Free fingerspelling tool
How to sign your name in ASL
Type your name and watch it fingerspelled in American Sign Language, letter by letter, on real video. Then learn the three signs you need to introduce yourself.
5 letters. Tap one to replay it.
- Hold one hand at your shoulder, palm facing out, and keep it there for every letter.
- Double letter? Sign it once, then slide your hand slightly to the side for the second one.
- Keep a steady rhythm. No bouncing on each letter; let the shapes flow into each other.
Introduce yourself in three signs
In ASL you don't just spell your name; you introduce it. The whole thing takes about five seconds: MY NAME, your fingerspelled name, then NICE TO MEET YOU.
- 1
Sign MY NAME
Tap your chest with a flat hand for MY, then tap the two fingers of one H hand on top of the other for NAME.
- 2
Fingerspell your name
Hold your dominant hand at shoulder height, palm out, and spell each letter at a steady rhythm without bouncing.
Use the tool above to practice your own letters.
- 3
Finish with NICE TO MEET YOU
Slide one flat hand across the other for NICE, bring two index fingers together for MEET, then point to the person for YOU.
Fingerspelling tips that make your name easy to read
- Stay in one spot.Your hand stays beside your shoulder for the whole name. Don't drift across your body as you spell.
- Rhythm over speed. An even pace is easier to read than a fast one. Pause briefly between first and last name.
- Don't bounce. Bouncing on every letter is the most common beginner habit, and it makes letters hard to tell apart.
- Mouth the word, not the letters.Mouth your name the way you'd say it, not "M, A, X."
What is a name sign?
A name sign is a single sign that stands in for someone's name, so friends don't have to fingerspell it every time. It often uses your first letter plus something about you.
Name signs are given by Deaf people, not chosen by yourself. Making up your own is considered a faux pas. Fingerspell your name until someone gives you one.
Every letter of the ASL alphabet
Tap a letter to see its handshape up close, or work through the full ASL alphabet guide.
Questions about signing your name
How do I sign my name in ASL?
Sign MY NAME, then fingerspell your name one letter at a time with your dominant hand held at shoulder height, palm facing out. Type your name into the tool above to see every letter on video.
Can I make up my own name sign?
No. In Deaf culture a name sign is given to you by a Deaf person, usually once they know you. Until then, your fingerspelled name is your name, and that is completely normal.
How do you fingerspell double letters, like the LL in Molly?
Sign the letter once, then slide your hand slightly to the side for the second one. For letters with a closed handshape, a small bounce in place works too.
Which hand do I fingerspell with?
Your dominant hand: right hand if you are right-handed, left if you are left-handed. Keep using the same hand so your spelling stays smooth and easy to read.
How do I ask someone's name in ASL?
Sign YOUR NAME WHAT? with your eyebrows down, the facial expression that marks a WH-question. ASL puts the question word at the end.
How can I fingerspell my name faster?
Practice it as one shape that flows, not as separate letters. Spell it slowly ten times a day for a week, then speed up. Rhythm matters more than speed.