We had an Indian IT technician in our office the other day, since it is time to throw away all of our 3-year old computer equipment and waste money on new stuff.
He was making lists as he went through the offices and he asked me what my good name was.
Why do Indians use this formulation? Do any other English speakers use it?
Why do Indians use this formulation?
Because Indian speakers of English generally use Indian English, of which this is an example.
Why do Americans say "two weeks" instead of "a fortnight" or "quinze jours"?
Do any other English speakers use it?
I've only heard it from Indians. It may have been more widespread in the past.
I was thinking that perhaps it is a translation from their own language. Then again, maybe not, since there are weird similar words in 'normal' English like gentleman.
Wikipedia on Indian English says
"What is [your] good name?" to mean "What is your full name?" is a carryover from the Hindi expression "Shubh-naam" (literally meaning "auspicious name") or the Urdu "ism-e shariif" (meaning "noble name"). This is similar to the way Japanese refer to the other person's name with an honorific "O-" prefix, as in "O-namae" instead of the simple "namae" when referring to their own name. Such a questioner wants to know the person's formal or legal given name that may appear on a passport, as opposed to the pet name they would be called by close friends and family.
