Discover 18 name games for kids, adults, and teams. Perfect for icebreakers, classrooms, or workplace intros. Fun, easy, and great for memory-building!
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Name games are a fun and simple way to help people remember each other’s names, especially in new or unfamiliar settings. Whether you’re welcoming new employees, teaching a fresh group of students, or organizing a party, these games are great for breaking the ice and building connections.
These activities turn basic introductions into fun, memorable moments. Instead of just saying, “Hi, I’m Jessica,” you might say, “Hi, I’m Jessica and I love to dance,” while showing off your favorite move. It’s a simple way to make names stick and ease people into conversations.
Name games are perfect for new groups, whether you're kicking off a classroom, onboarding at work, or hosting an event. They help everyone get comfortable quickly and create a sense of connection from the start. They’re great icebreakers, just like the Would You Rather questions, 20 Questions game, or This or That questions.
In this blog, you’ll find 18 name games for all ages and group types. These activities are ideal for classrooms, team-building sessions, remote meetings, and even family gatherings.
We’ve grouped them into:
Whether you're planning an onboarding session or a classroom warm-up, these ideas will get everyone talking and remembering names in no time.
These name games are perfect for kicking off group activities. They’re simple, high-energy, and great for warming up a room full of strangers.
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Best for: Classrooms, teams, and group introductions
Toss the Ball is a simple and energetic name game that works well as a warm-up. Have everyone stand in a circle. The leader tosses a soft ball to someone while calling out their name. That person then throws the ball to someone else while saying their name out loud. Keep the ball moving until everyone has had a turn.
Want to make it more challenging? Add a second or third ball into the mix and increase the pace. It’s fun, fast, and perfect for remembering names quickly.
Best for: Workplace meetings, classroom sessions
This is a timed group activity that tests both memory and focus. Everyone sits in a circle. When the moderator gives a signal, players start calling out their names one after another in a set direction. Time each round and challenge the group to beat their previous time.
For an extra twist, reverse the direction or shuffle the order mid-way. This helps people remember names while keeping the energy high.
Best for: Work events, orientations, team icebreakers
If you like classic Bingo, you’ll love this version. Each participant gets a custom Bingo sheet with personality traits or facts like “has a pet,” “plays a musical instrument,” or “loves coffee.” Their task is to walk around, meet people, and match each box with someone’s name who fits that description.
Whoever fills a row or column first wins. This is one of the most popular name games for the workplace because it encourages both name recall and casual conversation.
Best for: Large group icebreakers, classroom fun
This is a creative and interactive way to connect names with movements. Each person creates an action that starts with the first letter of their name. For example, “Jumping Julia” or “Rolling Ryan.” They introduce themselves using the phrase and their action, and then the entire group repeats it.
As the game continues, each person builds on the chain. By the end, everyone is repeating a long sequence of names and actions. It’s equal parts silly and effective.
Best for: Quick energizers, youth groups, small teams
In this high-speed game, players form a circle. One person stands in the center and points to another, saying either “Zip,” “Zap,” or “Zoom.”
They only have five seconds to answer. If they get it wrong or hesitate, they switch places with the person in the center. This game adds pressure in a fun way and keeps everyone alert.
These name games are perfect for onboarding sessions, team-building events, or any moment where you want to make introductions feel natural and fun.
Best for: Team introductions, employee onboarding
This is a simple and creative icebreaker name game for the workplace. Each person introduces themselves with their name and something they enjoy doing:
“Hi, I’m Maya. I like to paint.”
The twist? They act it out as they say it. After each turn, the rest of the group repeats the name and the action. It’s a playful way to remember names and build connection right away.
Best for: Virtual teams, hybrid workplaces
In this popular game, each person shares their name and three statements: two true and one false.
“Hi, I’m Eric. I’ve swum with sharks, I hate coffee, and I speak three languages.”
The group guesses which one is the lie. It’s a great way to get people talking, and it naturally reinforces everyone’s names through repetition and engagement.
This also works well as a remote name game during virtual team calls.
Best for: Large in-person teams or training sessions
Split the group into two teams. A blanket or sheet is held up between the teams so they can’t see each other. One member from each team quietly steps forward to stand behind the blanket. When the blanket drops, both players must quickly shout the other’s name. Whoever says it first wins and brings that person to their team.
This name game works especially well when there are lots of people who’ve just met. It’s fast-paced, competitive, and surprisingly funny.
Best for: Networking events, team mixers
Give everyone a blank name tag, but instead of writing their name normally, ask them to add a twist. They can turn their name into a pun, draw something that represents it, or use emojis. Some may even write a riddle or add a fun fact to keep it interesting.
For example:
“🐝 + 🍋 + 🧊 = Bella”
“Loves spreadsheets, hates pineapple pizza = Greg”
This activity sparks conversation and makes name tags more memorable.
Best for: Workshops, creative teams
Let your team show off their creative side. Ask each person to create a short acrostic poem using their name. Each letter stands for a word or trait that describes them.
For example, for the name RITA:
Reliable
Inquisitive
Thoughtful
Adventurous
You can have them write it down or say it aloud. It’s a great way to mix creativity with introductions and it works just as well online as it does in person.
These name games are perfect for classrooms, birthday parties, camps, or any time kids are getting to know each other.
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Best for: Classrooms, outdoor groups
Think of this as a race to remember names. One child is handed a baton and says the name of the person they want to pass it to. That child then calls another name and passes it on.
Once everyone has had a turn, make it tougher. Ask them to repeat the sequence in the exact same order. If you have a large group, split them into teams and see which group finishes the fastest.
Best for: Energy boosters, large groups
Form a circle with one player in the center holding a bandana. Someone in the circle shouts another person’s name. That person now has to say someone else’s name before getting tagged by the person in the middle.
If they get tagged before they speak, they go into the center. If they’re fast, the round continues. This game is quick, energizing, and great for sharpening name recall.
Best for: Younger kids, memory practice
The first player begins:
“My name is Aanya, and I’m bringing apples to the picnic.”
The next person repeats Aanya’s line and adds their own item:
“Aanya is bringing apples. I’m Leo, and I’m bringing lemonade.”
Each child has to remember all the names and items in order. It’s great for building memory and vocabulary while reinforcing names.
Best for: Active classrooms, younger children
This game combines movement and syllables. Each child says their name and performs a movement for every syllable. For example:
“Matilda” has three syllables — she might jump, spin, and clap.
Then the whole group repeats the name and the actions. It’s a playful way to learn names while practicing syllables and motor skills.
Best for: Quiet classroom activity
Before the session, prepare a word search puzzle with students' names hidden in it. Hand it out and ask the kids to find as many names as they can.
This activity keeps things calm while helping kids recognize and spell each other’s names. You can even print them on colored paper or laminate them for early finishers.
Best for: Icebreakers, spelling practice
Each child is given a name tag with their name scrambled up. For example, “Sasha” becomes “Ahsas.” The goal is to walk around and try to guess who is who.
You can also let kids unscramble each other’s tags as a fun challenge. It's simple but effective, and it brings out a lot of laughs.
Best for: Creative kids, art-based classrooms
Ask kids to draw a picture that represents each letter of their name. For example, for the name “Emily”:
E: Elephant
M: Mountain
I: Ice cream
L: Ladder
Y: Yacht
Once they’re done, they can show their drawing and others try to guess the name. This is a great name game for visual learners and budding artists.
Best for: Icebreakers, classroom or team introductions
This is a simple group activity that helps people notice patterns and start conversations. Ask everyone to move around the room and find others whose first names have the same number of letters. For example, “Sonia” and “David” both have five letters, so they’d be in the same group.
If someone doesn’t find a match, they can use a nickname or a shortened version of their name to join a group. It’s a lighthearted way to connect and gets people talking without any pressure.
Whether you're planning an icebreaker for the workplace or a fun classroom activity, name games are a creative way to help everyone feel included and remembered. They're quick to set up, easy to play, and perfect for kids and adults alike.
The best part? These games go beyond introductions. They build confidence, encourage interaction, and turn awkward first moments into something fun.
Try a few from this list, and you’ll never hear “I forgot their name” again.
Kids enjoy games like Name Scramble, Name Pictionary, and Going on a Picnic. These activities help children learn each other’s names while having fun.
Yes, name games are great icebreakers during team-building sessions. They help employees get familiar with one another and create a more relaxed atmosphere.
Absolutely. Games like Two Truths and a Lie or Acrostic Poems work well in virtual team settings and help participants connect even through screens.
Pop-Up is perfect for large groups. It keeps everyone engaged, encourages quick thinking, and helps reinforce names in a fun way.
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