FLAMES has been played wrong more often than it's been played right — mostly because people forget the exact counting rule after grade school. Here's the full, correct method, plus what each letter actually means when you get it.
The correct rules:
- Write the first name and the second name next to each other, letter by letter
- For every letter that appears in both names, cross out one instance in each name (repeat until no shared letters remain)
- Count the total number of letters left uncrossed across both names
- Write out F-L-A-M-E-S in a circle
- Starting from F, count forward using your number, crossing off the letter you land on
- Continue counting and crossing out letters (skipping ones already crossed) until only one letter remains — that's your result
What each letter means:
- F — Friends: A strong, easy bond built on trust rather than romance
- L — Lovers: Romantic chemistry, the "meant to be" result everyone secretly hopes for
- A — Affection: Genuine care and warmth, even if it's not a full-blown romance
- M — Marriage: Long-term compatibility, the result associated with lasting commitment
- E — Enemies: More friction than flow — playful rivalry rather than a real prediction
- S — Siblings: A close, protective, family-like bond
Common mistakes people make:
- Forgetting to cross out every instance of a shared letter, not just the first one
- Miscounting the circle when crossing off letters in FLAMES
- Using nicknames instead of full names, which changes the result
A fun way to use it: Try it with your name and a few different people — your best friend, a sibling, a partner — and compare which letter comes up each time. It's a quick, nostalgic activity for group chats, sleepovers, or long car rides.
Skip the math: check out our numerology reading or the classic Love Calculator to do all the counting instantly.
