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PocketSign

How to Sign "Whats Your Name"

This is a three-part sentence. The first sign is “name” you will take both your hands in the “h” handshape with your palms facing inward. You will put your dominant fingers on top of your non dominant where you will tap your dominant hand twice. The second sign is “your” you will take your dominant hand in your closed 5 handshape and point it with your palms facing out towards the person you are asking. The third sign is “what” you will take both your hands in the closed 5 handshape with your palms facing up. Then your will alternate them moving back and forth while having your eyebrows down.

Examples Using "Whats Your Name" in a Sentence

1

Hi, what's your name?

Start by signing 'hello' with a friendly wave. Then, transition into the three-part phrase: tap your 'h' hands for 'name,' push your flat hand forward for 'your,' and shake your open hands with furrowed eyebrows for 'what.'

2

I forgot, what's your name?

Point to your forehead and wipe your hand across it into an 'A' shape to sign 'forget.' Then, sign 'name,' 'your,' and 'what,' making sure to lower your eyebrows at the end to clearly mark it as a question.

3

My name is John, what's your name?

Sign 'my name' and fingerspell your name. Then, direct the conversation back to the other person by signing 'name,' 'your,' and 'what' while keeping your eyebrows furrowed to ask for their name.

How to Sign "Whats Your Name"
This is a three-part sentence. The first sign is “name” you will take both your hands in the “h” handshape with your palms facing inward. You will put your dominant fingers on top of your non dominant where you will tap your dominant hand twice. The second sign is “your” you will take your dominant hand in your closed 5 handshape and point it with your palms facing out towards the person you are asking. The third sign is “what” you will take both your hands in the closed 5 handshape with your palms facing up. Then your will alternate them moving back and forth while having your eyebrows down.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This phrase combines three highly visual signs. 'Name' uses intersecting 'h' handshapes, which historically represent the 'X' marks people used to sign documents before widespread literacy. 'Your' uses a flat palm pushing toward the person, visually indicating possession directed at them. 'What' uses open, questioning hands combined with a furrowed brow, a natural human gesture for seeking information.
Signing Tips
When signing 'what's your name,' the most important element is your facial expression. Because this is a 'wh-' question, you must furrow your eyebrows (pull them down and together) while signing 'what.' Practice flowing smoothly from the tapping 'h' hands of 'name' to the flat push of 'your,' and finally the shaking hands of 'what.'
Common Mistakes
A common mistake beginners make is forgetting to lower their eyebrows during the 'what' portion of the phrase, which changes the grammar of the question. Another frequent error is using a pointing index finger for 'your' instead of the flat, closed 5 handshape; pointing means 'you,' while the flat hand means 'your.'
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Whats Your Name" in a Sentence
1

Hi, what's your name?

Start by signing 'hello' with a friendly wave. Then, transition into the three-part phrase: tap your 'h' hands for 'name,' push your flat hand forward for 'your,' and shake your open hands with furrowed eyebrows for 'what.'

2

I forgot, what's your name?

Point to your forehead and wipe your hand across it into an 'A' shape to sign 'forget.' Then, sign 'name,' 'your,' and 'what,' making sure to lower your eyebrows at the end to clearly mark it as a question.

3

My name is John, what's your name?

Sign 'my name' and fingerspell your name. Then, direct the conversation back to the other person by signing 'name,' 'your,' and 'what' while keeping your eyebrows furrowed to ask for their name.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I have to put my eyebrows down?

In ASL, facial expressions act as grammar. Furrowing your eyebrows (pulling them down) is the grammatical marker for 'wh-' questions like who, what, when, where, and why. Without it, the sentence feels incomplete or confusing to a fluent signer.

Can I just point my finger for 'your'?

No, pointing your index finger means 'you,' not 'your.' To show possession (like 'your' name), you must use the flat, closed 5 handshape with your palm facing the person you are talking to.

Does the order of the signs matter?

Yes! ASL has its own grammar and syntax, which is different from English. While the sequence 'name,' 'your,' 'what' might feel backward to an English speaker, placing the question word ('what') at the end of the sentence is a very common and natural structure in ASL.

ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!