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Revisit Mord — and see how vocabulary helps you talk about stories, emotions, and more.
Or review Mittagessen — and pick up everyday phrases around meals and routines.