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Conversation Questions

Names

  • What’s your name?
  • What’s the most beautiful girl’s name you’ve heard?
  • What’s the best boy’s name you’ve heard?
  • How did your parents choose your name?
  • Are you happy with your name?
    • If not, why not?
  • What are some of the most common names for boys and girls in your country?
  • What are some really unusual names you’ve heard?
  • Are there any names you absolutely hate?
    • If so, what are they?
    • Why do you hate them?
  • Do you think names shape our personality? To what degree?
  • Does your name have a meaning?
    • If so, what does it mean?
  • Do you have a middle name?
    • What is it?
    • If you have multiple middle names, what are they?
  • In your culture, when you introduce yourself, does the last name come first or the first name?
  • Do you have a nickname?
    • If so, what is it?
    • How did you get it?
    • Do you like it?
    • What are some interesting nicknames that you have heard?
  • How many letters are in your name?
    • How many syllables are in your name?
    • Does your first name have the same number of syllables as your last name?
    • How many duplicate letters are in your name?
  • What do you think of people who name their children after months, seasons or days of the week?
    • What do you think of parents who make up unique names for their children?
  • Some parents give their children names in alphabetical order. Do you think this is a good idea?
  • What was the name of your first girlfriend or boyfriend?
    • Have you ever dated two different people with the same first name?
  • What are some titles you can think of? (e.g. Mr., Mrs., Professor, Duke etc.)
  • Do you think it is okay to give pets human names?
    • What is the most popular name for a dog in your country?
    • How about cats?
  • Do you know the names of some famous race horses? If so, please name a few.
  • Can you name some famous world leaders?
    • Can you name some famous composers?
    • Can you name some famous artists?
    • Can you name some Western foods?
    • Can you name some Eastern foods?
    • Can you name some Middle-Eastern foods?
    • Can you name some cars?
    • What are some names of famous companies you know?
  • What’s the name of your favorite singer?
    • What’s the name of your favorite character from a story you’ve read
    • What’s the name of your favorite writer?
    • What’s the name of your favorite novel?
    • What’s the name of your favorite restaurant?
    • What’s the name of your favorite television show?
    • What’s the name of your favorite movie?
  • Do you know the meaning of your name? If yes, what does it mean?
    • What does your name mean?
  • Have ever changed your name?
  • Do you have names in two different languages? (ex. a Chinese name and an English name )? If not, would you like to?
  • Do women change their name after marriage in your country or keep their maiden name?
  • Can you name some notorious people or criminals ?
  • Is it ever appropriate to “call someone names”? When?
  • Can you name the seven continents?
    • How many U.S. state names do you know?
    • How many Canadian province names do you know?
  • Do you believe some names or words have magical qualities?
  • Do people in your country predict the future according to names?
  • If you could change your name would you? What would it be? Why this name?
  • Do you remember any kids whose names other kids in school made fun of? Why? What were their names?
  • Are you named after anyone in your family?
  • Do you ever feel pressure to live up to your name?
  • Can your name mean anything funny in your language?
  • Have you ever known a boy that has a “girl’s name” or a boy that had a “girl’s name”?
  • Do you wish your name was less common, or more unusual?
  • If you could change your name would you? What would it be? Why that name?
  • How did you choose your children`s names?
  • Are you named after ancestors that are already dead?
  • Are you named after a famous person?
  • Can your name mean anything funny in your language? Did you ever get teased in school because of this?
  • Have you ever known a boy that has a “girl’s name” or a boy that had a “girl’s name”? What was it like for them?
  • Is it common in your country to name a person after a person in the Bible?
  • Do you know some names that can be a boy’s or a girl’s name?
  • Does your husband or wife call you a “pet” name.
    • Pet name is a special endearment such as honey, sugar, sweetie, etc