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We were asking for seats at a restaurant in Kyoto and were unsure whether to
ask for _nimei_ or _futari_. Which would be more appropriate? What are the
distinctions in usage between these two counters?
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counters
名 vs 人 for counting people?
This is essentially the difference between using polite language and informal
language.

If the staff asked you how many people are in your group, they would say
something like 「何名様」 because (from their point of view) you are the customer
and you should be addressed in a very respectful way. On the other hand, when
you answer you should use humble language. So using 「２人」 is correct.
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2018-04-11T11:05:21.530
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People seem to think 名 as a quantifier is a polite and formal way of saying of
a quantifier 人. However most Japanese people would rarely mind the little
difference. So I think you may think that there is no difference between them.
You may say the word as you like.

Related: <https://okwave.jp/qa/q4077776.html>
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2018-04-11T12:37:02.150
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**Short Answer:** If you're a customer trying to make a reservation, you can
use whichever you want.

**Long Answer** : 名 and 人 are different in _formality_. But 名 and 人 are not
keigo; they are not honorific/humble expressions. Let's not mix them up.

名 is clearly _formal_ and _businesslike_ as compared to 人. If you used 名 in
casual conversations, you would end up sounding fairly awkward. On the other
hand, 人 is neutral as far as formality is concerned. Basically it can be used
in any situation.

名 is not particularly more _respectful_ than 人. Using 名 does not automatically
mean you are paying respect to the people counted. In other words, you can
safely use 名 to refer to yourselves. It's not rude at all.

If you're a customer, you don't necessarily have to use 名, but it may be safer
to do so if you're unsure. The more expensive and high-class the restaurant
is, the more you may feel like using 名. I would probably use 人 at a cheap and
casual izakaya. The difference is small, anyway, so you don't have to worry
too much.

If you're an employee of a restaurant/hotel and want to count the number of
guests, you usually use the formal 名, but that's not enough. 名 must be
followed by 様 to show your respect to your guests (e.g., 2名様). You can also
use the almighty 人 and say お2人様 (ofutari-sama), which is respectful enough.
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