Mam NA imię XY in Polish

Hi,

I think this is a pretty simple question, but I realy don't get I. Why must I use the "na" in "Mam na imię XY."? Mam = I have, imię = first name is obvious, but the na makes no senste to me.

Thanks,
Welle

It's just the way we say it, you can also say: 'Na imię mi X' (X stands for the first name only) or 'Nazywam się XY' (you can give your first or full name here)

Literal translation would be:

I have on name X.
"on" means here "as". So read it like: I have as a name X.

That's the way we say it in Polish.

it's incorrect to use with only first name, and while often used in Poland could confuse if you have foreign first name.
Nazywam się is for surname or both.
Mam na nazwisko Y- the same structure, but surname=nazwisko.

Not exactly.
You must think of it as a fixed phrase:
mieć na imię = to be called (by name)
You must also remember how we ask for one's name:
Jak (how) masz na imię (not "co" masz na imię).
Jak masz na imię? = How are you called?
Mam na imię XY. = I'm called XY.

Of course, it's not a literal translation but an analogy that may help you remember it.

Cinek

If you don't like this structure, you can always say "Jestem X" (I am X) :)