name dropper
noun phrase

- someone who talks about famous people they have met, often pretending that they know them better than they really do, in order to appear more important and special

Other forms

name dropping (noun)
name drop (verb)

(Cambridge Dictionary)

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Name-dropping is used to position oneself within a social hierarchy. Its purpose is often to create a sense of superiority by raising one's status. By implying a connection to people of high status, the name-dropper hopes to raise his or her own social status to a level closer to that of those whose names he has dropped, and thus elevate himself above, or into, present company.

In this phrase "drop" is used in the sense of casually uttering a name during a conversation, as if it was unintentional, like dropping your pencil on the floor.

Name-dropping can also be used to identify people with a common bond. By indicating the names of people one knows, one makes known his or her social circle, providing an opportunity for others with similar connections to relate.

American essayist Joseph Epstein has a more cynical definition. He defines the name dropper as someone who "uses the magic that adheres to the names of celebrated people to establish his superiority while at the same time making the next person feel the drabness of his or her own life. Name-dropping is a division of snobbery, and one of the snob's missions is to encourage a feeling, however vague, of hopelessness in others."

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SYNONYMS

social climber, status seeker

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Practice OWAD in a conversation today, say something like:

"Beware the NAME DROPPER, a social conversation stopper."