“What's Your Name?”

Why It Always Makes Us Laugh

When the locals see our American family, many greet us in English. They enjoy practicing their English with a native speaker.

“Hello!”

“How are you?”

“What’s your name?”

These are phrases we often hear in public.

Because English is considered a normal part of education in the Middle East, many of the children are taught a basic level of English in schools. The most common English phrase we hear is, “What’s your name?” Children will ask this of anyone who looks like a Westerner.

The local children can be humorous with this phrase. Many times, on our walks, children notice us. As we pass by them, we typically see the children whisper together. It appears they are discussing whether to speak to us or not. If they look like they are nice kids, we offer a smile, a friendly wave, or an Arabic greeting. The children are often shy and unsure of how to speak with foreigners. So they wait for us to pass.

We continue walking, and then we hear a shout from about 30 yards away, “What’s your name?”

Once we are far enough beyond them, the children seem to have more confidence.

For English speakers, “What’s your name?” is a question you would ask when you are nearby. You know, when you have a conversation with someone! It does not feel normal to shout all of our names from a long distance.

Several years ago, we moved into a new neighborhood. As we got to know the neighbors around our home, we met a cute young boy named Amir. He was five or six years old. He lived two doors down from our villa. Whenever he saw us, he asked with a friendly smile, “What’s your name?”

“My name is Jordan,” I told him. As time passed, there was no sign that Amir understood my response. Whenever he saw me, he asked my name again.

I began to realize Amir did not understand me. He was aware that he was speaking English, but it seemed as though he did not realize I was giving him the proper answer to his question.

At first, I thought the question was cute. However, as he continued this over numerous months, I became annoyed. Would he ever learn my name for real?

Then one day, about two years later, Amir greeted me differently. I was in my backyard. He stuck his head out the third-floor window of his building and called out:

“Hi, Jordan!”“What’s your name?”

We have laughed ever since.