How do I say 'what's your name'?

Chinese name introductions follow a different social logic from English, and the question you use depends on the formality of the situation:

• 你叫什么名字？ — the universal default. Works everywhere from school to casual networking. Safe with anyone roughly your age or younger.
• 怎么称呼？ — the polite adult form. “How should I address you?” This shows awareness that Chinese social hierarchy matters — you are asking what to call them, not just what their name is. Much better for professional settings.
• 您贵姓？ — “Your honorable surname?” The most formal. Asks only for the surname, which is the respectful minimum. The response is just the surname + nothing else: 免贵姓王 (the humble surname is Wang).

The name structure matters: Chinese names are surname + given name, and the surname comes first. 王芳 = Wang (surname) + Fang (given name). Addressing someone by given name alone is for friends and equals; using surname + title (王先生, 王经理) is the professional norm. Jumping straight to given name with someone senior can feel presumptuous.

When giving your own name: 我叫 + full name is standard. 我是 + name is also correct but slightly more casual. In formal settings, you might add your surname first: 我姓王, 叫王芳.