A Name Round with Optional Rhythm
The Name Game is a short introduction activity. Each person says their preferred name, shows how to pronounce it, and adds an optional gesture or simple rhythm. The group repeats the name once if the speaker is comfortable with that. Use it with a new group when hearing names clearly is more useful than asking for a long personal story.
This guide provides an original spoken or rhythmic facilitation format. It does not reproduce the lyrics of Shirley Ellis’s commercial recording, and you do not need a recording to run the activity. It makes no promise about recall percentages or neurological benefits.
How to Play
- Arrange the group so each person can hear the speaker. For an online meeting, explain how turns will be assigned.
- Demonstrate with your own name and an optional small gesture. Ask the group to repeat your preferred pronunciation once.
- Invite a volunteer to try next. Say that speaking, typing a name in chat, observing, and passing are all acceptable choices.
- Continue around the group. Do not ask someone to disclose a legal name or explain a name change.
- Finish by asking whether anyone wants a pronunciation reminder. A correction is welcome; recalling every name is not a test.
For a group of six, allow roughly five minutes and adjust to the pace. For a larger group, form smaller circles or use name cards rather than making everyone sit through a long sequence. Timing is a planning estimate, not an effect measured in a study.
Use the Letter and Theme Controls
The on-page controls draw a letter and a theme. They are useful for a related word round: a drawn letter such as B and the theme Animals could invite “bear,” “bat,” or “beaver.” These are examples rather than correct answers generated from a participant’s identity.
Draw another letter or theme when the combination is difficult. Set a relaxed time limit if the group wants one, accept more than one answer, and avoid elimination when your goal is introductions. The tool does not write a song, grade memory, collect participant names, or identify an author.
After a few turns, return to the name round. One person can introduce their preferred name and another can repeat it only with permission. Do not make pronunciation errors a competition or use the activity to judge intelligence or language fluency.
Adapt the Format
A quiet meeting: Keep the activity spoken and seated. Ask each person to say their name and one neutral thing they would like others to call them. Avoid demanding a funny detail.
A willing social group: Let each person choose a gentle clap or gesture to accompany their name. The movement is optional. Never copy a participant’s accent or make a joke about their name.
A classroom: The teacher should decide whether students can participate safely without sharing identifying information online. Use first names, initials, or classroom nicknames according to the teacher’s rules. Offer a written or assisted introduction and keep the activity offline when appropriate.
A remote group: Take turns instead of trying to sing together over network delay. Participants can type a preferred name in the meeting chat if they choose. The meeting platform’s privacy settings apply to that chat; IcebreakerClub does not host it.
A mixed-language group: Ask for pronunciation guidance and repeat at a comfortable pace. Invite corrections without drawing attention to the person. If a participant does not want repetition, acknowledge the introduction and move on.
Prepare and Debrief
Before the session, check that the room or call allows people to hear one another, explain how passing works, and choose a short demonstration. Have a nonverbal option ready rather than assuming everyone can speak, clap, or stand.
At the end, ask whether the pace and format were comfortable. You can invite a second round if the group wants more practice. Do not claim that a successful game predicts workplace performance, personal traits, trust, or learning outcomes.
If someone feels singled out, stop the round and choose a simpler introduction format. Avoid recording people without permission, collecting a name list for marketing, or placing children’s identifying details into a website tool.
Other Name Activities
Use Name Games for several introduction formats and memory reminders. If you would rather use a neutral question, try the Random Question Generator. For a written group activity, review Human Bingo and prepare prompts suitable for the people who will participate.
These activities give a facilitator a structure to adapt. The choice to take part, the appropriate level of personal detail, and the way the group responds remain with the participants.