know (someone or something) by name
know (someone or something) by name
To have heard someone's or something's name before without being acquainted with them or it. A: "Have you ever met Sarah's friend John?" B: "No, but I know him by name." Most people know the franchise by name, regardless of whether they've seen any of the films or not.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
know someone or something by name
to recognize the name but not the appearance of someone or something. I only know her by name. I have no idea what she looks like. I know this brand of sausage by name, but I have never tasted it.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.