German Phrase
Auf welchen Namen ist das?
Meaning
Literally, ‘Under which name is that?’. It is used to ask for the name under which something (a reservation, a bank account, a ticket, etc.) is registered or booked.
When to use
Use this sentence when you need to confirm the exact name a service or item is booked under – for example, calling a hotel to check a reservation, asking a colleague about a shared account, or in a store when retrieving a purchase made under a different name.
✦Grammar Breakdown
AufwelchenNamenistdas?
Auf (preposition)
In this idiom, 'auf' means 'under' as in 'under which name'. It governs the accusative case when indicating direction or a figurative location.
welchen (interrogative pronoun)
‘welchen’ is the accusative masculine singular form of ‘welcher’. It matches the case required by ‘auf’ in this expression.
Namen (noun)
‘Name’ in the accusative singular takes the form ‘Namen’. The phrase literally asks ‘on which name…’.
ist (verb ‘sein’)
The third‑person singular present of ‘sein’, used here as a copula linking the subject ‘das’ with the prepositional phrase.
das (demonstrative pronoun)
Refers to the thing, service, or account you are inquiring about.
🗨In Conversation
Auf welchen Namen ist das?
Under which name is that?
Das ist auf den Namen Müller.
That is under the name Müller.
✕Common Mistakes
Auf welcher Namen ist das?
‘Welcher’ is nominative; the phrase requires accusative ‘welchen’ because of the preposition ‘auf’.
Auf welchen Namen unter das?
‘Unter’ is also correct, but swapping it without adjusting the case can lead to errors. If you use ‘unter’, the pronoun must be dative: ‘Unter welchem Namen…’.
Auf welchen Namen ist das hier?
Adding ‘hier’ changes the meaning to ‘where is that here?’, which is not the intended question about the registered name.
↔Alternatives
Unter welchem Namen ist das?
Under what name is that?
Auf welchen Namen läuft das?
Under which name does that run?
Wie lautet der Name, unter dem das registriert ist?
What is the name under which that is registered?
Cultural Tip
In German business and administrative contexts, specifying the exact name is crucial. ‘Auf welchen Namen…’ sounds slightly more formal than ‘unter welchem Namen…’, but both are widely understood. When speaking with service staff, it’s polite to include the word ‘bitte’ (please) before the question: ‘Bitte, auf welchen Namen ist das?’