Last updated October 6, 2026 · Report an error
FLAMES is a classic pen-and-paper party game for predicting the "relationship" between two names — Friends, Lovers, Affectionate, Marriage, Enemies, or Siblings.
This calculator plays the full FLAMES game automatically: cancelling matching letters between two names, then counting through the FLAMES letters until only one remains.
How it works
Enter two names. The calculator cancels every letter the two names have in common (one-to-one), counts the remaining letters, then uses that count to eliminate letters from F-L-A-M-E-S one at a time — counting around the remaining list — until only one letter is left.
- Enter first name.
- Enter second name.
- Click Calculate to see your results.
Examples
Alex and Jamie
Cancelling shared letters between "Alex" and "Jamie" leaves 5 uncancelled letters, which eliminates through F-L-A-M-E-S down to "Friends" as the final result.
Who should use it
- A fun icebreaker or party game with friends.
- Nostalgic recreation of the classic notebook-margin game from school.
Industry applications
- Entertainment and social media content
- Party games and icebreakers
Advantages
- Plays the full, authentic FLAMES algorithm rather than a randomized substitute.
- Shows the letter cancellation and elimination steps, not just the final result.
Limitations
- Purely for entertainment — has no basis in real relationship compatibility.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Expecting different results from re-running the same two names — the FLAMES algorithm is deterministic, not random.
- Treating the result as a genuine relationship prediction rather than the lighthearted party game it is.
Best practices
- Try different name variations (full name vs. nickname) for a fun comparison of results, since the algorithm is sensitive to every letter entered.
Tips
- Try it with full legal names versus nicknames — since FLAMES is letter-sensitive, even small name variations can produce a completely different result.