Spanish Phrase
¿Qué nombre?
Meaning
A brief, informal way to ask "What name?" It is used when the speaker wants to know the name of a person, place, object, or project, and the surrounding context already supplies the missing verb.
When to use
Use this fragment when the conversation already makes clear what you are asking about, such as after showing a document, a pet, or a new app. In most everyday situations, native speakers prefer fuller forms like "¿Cómo te llamas?" or "¿Cuál es tu nombre?".
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Quénombre?
Interrogative pronoun "qué"
"Qué" (with accent) is used to ask for information about something, equivalent to English "what".
Noun "nombre"
"Nombre" means "name"; it is a masculine singular noun that can refer to a person's name, a title, or the name of an object.
Ellipsis in questions
In spoken Spanish, short questions like "¿Qué nombre?" often omit the verb, relying on context to supply it (e.g., "¿Qué nombre (tienes)?").
🗨In Conversation
Mira este dibujo. ¿Qué nombre?
Look at this drawing. What name?
Se llama "Amanecer".
It's called "Sunrise".
✕Common Mistakes
Que nombre?
Missing the accent on "qué" changes the meaning; without the accent it becomes the conjunction "that".
¿Qué nombre es?
The verb "ser" is not used with "nombre" in this context; you need a verb like "tienes" or a full phrase.
¿Qué nombre tienes?
While grammatically correct, it sounds overly formal for the short‑question style; native speakers would usually drop the verb.
↔Alternatives
¿Cómo te llamas?
What’s your name?
¿Cuál es tu nombre?
What is your name?
¿Qué nombre tiene?
What name does it have?
¿Cómo se llama?
What is it called?
Cultural Tip
In most Spanish‑speaking countries, asking directly "¿Qué nombre?" can sound abrupt unless the context is crystal clear. Learners are encouraged to use the more polite full forms ("¿Cómo te llamas?", "¿Cuál es tu nombre?") when meeting someone for the first time. The short form is common in informal settings, like among friends discussing a pet, a project, or a piece of art.