Question:  Is it required by the FAA that all working crew flight attendants know the captain's name on their trip?

No, it isn't.

Joyce Ardoin, who is a member of the Emergency Procedures team at DENTK, told the latest issue of Purser Bulletin that "the exchange of names between the captain and the flight attendant crew is simply a courtesy."

She went on to explain that the FAA does expect pursers and crewmembers to brief with the captain and discuss issues such as weather, turbulence, a sterile cockpit and pre-arranged flight deck access (knock or key).

Of course, if you are a working member of the crew you darn well ought to know the captain's name.

But it shouldn't stop there---newly joining single ID crewmembers should be introduced to everyone on the crew.  What I notice happening is that the captain's name seems be the only concern in a rushed on-the-spot-last-minute-4-mixed-domicile-crew-gate-briefing.  That, and the passenger load.

In other words, Pursers often allow the trip (i.e., boarding) to commence without a complete introduction amongst the entire crew.  The get rushed by CSR's and "Gate Specialist Supervisors" (who obviously haven't yet read our Never Hurry article) in trying to get the flight out on time and often skip important name introductions.  Since it falls on our hands to promote Command Leadership Resource Management (CLR) communication and a safer work environment, first names of all the crew (even at the expense of a few extra minutes before a trip begins) is a small but potentially important duty we ought to consider.