How to play FLAMES
FLAMES is a school-yard game for two names. Each letter of the word stands for a relationship:
- F – Friends
- L – Love
- A – Affection
- M – Marriage
- E – Enemies
- S – Siblings
- Write the two names and cross out every letter they share – one letter from each name at a time. If one name has two A’s and the other has one, only one pair is crossed out.
- Count the letters that are left in both names together.
- Count round F-L-A-M-E-S by that number and cross out the letter you land on. Start the next count from the letter after it.
- Keep going until one letter is left. That letter is your answer.
They share R and A, so those are crossed out of each name. Left: H, U, L and P, I, Y – 6 letters. Counting 6 round FLAMES crosses out S, then F, then A, then L, then E, which leaves M – Marriage.
The calculator above shows each crossed-out letter and every count, so you can follow along with pen and paper.
Is FLAMES real?
It’s a game, not a prediction – the answer depends only on the spelling of two names. Spaces, accents and capital letters are ignored. For a percentage score, try the Love Calculator or the Friendship Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What does FLAMES stand for?
Friends, Love, Affection, Marriage, Enemies and Siblings. Some people play S as Sweethearts or Sister – the counting is the same.
How are common letters crossed out?
One letter from each name at a time. If both names have an A, one A is crossed out of each; a second A is only crossed out if the other name also has a second A.
What if every letter is crossed out?
If the names have exactly the same letters, nothing is left to count, so FLAMES has no answer. Try adding a surname.
Does the order of the names matter?
No. The same letters are crossed out and the same number is counted either way.
Is FLAMES accurate?
No – it is a fun game based only on letters, not a real test of a relationship.