Cool MateWhat's his name vs Who is he
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What's his name
Top 2,000 (common)
Who is he
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: What's his name
| What's his name | Who is he | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒts hɪz neɪm//🇺🇸 //wʌts hɪz neɪm// | 🇬🇧 //huː ɪz hiː//🇺🇸 //hu ɪz hi// |
| Meaning | A way to ask for someone's name. | Asking for the identity of a male person. |
| Example | I met someone at the party, but I forgot what’s his name. | Do you know who he is? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | ask what's his name, remember what's his name, forget what's his name | ask who he is, wonder who he is, find out who he is, identify who he is, discuss who he is |
| Common mistakes | Using it without context (e.g., in a formal setting)., Asking rhetorical questions instead of clarifying., Confusing with 'what's her name' for male subjects. | Confused with 'who are you?' which asks about the listener's identity., Incorrectly using 'who is he?' in situations where 'who' is not appropriate. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase when you want to know a person's name, typically in casual conversation. Avoid in very formal settings. | Used in both spoken and written English. Appropriate in most casual and formal contexts to inquire about someone's identity. |
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Frequently asked questions: What's his name vs Who is he
What's the difference between What's his name and Who is he?
What's his name: A way to ask for someone's name. Who is he: Asking for the identity of a male person.
Which is more common: What's his name and Who is he?
What's his name is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
What's his name: I met someone at the party, but I forgot what’s his name. Who is he: Do you know who he is?
Can I use What's his name and Who is he interchangeably?
Not always. What's his name and Who is he are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.