name-dropping 
noun [mass noun]
The practice of casually mentioning the names of famous people one knows or claims to know in order to impress others: name-dropping, snobbery, and generally pathetic attempts to be seen and be admired...
- It's just a bunch of pretentious name-dropping to make people think they're good via their influences.
- No name-dropping, no technical language and don't expect the discussion to result in anything so banal as a conclusion.
- Yes, but they have their good qualities, such as free advertising and name-dropping.
Derivatives
name-drop
/ verb ...- But you get the feeling he's aware, and that he name-drops because he's in awe - and feels not quite up to the society he keeps - as well, in fact, as feeling better than the lot of them.
- And during the first five minutes, he name-drops relentlessly.
- Did anyone else notice that his next column name-dropped Senators and Congressmen like mad?
name-dropper
/ noun ...- The potential targets have also changed for these name-droppers.
- Not to mention that he's a name-dropper of immense proportions, constantly letting rip with the ‘celebrities’ he's met, partied with, flirted with, and - occasionally - slept with.
- Also, lawyers are name-droppers by nature; a title or a position, fame or fortune, can color the validity of their ‘experts.’