French Phrase
C'est au nom de John Doe.
Meaning
The sentence states that something (a document, account, reservation, etc.) is registered or issued under the name of John Doe. It is a formal way to indicate ownership or attribution.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to specify whose name appears on a legal document, a bank account, a reservation, or any official record. It is common in business, administrative, and formal spoken contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'estaunomdeJohnDoe.
C'est (contraction)
C' is the contraction of "ce" before a vowel sound, and "est" is the third‑person singular of "être" meaning "is".
au = à + le
"au" is the preposition "à" (to/at) combined with the definite article "le", forming "to the" or "at the".
de + proper name
"de" introduces the possessor; when followed by a proper name it means "of" or "belonging to".
Nom (noun)
"nom" means "name"; the phrase "au nom de" is a fixed expression meaning "in the name of".
🗨In Conversation
À qui appartient ce compte bancaire ?
Who does this bank account belong to?
C'est au nom de John Doe.
It is in the name of John Doe.
✕Common Mistakes
C'est à le nom de John Doe.
"à le" must contract to "au"; using the two words separately is incorrect.
C'est le nom de John Doe.
Without "au", the meaning changes to "It is the name of" rather than indicating ownership of a document.
C'est au nom John Doe.
The preposition "de" is required after "nom" to link the name.
↔Alternatives
Le compte est au nom de John Doe.
The account is in the name of John Doe.
C'est au nom de M. John Doe.
It is in the name of Mr. John Doe.
C'est au nom de John Doe uniquement.
It is only in the name of John Doe.
Cultural Tip
In French official language, "au nom de" is the standard way to indicate the holder of a right or the person named on a document. While "John Doe" is an English placeholder name, French speakers often use "Monsieur X" or "Jean Dupont" for the same purpose. When speaking to French speakers, using a French‑style name can sound more natural, but the structure of the phrase remains the same.