Spanish Phrase
Con el nombre de John.
Meaning
Literally 'with the name of John.' It is used to indicate that something or someone is called John, often in formal or written contexts such as documents, labels, or introductions.
When to use
Use this construction when you need to specify a name as a characteristic of an object, a pet, a street, a file, etc. It sounds slightly more formal than the simple 'Se llama John' and is common in paperwork, announcements, or when describing a title.
✦Grammar Breakdown
ConelnombredeJohn
Con (preposition)
Used to indicate 'with' or 'by means of' and introduces a complement.
el (definite article)
The masculine singular article that agrees with the noun 'nombre'.
nombre (noun)
Means 'name'; it is masculine, so it takes the article 'el'.
de (preposition)
Shows possession or origin; here it links the noun 'nombre' with the specific name.
John (proper noun)
A foreign proper name; in Spanish it is usually kept unchanged and pronounced with Spanish phonetics.
🗨In Conversation
¿Cómo se llama tu perro?
What is your dog's name?
Con el nombre de John.
With the name John.
✕Common Mistakes
Con el nombre John.
Missing the preposition 'de' which links the noun to the specific name.
Con la nombre de John.
The noun 'nombre' is masculine, so the article must be 'el', not 'la'.
Con el nombre de Juan.
If you intend to keep the English name, use 'John'; 'Juan' is the Spanish equivalent.
↔Alternatives
Se llama John.
His/Her name is John.
Su nombre es John.
His/Her name is John.
Llamado John.
Called John.
Cultural Tip
In everyday conversation Spaniards usually prefer 'Se llama…' or 'Su nombre es…' for people. 'Con el nombre de…' appears more often in formal writing, signage, or when you are describing an object (e.g., a street: 'Con el nombre de John' = 'named John'). Also, keep the foreign name unchanged but adapt its pronunciation to Spanish phonetics.