So is といいます also acceptable as an alternative?

First of all you could use this sentence if your name is Tanaka.

Why is this using the partile "to", intead of "ga", do you always have to write it like this? (Sorry if this sounds ignorant, I am learning the basics) ^^

Will -ません form mean the same? Or is it intended to negate the expression?

The と follows the "content" implied by the verb. Kind of like quotation marks. Here, it is a name. We also use と with 思う (omou, to think) to indicate what it is that we think. 犬だと思う (I think it's a dog.) と is also used with 言う (iu, to say).

But what about using "namaewa" ?

Very common in self introduction. Especially if you are facing your boss or customers, you must use the humble form 申します, otherwise it is considered as impolite.

Saying 私の名前は〇〇です。is textbook speech,eating that while it is technically correct, you will only usually see it in textbooks when learning Japanese and native Japanese speakers will hardly ever say it. Saying 名前は〇〇です, 私は〇〇です, or 〇〇ともうします is much more common and sounds less awkward.

It's using a humble verb, the concept of keigo and humble speech, etc has literally books written on it, but, in brief - there are two major aspects to Japanese "polite" language; raising up the other, and humbling yourself. Honorifics lift up and glorify the other, while humble verbs deprecate your own role and importance.

I agree; "I am called Tanaka" should be accepted here.

Im only starting to learn japanese, so its hard for me to know every single kanji that people use here. Can someone tell me what the kanjis between とand う mean? Atleast the hiragana way to write them.

Yes literally. Historically in the distant past yes

More or less.

もうします is the humble form of いいます. もうします is more polite.

No, the use of もうします (a humbling verb) provides enough context that this is "my name" we're talking about.

謙譲語 (kenjougo) is a subset of polite language or keigo which is used to lower your own status in order to be respectful to the person you're talking to, in other words, "humbling language". もうします is one such verb, and as such, you would never use it to lower the status of someone else.

I'd say no, since you're more likely to state your own name rather than someone else's name. Also, I think Duolingo defaults to first person in these cases. But in theory, yes, I agree with you.

Which prefecture does your mother come from? Location greatly inferences the Japanese they speak and I am not surprised some dialects do not have 申します. It is common standard (Tokyo based) Japanese though and still extensive being used in everyday.

Hmm, so さん doesn't necessarily mean "Mr." It's just a decent approximation of the difference in politeness/formality. I feel like Duo has been pretty good for allowing "Mr." and no "Mr." on sentences with さん, but I haven't checked that very rigorously.

The thing about さん in Japanese is that you would never add it to the end of your own name, while calling yourself "Mr." in English may be uncommon, but it isn't exactly frowned upon.

One example I can think of is when you're signing yourself into a hotel or some kind of event and the attendant asks you for your name. In English, it may go like "Hello sir, you must be Mr. ...?" To which I would reasonably answer "Mr. Lorenzo." In the equivalent situation in Japanese, I would absolutely not use さん when giving my name.

Because it's literally sounds like "of my name tanaka" - you should not short the "is" that way

No, "Please call me" normally means that I have an original name, but people can call me with a different one. In Japanese the translation would be 田中と呼（よ）んでください

my google translate says "I will play with Tanaka." if I don't include "。"

(My name) says as Tanaka.

申す is humble form and there is no circumstance that it can refer to an action done by the listener.

The 申す action must be done by a member in the speaker's inner circle and the listener is outside of the social circle. So you can say うちの社長は田中ともうします。 Our CEO is called Tanaka.

It is valid translation, but for common names such as 田中, it is not necessary to say 名前は. 「田中です。」is clear and concise.

If the name is uncommon, for example 朴（パク）, 李（イ or リ）, 薬袋（みない）, 小鳥遊（たかなし）, then we may need to clarify that it is indeed a name: 「名前は　薬袋（みない）です」. For example when I call for a reservation, I usually say 「名前は　ウォンと　申します」

Totally okay. Same with 俺

My OCD can't bear these littles lines tho

Someone has already explained this 1 year ago in the top comments

Probably the kanji 申 is not in the list of acceptable answer.

Please try to at least scan the other comments before posting... your question had already been answered twice.

To reiterate, ともうします is the more humble (and hence polite) version of といいます. They mean the same thing.

As a new learner, I have to imagine that, just as English has several ways to introduce yourself, so does Japanese.

No, because you don't use わ as a topic marker, you use は, but you read it "wa". And "my name is Tanaka" would be わたし/ぼく/おれのなまえはたなかです/だ。depending on the politeness level.

No.

なまえわ田中です。Doesn't make much sense, Try、 私の名前は田中です。