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Is there a gender-neutral alternative to "Jane Doe" / "John Doe"?

I would like to provide an example of signed form, but how to avoid using gender when it comes to names? Is there some widely-used idiom for this?

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  • 16
    Would not "J. Doe" be a solution?
    – J. Taylor
    Mar 29, 2019 at 8:44
  • 3
    Why the down vote?
    – Kris
    Mar 29, 2019 at 10:00
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    @J.Taylor I agree. And find it appropriate that you would say that. ;) If we use a full name, however, and are coining new ones, something like Jordan Doe might work. (Assuming that Jordan has not become sufficiently ambiguous.) But that seems a little forced to me. I think that just J. Doe is the best choice.
    – Jason Bassford
    Mar 29, 2019 at 15:15
  • imdb.com/title/tt0110169
    – user662852
    Mar 29, 2019 at 16:17
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    @Andrey I don't understand your objection to "J. Doe". Any name (or string of random letters) could still refer to male or female (or any other gender). Doesn't that objection rule out all possible answers?
    – user323578
    Apr 27, 2019 at 17:33

4 Answers 4

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A. N. Other

Proper noun
(British) A formulaic name that is substituted for that of a person whose name or identity is not known, or not relevant; typically used when exhibiting an example.
— wiktionary.org

Here is an example copied from freshdesk.com :

A.N. Other

And a similar definition from macmillan :

a member of a sports team who has not been chosen yet, so that you cannot give their real name in a list of players

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    It is gender neutral. The "A" and the "N" are sounded out separately. I don't think anyone (well in Britain/Ireland at least) would interpret it as Anne.
    – k1eran
    Mar 29, 2019 at 16:05
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    The female name is spelt "Ann" or "Anne" not AN. So it should be obvious.
    – Stuart F
    Sep 26, 2019 at 10:02
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    If you read this, how does A. N. get read as Ann?? It doesn't. Like any initials, you say the letters, you aren't reading words.
    – Lambie
    Apr 7, 2021 at 16:17
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    You can't sign the form A.N. whatever. The actual signature does not change.
    – Lambie
    Apr 7, 2021 at 16:55
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    @JasonBassford How does /eɪ/. /ɛn/. /ˈʌðə/, sound like "Anne"? -- OED: A. N. Other, n. A formula substituted for: (the name of) an (additional) unidentified or as yet unspecified person or party. 1884 Manitoba Daily Free Press Canada..forwards, B. Chambers, W. Cameron, H. Cameron, Hunt, Mulvey, A. N. Other. -- 1929 Charleston (W. Va.) Gaz. Baron Renfrew was billed in the Founders Cup Golf Tournament list here as Mr A. N. Other.
    – Greybeard
    Apr 7, 2021 at 17:32
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The most fitting name to me for non-binary is "Jay Doe." It is important not just to use the letter. The problem is that the letter J is used genericly for a person of unknown sex or gender and could become confusing when heard (J and Jay sound the same).

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How about Jo Doe as a gender neutral name?

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    This would benefit from a citation or authoritative source. Please see the help center and site tour.
    – livresque
    Apr 19 at 1:30
-1

Lorem J. Ipsum is a familiar pair of words that will at least get you a few smiles.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorem_ipsum

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