Also means
on behalf of
Usage Note
namens has two jobs: as an adverb it means 'by the name of' (ein Mann namens Schmidt), and as a genitive preposition it means 'on behalf of' (namens der Regierung). It is a fossilised genitive of Name and stays formal in both uses.
Examples
"Ein Mann namens Peter rief an."
Natural Translation
A man named Peter called.
Literal Translation
A man named Peter called on.
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