How to spell WHAT IS YOUR NAME in sign language
What Is Your Name fingerspelled in ASL is 14 handshapes, signed one after another with the palm facing out. Hold each for a beat and keep the hand in one place; the letters carry the word, not the movement.
W
H
A
T·
I
S·
Y
O
U
R·
NA
M
ELetter by letter
- W Index, middle, and ring fingers extended upward and spread; thumb holds the pinky finger down.
- H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- T A fist with the thumb tucked under the index finger, peeking out between the index and middle fingers.
- I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
- S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.
- Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.
- O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
- U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
- R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
- N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- M A fist with the thumb tucked under three fingers (index, middle, ring), peeking out between the ring and pinky fingers.
- E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
Fingerspelling is how ASL handles names, places, brands and words without a sign of their own. Many everyday words do have a sign, so if you are learning ASL as a language, learn that sign too; this page shows how the word is spelled with the manual alphabet.