- Every step shown
- Standard counting rules
- Full names or first names
- Just for fun
How to play FLAMES online
- Type the two names in English letters. Spaces and punctuation are ignored.
- Press Play FLAMES. The calculator crosses out the letters the names share, counts what is left and runs the elimination.
- Read the result and the steps. Every crossed-out letter and every counting round is listed, so you can check it on paper.
How FLAMES is calculated
FLAMES stands for Friends, Love, Affection, Marriage, Enemies and Siblings. The calculator follows the most common way the game is played on paper:
- Cross out shared letters one for one. For each letter in the first name, if the second name still has the same letter, cross out one copy in each name. A letter that appears twice in one name and once in the other leaves one copy behind.
- Count the letters left in both names together. Call this number N.
- Count around F-L-A-M-E-S. Starting at F, count N letters, going back to F after S, and cross out the letter you land on.
- Keep going from the letter after the one you crossed out, counting N again each time, until one letter is left. That letter is the answer.
Worked example: Rahul and Priya. R and A appear in both names, so they are crossed out once each. Left: H, U, L and P, I, Y, which is 6 letters. Counting 6 around FLAMES removes S, then F, then A, then L, then E, which leaves M, Marriage.
FLAMES result for every leftover count
The answer depends only on how many letters are left after crossing out. Once you know that number, you can look up the result here without doing the elimination:
| Letters left | Result | Letters left | Result | Letters left | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Siblings | 11 | Marriage | 21 | Friends |
| 2 | Enemies | 12 | Affection | 22 | Enemies |
| 3 | Friends | 13 | Affection | 23 | Friends |
| 4 | Enemies | 14 | Friends | 24 | Enemies |
| 5 | Friends | 15 | Marriage | 25 | Enemies |
| 6 | Marriage | 16 | Friends | 26 | Marriage |
| 7 | Enemies | 17 | Affection | 27 | Siblings |
| 8 | Affection | 18 | Friends | 28 | Affection |
| 9 | Enemies | 19 | Love | 29 | Siblings |
| 10 | Love | 20 | Enemies | 30 | Affection |
Two things stand out. Love only comes up for 10 and 19 letters left, which is why it feels so rare in the game. And Friends and Enemies between them cover half of the counts from 1 to 30.
Why your friend’s FLAMES answer may differ
- Crossing out every copy. Some people cross out all copies of a shared letter rather than one for one. That leaves fewer letters and can change the answer.
- Where the next count starts. This calculator restarts counting from the letter after the one removed, which is the usual rule. Restarting from F each round gives different results.
- Full names or first names. Adding a surname changes the leftover count. Rahul and Priya gives Marriage (6 letters left), and Rahul Sharma and Priya gives Affection (12 letters left).
- The meaning of L and S. Some versions read L as Lovers and S as Sweethearts or Soulmates. The counting is the same; only the label changes.
For a score instead of a word, try the love calculator, which counts the letters of TRUE LOVE in the two names.
FAQFLAMES questions
What is the full form of FLAMES?
Friends, Love, Affection, Marriage, Enemies and Siblings.
How do you calculate FLAMES by hand?
Cross out the letters the two names share, count the letters left, then count that many places around F-L-A-M-E-S, crossing out the letter you land on each time, until one letter remains. The shortcut table above gives the answer for any count from 1 to 30.
What happens if all the letters cancel out?
If the names use exactly the same letters, nothing is left to count, so FLAMES has no answer. The calculator tells you when this happens.
Is FLAMES a real compatibility test?
No. It is a game based only on spelling. Two names that are spelled differently will get a different answer even if they belong to the same person.
Are the names saved?
No. The game runs in your browser and nothing is sent to FamousTarz.
