# Name-dropping > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Name-dropping > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Name-dropping.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name-dropping > Source revision: 1352337575 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Practice of mentioning famous people For the iOS feature, see [NameDrop](/source/NameDrop). **Name-dropping** (or **name-checking**) is the practice of naming or alluding to important people or institutions in order to indicate one's association with them. The term often connotes an attempt to impress others; it is usually regarded negatively,[1] and under certain circumstances may constitute a breach of [professional ethics](/source/Professional_ethics).[2] It may be done within a conversation,[1] a story,[3] a song, an [online identity](/source/Online_identity),[4] or other communication. When used as part of a logical [argument](/source/Argument) it can be an example of the [false authority](/source/False_authority) [fallacy](/source/Fallacy).[5] ## Purposes Name-dropping is used to position oneself within a [social hierarchy](/source/Social_hierarchy). It is often used to create a sense of superiority by raising one's status.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] By implying (or directly asserting) a connection to people of high status, the name-dropper hopes to raise their own [social status](/source/Social_status) to a level closer to that of those whose names they have dropped, and thus elevate themselves above, or into, present company. Name-dropping can also be used to identify people with a common bond. By indicating the names of people one knows, one makes known their [social circle](/source/Social_circle), providing an opportunity for others with similar connections to relate.[6] As a form of [appeal to authority](/source/Appeal_to_authority), name-dropping can be an important form of informal [argumentation](/source/Argument), as long as the name being dropped is of someone who is an expert on the subject of the argument and that person's views are accurately represented. ## Methods This section needs expansion. You can help by adding missing information. (May 2011) Use of the first name may be effective, as in the case of "Kingsley" for [Kingsley Amis](/source/Kingsley_Amis).[7] Name-dropping is also sometimes used in works of fiction to place a story in a certain historical timeframe, or to imply the involvement of a historical figure in the action (for example, in a story set during World War II, mentioning [Adolf Hitler](/source/Adolf_Hitler) or [Winston Churchill](/source/Winston_Churchill)). [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## See also - [Homage](/source/Homage_(arts)) - [No true Scotsman](/source/No_true_Scotsman) - [Nouveau riche](/source/Nouveau_riche) - [Social climbing](/source/Social_climbing) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-lat_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-lat_1-1) Wibberley, Leonard (24 February 1950), "It's Hard to Eradicate the Name-Dropping Pest", *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Anderson, Mark B. (2005), ["'Yeah, I work with Beckham': Issues of confidentiality, privacy and privilege in sport psychology service delivery"](https://ess220.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/2005volume2.pdf) (PDF), *Sport & Exercise Psychology Review*, **1** (2): 3–13, [archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20151005164006/https://ess220.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/2005volume2.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 5 October 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Bauer, Harry C. (1960), "Bibliographic name-dropping", *Library Review*, **17** (6): 408–410, [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1108/eb012326](https://doi.org/10.1108%2Feb012326). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Donath, J.; Boyd, D. (2004), "Public displays of connection", *BT Technology Journal*, **22** (4): 71–82, [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1023/B:BTTJ.0000047585.06264.cc](https://doi.org/10.1023%2FB%3ABTTJ.0000047585.06264.cc). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Evans, Donald; Palmer, Humphrey (1986), *Understanding arguments*, Drake Educational Associates, p. 286. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Bixler, Susan; Dugan, Lisa Scherrer (2000), "Name-Dropping", *5 steps to professional presence: how to project confidence, competence, and credibility at work*, Adams Media, pp. 154–155, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-58062-442-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-58062-442-8). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Knack_7-0)** Joseph Epstein, "A Nice Little Knack for Name Dropping" in *Narcissus Leaves the Pool*, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2007, p. 80ff. ## External links The dictionary definition of [*name-dropping*](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/name-dropping) at Wiktionary - [Appeal to Authority Breakdown](http://www.appealtoauthority.info) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20191227184545/http://www.appealtoauthority.info/) 27 December 2019 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Name-dropping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name-dropping) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name-dropping?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.