Or doing the first thing that comes to their mind to mess with travelers.

It might be something he just learned at the 'academy'.

On 6/28 at JFK T8 (AA) Pre-check, the agent stated my name and I said "yes".:p

I'm not confident that the TSA academy is a learning environment.

I think the emphasis is on hands-on activities, along with camera evasion.

Remember when TSA Ross posted here for a while before he went to AA? IIRC, he said that 'say your name' was dead and he specifically asked us to report any incidents to him, personally.

I think that was just about his last post here. I got the feeling his bosses were none too pleased with that comment.

Last time I got asked this was by a very jovial and fun seeming agent who politely asked my name. I have an Aramaic-Hebrew first name, the kind substitute teachers just look wide eyed at when they come across it on the attendance list, so I responded with "Wolfgang" and she smiled with a lil laugh said, "You know that's not how you pronounce it." So I responded, "You and I know that but lets just keep that between us." She wished me safe travels and went on with her duties.

I enjoyed the back n forth but I hate state your name crap and if the TSO had been rude or aggressive about it my response would definitely have been different.

If it concerns you, comply and then file a complaint with the DHS Inspector General.

I know my name and I don't use false ID, so it doesn't bother me.

Comply with what? There is no requirement of which I am aware in these United States of America to pronounce one's name as a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant with a GED would pronounce a grouping of letters.

The letters on my ID would depict these characters: John D. Smith. I have the right to pronounce "John D. Smith" any darn way I choose, and I can change how I pronounce those characters and darn time I choose to do so. I don't recall an Executive Order to the contrary.

Resist and file the complaint. TSA is only authorized an Administrative Search for WEI.

This reminds me of my English lessons waaaay back, when it turned out that the letter-grouping "ghoti" is actually pronounce as "fish"

Maybe you should pronounce your name the way Sean Spicer would - that will really confuse them. :D

Back in the day, this was quite fun. . .

TDC: Say your name.

Me: "Your name."

TDC: No, I need for you to say your name for me.

Me: "Your name for me."

TDC: (Points to boarding pass and name) What does this say.

Me: It is my name.

TDC: So, say it.

Me: It.

TDC: Are you trying to be a trouble-maker?

Me: No.

TDC: Why don't you want to tell me your name?

Me: I do not mind if you know my name. It is on the boarding pass I handed to you.

TDC: What is it?

Me: What is what?

TDC: What is your name?

Me: (Points to boarding pass.) It is that.

TDC: Say it.

Me: It.

TDC: No, say your name.

Me: Your name.

After a long while one of us gives up at which point the TDC wants to see ID. I hand him my NEXUS. Uh oh. . . .

I had the issue with my first name which is Louis, not Lewis or Luis but I've always called myself Lou whom I'm named after without the "is" which my Mom said she didn't want me to have a one syllable name so on all my documents including BC it is Louis

So when I had the "Same your Name" bit I've responded Lou and not Louis out of habit and that has gotten me into further questioning on what is my name.

I've even been told by the document checker my ID and boarding pass my name was the female pounced Louise (french spelling too).

I thought your name had to match your ID and boarding pass when the checker brought up pronunciation it just became very strange very quickly.
Thank goodness I have not had that happen in awhile.

What would happen if you said you didn't know your name? Or, more realistically, you didn't speak English well enough to comprehend the question?

Is it enough to deny you entry to the checkpoint?