in/under the name of

[WilliamTaft]

Source: The Britannica Dictionary

in someone's/something's name or in the name of someone/something
1 a — used to say that something officially or legally belongs to a specified person
We both own the house, but the car is in my name.
The business is registered in her husband's name for tax purposes.
b — used to say that something has or uses the name of a specified person
Our reservation at the restaurant is in my name.

under someone's/something's name or under the name (of) someone/something
1 — used to say that something officially or legally belongs to a specified person
We both own the house, but the car is under my name.
The business is registered under her husband's name for tax purposes.
2 — used to say that something has or uses the name of a specified person
We have dinner reservations under the name of Jones.

Are the two phrases interchangeable in these two cases?

 

[teechar]

No. For example:
In the name of God. Will you stop this silly act!
Under the name of God. Will you stop this silly act!

He published some of his novels under the name of Groggy Jones.
He published some of his novels in the name of Groggy Jones.

 

[WilliamTaft]

The Britannica Dictionary, former M-W Advanced Learner's Dictionary:
under someone's/something's name or under the name (of) someone/something
1 — used to say that something officially or legally belongs to a specified person
2 — used to say that something has or uses the name of a specified person

I cannot find these two usages in Longman Contemporary, Collins Dictionaries, and Oxford Learner's.

Are they AE usages?

 

[BobK]

It's a bit old-fashioned, and has recently (i.e. in my lifetime) become much less common than 'by the name of'. Presumably the compilers of that Longman's dictionary don't think it's Contemporary enough:

 

[BobK]

PS I've heard - on US TV shows - just 'name of' or 'goes by'; perhaps a native speaker of AE will comment.

I prefer just 'named' ;-)

 

[jutfrank]

Are the two phrases interchangeable in these two cases?

I say no. 1a should be 'in' and 1b should be 'under'.

 

[teechar]

The Britannica Dictionary, former M-W Advanced Learner's Dictionary:
under someone's/something's name or under the name (of) someone/something
1 — used to say that something officially or legally belongs to a specified person
2 — used to say that something has or uses the name of a specified person

I cannot find these two usages in Longman Contemporary, Collins Dictionaries, and Oxford Learner's.

Are they AE usages?

Note that I have merged your post with this thread.

 

[BobK]

PPS

To clarify, my original reply wasn't meant to imply a different point of view from @teechar's; that distinction is unquestionable. I just meant that in the Britannica's sense 2 there was an element of fashion. I'm not sure this is true, and I'm not sure that graphic demonstrates it - Google's Ngram viewer is just an impressive tool that tends to get me over-excited! Apologies for any confusion. ;-)

 

[Tarheel]

I don't think I've heard of "under my name" before. Do you want to use that phrase?

 

[Skrej]

My wife's car is registered in her name, but our son's car is registered under my name.

I find 'in' and 'under' interchangeable in this context. However, as teechar pointed out in post #2, that is not always the case.