French Phrase

C'est au nom de Smith.

/sɛ‿o nɔ̃ də smit/

Meaning"It is in the name of Smith."

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Meaning

Literally, "It is in the name of Smith." The phrase is used to indicate that a document, account, or action is registered under the name of a person called Smith.

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When to use

Use this sentence when you need to confirm whose name appears on a contract, a bank account, a reservation, or any official record. It’s also handy in customer‑service situations when a client asks whose name a reservation is under.

✦Grammar Breakdown

C'estaunomdeSmith

C'est

Contraction of "ce" + "est" meaning "it is"; used to identify or describe something.

au

Combination of the preposition "à" (to/at) and the definite article "le"; here it means "in the name of".

nom

Noun meaning "name"; often used with the preposition "de" to indicate possession or attribution.

de

Preposition meaning "of"; links the noun "nom" to the person or entity it belongs to.

Proper name without article

When a proper name follows "de", French typically omits the article (e.g., "de Smith").

🗨In Conversation

Je cherche la réservation pour le dîner de ce soir.

I'm looking for the dinner reservation for tonight.

C'est au nom de Smith.

It's under the name Smith.

✕Common Mistakes

C'est à Smith.
The preposition "à" means "to/at" and does not convey ownership; use "au nom de" instead.
C'est le nom de Smith.
This means "it is Smith's name" (identifying the name itself), not that something is registered under his name.
C'est au nom du Smith.
When a proper name follows "de", the article is omitted; adding "du" (de le) is incorrect.

↔Alternatives

C'est au nom de M. Smith.
It's under Mr. Smith's name.
C'est au nom de la société Smith.
It's under the company Smith.
C'est au nom de Smith et fils.
It's under the name Smith & Son.

Cultural Tip

In French business and formal contexts, you’ll often hear "au nom de" followed directly by a surname without an article. If you’re referring to a company, add the article (e.g., "au nom de la société Smith"). Also, remember that "c'est" is neutral; it does not convey gender, so it works for both male and female names.