Using me llamo [name] - to say your name in Spanish

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Saying your name in Spanish

To say what your name is in Spanish, you use Me llamo [+name].

Read and listen to these examples:

Me llamo Juan.My name is Juan.

Hola, me llamo Rocío, ¿y tú?Hello, I am called Rocío, and you?

Yo me llamo Ana.My name is Ana.

It's optional in Spanish to use Yo in front of me llamo.

To ask what someone's name is, you can use either the informal  form (te llamas), or the formal usted form (se llama):

¿Cómo te llamas?What's your name? [informal]

¿Cómo se llama usted?What's your name? [formal]

GRAMMAR: Yo me llamo is the first person singular of the verb llamarse in El Presente.

Important note:

Note that while these more literal structures are grammatically correct, it is not the general custom to use them when asking someone's name or saying what your name is:

¿Cuál es tu nombre? 
What is your name?

¿Cuál es su nombre?
What is your name? (formal)

Mi nombre es... 
My name is...

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Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics

Examples and resources

¿Cómo te llamas?What's your name? [informal]
Me llamo Juan.My name is Juan.
¿Cómo se llama usted?What's your name? [formal]
Yo me llamo Ana.My name is Ana.
Hola, me llamo Rocío, ¿y tú?Hello, I am called Rocío, and you?
Hola, me llamo Rafael.Hello, my name is Rafael.
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