How to Sign "Name"
To make the sign name, take both hands in the horizontal U handshape and tap your dominant fingers on top of your non dominant.
Examples Using "Name" in a Sentence
1
What is your name?
Point to the person you are asking to sign 'YOUR', then sign 'NAME' by tapping your dominant 'U' fingers over your non-dominant ones. Remember to furrow your eyebrows, which is the grammatical marker for 'Wh-' questions in ASL.
2
My name is John.
Point to your chest to sign 'MY', sign 'NAME' using the double tap motion, and then clearly fingerspell J-O-H-N. Keep your hand steady while fingerspelling.
3
Please sign your name.
Sign 'PLEASE' by rubbing an open flat hand in a circle on your chest, point to the person for 'YOUR', and then sign 'NAME' by tapping your 'U' handshapes together.
How to Sign "Name"
To make the sign name, take both hands in the horizontal U handshape and tap your dominant fingers on top of your non dominant.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The visual logic of this sign comes from the traditional way of signing legal documents. The crossed 'U' fingers represent the 'X' mark that was historically placed on a signature line to indicate exactly where a person should write their name.
Signing Tips
When signing 'name', make sure your non-dominant hand stays completely still as a base. Only your dominant hand should move to perform the tapping motion. Keep your fingers tightly together in the 'U' handshape, and let the dominant fingers cross over the non-dominant fingers at a slight angle to form an 'X' shape.
Common Mistakes
A frequent mistake is bouncing both hands against each other. Remember, the bottom hand acts as a stationary table. Another common error is keeping the fingers parallel instead of crossing them, or using a 'V' handshape (fingers spread apart) instead of the closed 'U' handshape.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Name" in a Sentence
1What is your name?
Point to the person you are asking to sign 'YOUR', then sign 'NAME' by tapping your dominant 'U' fingers over your non-dominant ones. Remember to furrow your eyebrows, which is the grammatical marker for 'Wh-' questions in ASL.
2My name is John.
Point to your chest to sign 'MY', sign 'NAME' using the double tap motion, and then clearly fingerspell J-O-H-N. Keep your hand steady while fingerspelling.
3Please sign your name.
Sign 'PLEASE' by rubbing an open flat hand in a circle on your chest, point to the person for 'YOUR', and then sign 'NAME' by tapping your 'U' handshapes together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I tap my fingers once or twice?
You should tap your fingers twice. In ASL, nouns typically have a double movement. Tapping just once turns the sign into a verb, meaning 'to name' or 'named'.
Which hand should be on top?
Your dominant hand should always be the one on top doing the tapping. Your non-dominant hand stays on the bottom and remains still.
Do my fingers need to be crossed or parallel?
Your fingers should cross each other at a slight angle, forming a gentle 'X' shape when they tap. They should not be perfectly parallel to one another.
ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!