ESL Conversation Questions – Names

A2 Level (Elementary)

1. What is your name and does it have a meaning?
2. How did your parents choose your name?
3. Are there common names in your country?
4. Do you like your name? Why or why not?
5. Do you have a nickname? What is it?
6. How do you say “hello, my name is…” in your language?
7. Is your name easy for others to pronounce?
8. Do you know the meanings of your friends’ names?
9. Are names important in your culture? How?
10. Do you have a favorite name? What is it?
11. Have you ever wanted to change your name?
12. How do people celebrate name days in your country?
13. Are names different in the city and countryside?
14. Do you know a name that is popular in another country?
15. What are some names of famous people in your country?
16. How do you choose names for pets?
17. What’s a common name for boys/girls in your school?
18. Do you have a middle name? What is it?
19. How are names passed down in families?
20. What do you think is the most beautiful name?

B1 Level (Intermediate)

1. Discuss the cultural significance of names in different societies.
2. How do names reflect personal identity?
3. Share a story about someone with a unique name.
4. What are the trends in naming children in your country?
5. Discuss the role of family names in your culture.
6. How do names change after marriage in different cultures?
7. What are the challenges of having a name that’s hard to pronounce?
8. Discuss the importance of names in literature.
9. How can names influence a person’s life or career?
10. What are some traditional names in your culture?
11. Discuss the process of legally changing a name.
12. How do names differ across regions in your country?
13. Share your thoughts on unisex names.
14. Discuss the significance of naming ceremonies.
15. How do names connect people to their heritage?
16. What are the common naming conventions in your culture?
17. Discuss how globalization affects naming practices.
18. Share your thoughts on names with special meanings.
19. How do parents choose names in your culture?
20. Discuss the impact of celebrities’ names on popular culture.

B2 Level (Upper Intermediate)

1. Analyze the relationship between names and social identity.
2. Discuss the implications of name discrimination in society.
3. How do names reflect historical and cultural changes?
4. Debate the importance of preserving traditional names.
5. Analyze the role of names in shaping public perception.
6. Discuss the impact of naming trends over generations.
7. How do names play a role in cultural assimilation?
8. Analyze the influence of pop culture on naming practices.
9. Discuss the significance of names in religious contexts.
10. How do name stereotypes affect personal interactions?
11. Explore the dynamics of names in multicultural societies.
12. Analyze the significance of names in mythologies.
13. Discuss the psychology behind naming choices.
14. Explore the concept of names and branding in the corporate world.
15. How do names convey social and economic status?
16. Discuss the role of names in personal branding.
17. Analyze the impact of colonialism on naming practices.
18. Explore the philosophy behind names and identity.
19. Discuss how names can be a form of cultural expression.
20. Analyze the role of names in social integration.

C1 Level (Advanced)

1. Critically assess the socio-linguistic aspects of names.
2. Explore the intersection of names and gender identity.
3. Discuss the role of names in historical narratives.
4. Analyze the impact of migration on naming traditions.
5. Evaluate the influence of technology on name popularity.
6. Discuss the role of names in fostering inclusivity or exclusivity.
7. Explore the implications of names in globalized communication.
8. Analyze the cultural appropriation in the use of names.
9. Discuss the legal and ethical aspects of name changing.
10. Evaluate the significance of anonymity and pseudonyms in various contexts.

C2 Level (Proficiency)

1. Critique the concept of names as a linguistic construct.
2. Explore the dialectical relationship between names and societal norms.
3. Debate the role of names in the socio-political landscape.
4. Analyze the representation of names in literary canon.
5. Discuss the paradoxes in naming conventions across cultures.
6. Explore the implications of namelessness in philosophical contexts.
7. Critically assess the role of names in identity formation.
8. Debate the linguistic evolution of names over centuries.
9. Analyze the interplay between names and cultural hegemony.
10. Explore the influence of names in shaping individual destinies.