"My Names Are" Or "My Name Is"?

Hi Budx,
It's not just about what is said. It's also important how you say it. Your argument makes sense but I think you should be more polite next time.

Budx,
I get your point. But You are still in error. My name is Kofi Uwase Annan. Even if u have 10 middle names, it is still my name is and never my names are. God, You are a clown

theodre you no what i have to tell you the part of your msg is sensible but the begining is out of it why not make your corrections instead of insulting another member .I think it will be better to generalize your reply to post and don't think your better because you are not the fact that you can type with a keyboard does not make you betterv than someone who uses a typewritter fool.

You guys (Budx, Kofianan & Co)  are beginning to take a general issue that does not particularly concern anyone personal. We are all here to learn and help one another. Just go ahead and make you earnest contribution and stop attacking one another. It is not healthy for this Forum.

Everybody seems to be right on this issue, most claim they are linguist, grammarian,etc and yet they are not giving us, novice, substantiative explanation in order to understand the reasons behind those Clauses and their acceptability or not.

I totally agree with the points made by Budx: like I said earlier, they are both Grammatically correct depending on the names supplied and possibly how the question came. However, the conventional and generally acceptable one is "My name is". But that does not mean " My names are" is grammatically incorrect. We should also know that English Language and its usuage is dynamic. New things come on board and old ones are discarded.Popularity of the word or clause sometimes count, even if they may not be formal. That is why you have so many slangs in the Dictionary because of their popularity and usuage in a particular settings. Even Dictionaries are been edited after some years. Grammars and words contained in the 1st and 2nd Editions of Advance Learners' Dictionary (which is commonly used) are not the same with those in the latest Edition. Who knows, this argument might reflect in the next Edition. That is why we must argue intellectually and stop attacking one another.

For simplicity, just use the one everyone knows: "My name is". Or, answer as the question comes to you, See Tipsydude.
Except if you want to go there and argue with your interviewers on which is correct .

One Love!!!

I agree w/ some of you

if you have many names, the are should be used
if you have the normal first name, middle name and last name, is should be used,

my names are omoge, yemoja, oluchi, nma
my name is Omoge Nma Barch

cheers 

I think the correct expression is 'My name is'. The secret behind English Language is K.I.S.S - Keep it simple and straight!!


Why can't people make their successfully without making a complete fool of themselves

simple english

"my name is" correct expression

"my names are" wrong and please do not say this in public places

@Budx, that was quite some display of righteous indigenation,

@all, i like his way of thinking, it all made sense if u look at it from his point of view, plus he had all those sweet examples. i just couldn't agree more.

ok guys, whatever u speak, as long as u are able to defend it, carry go joo.

 

 ;)cherry all the way

Yes we are Nigerians, but the truth is that we can never 'Nigerianise' the English language.  There is nothing like 'my names are', the right thing to say is 'my name is' wether you are referring to many names or just one. The reason for this argument is that those names belong to one and only one person.
Guys please check out the Oxford Advanced learners Dictionary, 6th edition, page 778. Study the box at 'more about names and titles' . You may also want to Read the meaning of 'name' there, it says ', word or words, '
Wether the question is 'what is your name?' or 'what is your full name?', the answer is 'my name is'.

itz very simple logic. when u have more than one thing (doesnt matter what it is), it becomes "are", lol

my names are is correct in nigeria as I hear so many times on naija TV and nobody bats an eye   

lets just stick to waffi