What is the English word for the sign "#"?

[simile]

What is the English word for the sign "#"?
I couldn't find any entry for # in any online dictionary.

[SweetMommaSue]

Hello simile!

It has two names depending on the context. It is the symbol for "number" as in #1, #2, #3, etc.

It is also called the "pound sign", pound meaning lb. as in weight.

Have a great day!
Sweet Momma Sue

[gurly]

This sign is used in phones too and is called pound.

[Tomasz Klimkiewicz]

Hello SweetMommaSue,

In programmers' jargon '#' is often referred to as the 'hash' sign, although I don't think it's a proper technical ASCII term...

All the best,
Tee Kay

[simile]

So there's no specific "equivalent Englsih word" for #?
Just call it "number" or "pound."
Is that what you mean?

[Fizi]

There are various names used for it. But, some of these other names are not known by many people. In the U.S., 'pound sign' and 'number sign' are the common names and will be widely understood. If you're using the phone you may hear 'pound key'.

[simile]

You guys' answers are very informative!
Thanks a lot!

There's also a * key on a cell phone.
I think we should call it "asterisk," right?
I mean when used on a cell phone.

[ssendur]

i can give you an example from software world. c# programming language is called " c sharp" so i think they call it like sharp as well.

[MrPedantic]

As a supplement:

In British English, you call it a "hache" key (pronounced "hash"). You tend not to call it "sharp" except in a musical context. (And in music, # looks slightly different.)

If you call it "pound sign", it will probably confuse British people, as they don't use # for weight (which is a pity).

On a keyboard, * is indeed an asterisk; though on a phone numberpad, it's a "star".

MrP

[ssendur]

ok i wonder if this sentence correct mrpedantic " it is required not to do that"
would you use that for your own way of speech as a native speaker, or what would you suggest instead of that