The short answer
In English, names do not have a quality. A name is not “good” or “bad” — it is just a name. Asking for someone's “good name” will confuse any non-Indian. The correct phrase is simply “What is your name?” or, if you want to be polite, “May I know your name?”
Wrong vs. Right
Wrong
May I know your good name?
Right
May I know your name?
Wrong
What is your good name, sir?
Right
What is your name, sir?
Wrong
Please tell me your good name.
Right
Please tell me your name.
Wrong
Your good name, please?
Right
Your name, please?
Where Does This Come From?
This is a direct, word-for-word translation from Hindi.
In Hindi, when you want to ask someone's name politely — especially an elder or a stranger — you say: “Aapka shubh naam kya hai?” The word shubhmeans auspicious or blessed. It is an honorific — a way of showing respect. You are not literally asking for their “good” name. You are simply being polite.
When Indians translate this into English, shubhbecomes “good” — the closest single-word translation. The result is “What is your good name?”
The problem is that English has no such honorific for names. You cannot call a name “good” in standard English. The politeness in English comes from phrasing — “May I know your name?” is polite not because of an extra adjective, but because of the word may.
How to Ask Someone's Name Politely in English
| Level of formality | What to say |
|---|---|
| Casual / everyday | What's your name? |
| Polite / professional | May I know your name? |
| Very formal (written) | Could I have your name, please? |
| IELTS speaking test | What is your name? / Could you tell me your name? |
IELTS tip
In the IELTS Speaking test, the examiner will ask: “Can you tell me your full name?”The correct answer starts with “My name is…”— not “Myself [name]” and not “My good name is…”. Both of those lose you marks on lexical resource.
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