The article analyzes thematic groups, syntactic features and functions of anthroponyms in “Conversation between two friends on the usefulness of science and schools” by V. N. Tatishchev. In Tatishchev’s text, anthroponyms are used more than 400 times and, thus, it shows some signs of name-dropping. The analysis identified thematic groups of anthroponyms. These groups include Russian, European and ancient rulers, church teachers, sages and philosophers, scholars, lawmakers, academy founders, etc. Tatishchev appeals to these groups of anthroponyms in developing the main theme of his work — the usefulness of
science. As a result of the study of the syntactic features of anthroponyms, it is concluded that in the sentence anthroponyms are mainly used as a subject. Anthroponyms in the grammatical position of complement, attribute and circumstance are presented in the text of Tatishchev much less. In addition, it is investigated the use of anthroponyms in explanatory constructions with conjunction elements yako and kak to. The article ends with the description of the functions of anthroponyms in the text of “Conversation”: they used with stylistic, integrating, rhetorical and culturally identifying functions. The widespread use of anthroponyms reveals that “Conversation” belongs to a new, post-Petrine culture with its anthropocentric character.