How to Ask Someone's Name in Korean: Formal and Informal Patterns
Learn to ask someone's name in Korean using polite and casual patterns. Master '이름이 뭐예요?' and '성함이 어떻게 되세요?' with clear register guidance.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
Asking someone's name in Korean is not a single fixed phrase; the right choice depends on who you are speaking to and the social setting. This lesson gives you two core question patterns: one neutral-polite and one formal. You will also learn how to ask staff or strangers appropriately without sounding abrupt. We focus only on asking for a name, not on introducing yourself, so you can master this specific exchange. By the end, you will be able to choose the right level of politeness and respond naturally in a short conversation.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone's name using the neutral-polite pattern 이름이 뭐예요?
- ask someone's name using the formal pattern 성함이 어떻게 되세요?
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
이름이 뭐예요?
What is your name?
ireumi mwoyeyo?
Neutral-polite and safe with peers, younger adults, or strangers when you want to be friendly but not overly formal.
성함이 어떻게 되세요?
May I ask your name? (formal)
seonghami eotteoke doeseyo?
Formal and respectful. Use with customers, older people, or in professional settings. 성함 is the honorific word for 'name'.
이름이 어떻게 되세요?
What is your name? (polite, softer)
ireumi eotteoke doeseyo?
Polite but slightly less formal than the 성함 version. The 어떻게 되세요 pattern adds a gentle, indirect tone.
이름이 뭐야?
What's your name? (casual)
ireumi mwoya?
Casual and intimate. Use only with close friends, children, or people clearly younger than you in a relaxed setting.
성함이 어떻게 되십니까?
May I ask your name? (very formal)
seonghami eotteoke doesimnikka?
Extra-formal and businesslike. Appropriate for very formal situations, such as addressing a high-ranking guest or in official correspondence.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core question is built on 이름 (name) plus a question about how it is. In neutral-polite speech, use 이름이 뭐예요? (ireumi mwoyeyo?). For more formal respect, replace 이름 with the honorific 성함 (seongham) and use 어떻게 되세요? (eotteoke doeseyo?). Example: 성함이 어떻게 되세요? (seonghami eotteoke doeseyo?). The particle 이 (i) marks the subject after a consonant, and 가 (ga) after a vowel, but 이름 and 성함 both end in consonants, so 이 is used. The verb 되세요 is an honorific polite form of 되다 (to become/go), which here means 'how is it?'.
When to use it
Choose the pattern based on your relationship and the setting. Use 이름이 뭐예요? with people of similar age or status in everyday situations, such as a new classmate or a coworker you are friendly with. Use 성함이 어떻게 되세요? when speaking to someone older, a customer, or in a formal service encounter. For example, a hotel receptionist might ask a guest: 성함이 어떻게 되세요? (seonghami eotteoke doeseyo?). Avoid 이름이 뭐야? unless you are clearly close to the person or they are a child. When in doubt, the neutral-polite form is a safe default.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
안녕하세요. 성함이 어떻게 되세요?
Hello. May I ask your name?annyeonghaseyo. seonghami eotteoke doeseyo?네, 김민수입니다.
Yes, I am Kim Minsu.ne, gim minsuimnida.아, 김민수 씨시군요. 반갑습니다.
Ah, you are Mr. Kim Minsu. Nice to meet you.a, gim minsu ssigunyo. bangapseumnida.네, 반갑습니다.
Yes, nice to meet you.ne, bangapseumnida.A little context goes a long way
Korean speech levels are not just about words; they reflect social distance and respect. Using the wrong level can sound rude or overly stiff. The honorific 성함 is a noun that elevates the listener, so it pairs naturally with the polite verb ending -세요. In many service encounters, staff may ask for your name using the formal pattern, but you can respond with a simple name plus 입니다 (imnida) or 이에요/예요 (ieyo/yeyo) depending on your own politeness choice. Age and hierarchy still influence everyday speech, so when unsure, lean polite.
One thing to watch for
Using the casual 이름이 뭐야? with a stranger or someone older because it is shorter and easier to remember.
Try this instead: With strangers or people older than you, use at least the neutral-polite 이름이 뭐예요? or the formal 성함이 어떻게 되세요?. For example, asking a new older colleague 이름이 뭐야? can sound disrespectful; say 이름이 뭐예요? instead. The casual form is fine with close friends, but context matters.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are a hotel receptionist asking a guest for their name. Which phrase is most appropriate?
Show a sample answer
성함이 어떻게 되세요?
This uses the honorific 성함 and the polite 어떻게 되세요, which is suitable for a formal service encounter. 이름이 뭐예요? is also grammatical but less formal; in a hotel setting, the honorific form is preferred.
2A close friend your age asks for your name. What casual form can they use?
Show a sample answer
이름이 뭐야?
This casual form is appropriate among close friends of similar age. Other forms like 이름이 뭐예요? are also possible but would sound more polite and less intimate.
3How would you ask a new coworker's name in a neutral-polite way?
Show a sample answer
이름이 뭐예요?
This is neutral-polite and safe for a coworker you are not close to. You could also use 이름이 어떻게 되세요? for a softer tone, but the neutral form is perfectly acceptable.
Use 이름이 뭐예요? as your everyday polite question, and switch to 성함이 어떻게 되세요? when you need formal respect. Save 이름이 뭐야? for close friends or children. When in doubt, choose the polite form.
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