It is one of the first phrases anyone learns, and the one that opens every first meeting. So how do you sign “my name is” in ASL?
The construction uses two signs plus your fingerspelled name, since ASL has no verb “to be” and nothing translates “is”.
For NAME, form an H handshape with both hands, index and middle fingers extended and held together. Your dominant hand then taps twice on top of your passive hand.
Then fingerspell your first name using the manual alphabet, at a steady pace so your conversation partner can read each letter.
One point deserves attention, because it separates beginners from fluent signers. Hearing learners typically sign MY NAME using the possessive, placing a flat hand on the chest. Deaf signers more commonly point at themselves then sign NAME, which glosses as IX-me NAME. Neither is wrong, but they are used in different contexts, and the pointed version reads as more natural in casual introductions.
A cultural element matters here too. Many Deaf people carry a name sign, a personal sign replacing the fingerspelling in everyday conversation. It is given by a member of the Deaf community, never chosen by yourself. Until you receive one, fingerspelling is the expected practice.
One practical note: introduce yourself with your first name only unless the setting is formal. And never fingerspell your first name, sign LAST NAME, then spell your surname, which is a common beginner error.
To learn introductions with video demonstrations, the Anna: Sign Language app available at annasignlanguage.com guides beginners step by step.
In this article we cover everything about signing this phrase in ASL.
How to Form the Sign NAME in ASL?
Here are the steps to form the sign properly.
Extend the index and middle fingers on both hands
Hold those two fingers together, not spread apart
Curl your remaining fingers down with the thumb
Position both hands horizontally in front of your chest
Place your passive hand steady as the base
Tap your dominant hand across it twice
Keep eye contact with your conversation partner
The decisive element is the H handshape on both hands. Your index and middle fingers stay pressed together rather than spread. Separating them produces a V, which changes the handshape entirely.
The tapping contact matters just as much. Your dominant hand strikes across the top edge of your passive hand’s index finger, and the movement repeats twice. A single tap reads as incomplete, and more than two becomes insistent.
Keep both hands horizontal rather than vertical. The orientation is part of the sign, and tilting them upward produces something closer to a different configuration.
Your passive hand stays still throughout. Only the dominant hand moves, which is a common structural pattern in ASL. Beginners frequently move both, which blurs the sign.
Keep your hands relaxed rather than tense. A rigid handshape stiffens the tap and tires your hands unnecessarily.
One useful note: this sign resembles MENTION, which uses a similar movement with a different meaning. Context distinguishes them in practice, so there is nothing to adjust in your execution.
Maintain eye contact throughout, since in ASL your gaze indicates who you are addressing.
How to Build the Full Phrase in ASL?
Here is how to construct the introduction correctly.
Make eye contact with the person
Point at your own chest to sign IX-me
Sign NAME with both hands in the H handshape
Pause briefly before spelling
Fingerspell your first name at a steady pace
Keep your facial expression open and welcoming
The first step matters more than beginners expect. In ASL nothing you sign exists if the person is not watching you, so establish eye contact before beginning rather than signing into empty space.
The second step is where the main distinction appears. Hearing learners typically sign MY, a flat hand on the chest, while Deaf signers more commonly point at themselves. Both are understood, but the pointed version reads as more natural in casual introductions.
The third and fourth steps form the core. Sign NAME, then pause briefly before spelling. That pause signals clearly that your name is coming, and it prevents your conversation partner from reading the first letter as part of the previous sign.
The fifth step is where most introductions fail. Fingerspell at a steady, even pace without accelerating. Your name is familiar to you and completely unfamiliar to them, which means a speed that feels slow to you is often exactly right for them.
The sixth step concerns your expression. An introduction delivered with a neutral face reads cold, and in ASL the mimic carries part of the message rather than decorating it.
One shortcut worth knowing: in casual settings you can drop NAME entirely and simply point at yourself then fingerspell, which glosses as “I’m [name]”. Fluent signers do this constantly.
What Is a Name Sign in ASL?
A name sign is a personal sign identifying someone within the Deaf community. It replaces fingerspelling, which would be impractically slow when referring to the same person repeatedly in conversation.
The practical logic is straightforward. Spelling a name takes several seconds, which becomes tedious when you mention someone multiple times. A name sign condenses that identity into a single gesture.
Name signs generally follow one of two patterns.
Descriptive name signs reference a physical characteristic or a personality trait: curly hair, a distinctive smile, a habitual gesture or a known passion.
Initialized name signs use the handshape of your first initial, placed at a specific location on the body or moved in a particular way. Many name signs combine both approaches.
One cultural point matters above all others, and it surprises hearing learners consistently: you do not choose your own name sign. It is given to you by a Deaf person, typically after they have spent enough time with you to identify what characterizes you.
Assigning yourself a name sign is considered a misstep, sometimes a mark of disrespect. It is a gesture of inclusion that comes from the community rather than a personal decision.
The reason runs deeper than etiquette. Name signs belong to Deaf culture specifically, and the practice of granting them is one of the ways the community recognizes its members. Taking that step yourself bypasses something that is meant to be earned through relationship.
Until you receive one, fingerspell your name. This is the normal and expected practice, and nobody will find it unusual.
Note finally that a name sign can evolve if the characteristic behind it changes significantly over time.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid?
Several errors recur among beginners when introducing themselves in ASL.
Signing a word for “is”, which does not exist in ASL
Spreading your fingers on the H handshape, producing a V instead
Fingerspelling too fast, making your name unreadable
Spelling your first name then signing LAST NAME then your surname
Moving both hands when only the dominant hand should tap
Choosing your own name sign rather than waiting to receive one
Signing with a neutral face, which reads cold
Skipping eye contact before you begin
Among these, fingerspelling too fast is the most common and the most frustrating for your conversation partner. Your name is completely familiar to you and entirely new to them, which means a pace that feels slow on your side is usually exactly right on theirs.
Slow down deliberately, and repeat without hesitation if asked.
The surname error deserves specific mention because it seems logical and is not. Spelling your first name, signing LAST NAME, then spelling your surname is not how ASL handles full names. In formal settings you simply fingerspell the full name with a brief pause between the two.
In most situations, introduce yourself with your first name only.
Choosing your own name sign is the mistake with cultural weight. Name signs are given by Deaf people, never self-assigned, and taking that step yourself bypasses something meant to come through relationship. Fingerspell until you receive one.
The neutral face matters as much here as on any other sign. An introduction delivered without warmth reads as distant, and in ASL the expression carries part of the message.
Film yourself once to check your fingerspelling pace.
