in the name of

1.  By the authority of, as in Open up, in the name of the law! [Late 1300s]
2.  On behalf of, as in She made a donation in her daughter's name. [Late 1300s]
3.  in God's or heaven's name; in the name of God or heaven. With appeal to, as in In the name of God, stop that noise! or What in heaven's name are you doing? [c. a.d. 900]
4.  Under the designation of, as in They burned witches at the stake in the name of piety. [Late 1300s]
5.  Under the possession or ownership of, as in The certificate of ownership was rightfully in my name. [Mid-1900s]
6.  in one's own name. On one's own behalf, as in Mary signed the check for John in her own name. [Late 1800s]