The beginning of a new school year means learning lots of names! It’s also a great opportunity to sneak in some manners! Names are such an interesting part of who we are. Almost all of us in the United States have come from another country at some point in time, and often our names carry interesting stories, traditions, and meanings. So while you’re singing this song and learning names, take some time to explore those traditions within your classroom. Have your children’s parents tell you where their name comes from. It might have been chosen from a baby book, or a favorite hero, or an important part of that family’s culture. It’s fun to look up names and see what they mean in different cultures. Bring out a map and locate countries from which the names originate.
Just for fun, I’ve noted the origins and meanings of names in this song below the lyrics.
You can sing this song different ways, depending on the ages and abilities of your children. Below are some ideas.

1. Stand in a circle and have each child shake the hand of the child next to him on “how do you do,” and again on “Nice to meet you.”

2. Sit in a circle as you go around letting each child sing his or her name as the class repeats it and everyone sings “Nice to meet you”

3. With younger children, you can sing “Hello, how do you do” and change second line to “What is
   your name,” then child answers, “My name is Annie,” then everyone sings, “Nice to meet you”

Hello, How Do You Do

Hello, How Do You Do
Hello, how do you do?
My name’s Annie (Hello, Annie)
Nice to meet you.

Hello, how do you do?
My name’s Rico (Hello, Rico)
Nice to meet you.

Hello, how do you do?
My name’s Li Ming. (Hello Li Ming)
Nice to meet you.

Hello, how do you do?
My name’s Kayla (Hello Kayla)
Nice to meet you.

Hello, how do you do?
My name’s Eleanor (Hello, Eleanor)
Nice to meet you

Hello, how do you do?
My name’s Jacob (Hello, Jacob)
Nice to meet you.

Just for fun… Here are the origins and meanings of the names in this song. What does your name mean?

ANNIE: Greek: means gorgeous, kindhearted, rebellious, gentle towards others. Also a Hebrew name meaning prayer.

RICO: Spanish name meaning strong ruler.

LI MING: Chinese origin meaning bright beauty.

KAYLA: many origins, but English meaning “keeper of the keys”.

ELEANOR: Greek for bright, shining.

JACOB: Hebrew, meaning “he grasps the heel”