Dictionary / Japanese / My name is
How to Say "My name is" in Japanese
私の名前は…です
watashi no namae wa ... desu
Literally: As for my name, it is ...
私
I
の
's
名前
name
は
as for (said wa)
…です
is ...
Polite or casual
Polite…と申します (... to mōshimasu)
私の名前は…です is polite, but it sounds like a textbook. In everyday introductions, people simply say their name and です: エマです (Ema desu), I'm Emma. In a job interview, at work or with customers, …と申します (... to mōshimasu) is the humble, more formal choice. At work, people usually give their family name.
The mistake to avoid. Two things trip learners up. The は after 名前 is the topic particle, so it is said wa, not ha. And 私の名前は is correct but sounds stiff in conversation: Japanese leaves out 私 (I) when it is clear who is speaking. はじめまして, then your name and です, then よろしくお願いします sounds natural.
In context
はじめまして、トムです。よろしくお願いします。
Hajimemashite, Tomu desu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
Nice to meet you, I'm Tom. I look forward to getting to know you.
私の名前はサラです。
Watashi no namae wa Sara desu.
My name is Sara.
はじめまして、田中と申します。
Hajimemashite, Tanaka to mōshimasu.
How do you do. My name is Tanaka. (formal)