# Subtle difference: "My name is..." vs "I am ..."

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-difference-my-name-is-vs-i-am/11129>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 26, 2000, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-difference-my-name-is-vs-i-am/11129 "2000-04-26T05:28:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![BuckshotJones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@BuckshotJones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckshotJones)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-difference-my-name-is-vs-i-am/11129/21 "2000-04-30T08:02:40Z")

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OK, I see the difference. I having been wondering about this because I attend a club, and whenever someone new joins, we introduce ourselves, and I usually say “I’m Ben” because most people in the room know who I am. But if we were all new, I should actually say “My name is Ben” which implies no previous familiarity.

I think I can rest easy now 🙂

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**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-difference-my-name-is-vs-i-am/11129/22 "2000-04-30T23:35:37Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*\*  
> \>\>In Spanish, you can’t say “I am \<name\>.”
> 
> Bobt, obviously you do not speak Spanish fluently because this is exactly the way you would identify yourselfoy do I have a deal for you…) to someone, over the phone for example.
> 
> There is a slight nuance here. the “my name is x” would only be used with someone that does not know you and you would normally use the “I am x” form with someone who knows you.
> 
> In other words, the difference is between identifying yourself to someone who already knows you, or _describing_ yourself to someone who doesn’t. (My name is X, I work for Z real estate co. and boy, do I have a deal for you…)  
> \*\*

Nope, not a fluent speaker, but I was going by what my Spanish-speaking friends taught me as the difference. Of course, I don’t speak to them on the phone in Spanish.

This could explain some snickers I head from them once.

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**Author:** ![mrblue92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@mrblue92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrblue92)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2000, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-difference-my-name-is-vs-i-am/11129/23 "2000-05-01T13:06:24Z")

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_I’m Batman!_

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**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2000, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subtle-difference-my-name-is-vs-i-am/11129/24 "2000-05-01T15:45:26Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*\*  
> OK, I see the difference. I having been wondering about this because I attend a club, and whenever someone new joins, we introduce ourselves, and I usually say “I’m Ben” because most people in the room know who I am. \*\*

_All in room:_ **Hi, Ben.**

I’m glad you have the courage to testify, it really helps get you through the week.

## Peace.

_It’s spelled m o r i a h, but it’s pronounced ‘Throatwarbler Mangrove.’_

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