#6 Medium

The Name Game

First person says one name. Last person says fifteen. Go around the circle repeating everyone's names before adding your own. The pressure builds with every turn.

work meeting team student youth easy small

Group Size:

5-15 people

Duration:

10-15 minutes

Difficulty:

Medium

How to Play:

1
Gather everyone in a circle where all faces are visible
2
First person states their name clearly and slowly
3
Second person repeats the first name, then adds their own
4
Third person says both previous names, then their own
5
Continue until the last person recites all names in order
6
Optional: Go reverse order so the first person now faces the full list

First person says one name. Last person says fifteen. That’s the entire premise, and it’s brilliantly simple. The pressure escalates with every turn—by position eight, you’re watching someone sweat through “Alex, Beth, Carlos, Diana, Elena, Frank, Grace, and I’m… Henry.” When they nail it, everyone cheers. When they blank on “Carlos,” Carlos himself jumps in to help. The Name Game turns what could be a forgettable round of introductions into a shared challenge where mistakes become inside jokes and by the end, everyone actually remembers each other.

Best For:

The best ice breaker game for new team introductions, first-day orientations, classroom settings, and any situation where remembering names matters.

Pro Tips

Add alliterative adjectives ('Adventurous Amy', 'Bold Ben') to create memory hooks
Let participants help each other—turning mistakes into team moments beats embarrassment
Keep groups under 15; beyond that, split into smaller circles that later introduce each other
Speak slowly and make eye contact when saying names; rushed names don't stick

FAQ

What's the ideal group size for The Name Game?: 5-15 people works best. Fewer than 5 feels pointless, more than 15 becomes overwhelming for the last person. For larger groups, split into circles of 8-10.
How do I make The Name Game easier to remember?: Use the adjective variation: 'Cheerful Chris', 'Quiet Quinn'. Alliteration creates mental anchors. Visual learners can add a gesture—'Dancer Dan' with a spin.
What if someone can't remember a name?: Let the group help. The point isn't testing memory under pressure—it's learning names together. Mistakes become funny moments, not failures.
Does The Name Game work for virtual meetings?: Yes, follow screen order (top-left to bottom-right). Works well as an ice breaker game on Zoom or Teams for groups under 15 where you can see all faces.
Should the last person really say all names?: Yes—that's the fun. The pressure on the last person creates natural comedy and cheering. They'll remember everyone's name perfectly afterward.

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