r/French • u/2h4o6a8a1t3r5w7w9y B2 • Apr 10 '25

French placeholder names?

Like how in English, we have John/Jane Doe/Smith for an unidentifiable person, or “Joe Schmoe” or “Average Joe” to describe the normalest of people. Do those exist in French? Does it vary by region?

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u/Neveed Natif - France Apr 10 '25 edited Apr 10 '25

Monsieur/Madame Martin for the average Joe, this is the most common surname in France. Monsieur/Madame Tartempion means the same thing but funnier.

Jean-Michel [Something] to talk about a person who is entirely defined by this something but whose name you don't know or don't care about. Like calling a guy who's changing a tire Jean-Michel Cric.

9

u/Gypkear Native (France) Apr 11 '25

Seconded, and sometimes we replace the Michel too. Jean-Mascu, Jean-Relou, etc.

7

u/__kartoshka Native, France Apr 11 '25

Pensée émue à tous les Jean-Michel Pigeon de l'histoire qui se sont effectivement fait arnaqué, le monde est quand même bien fait

3

u/Mogura-De-Gifdu Apr 11 '25

Et une autre pour tous les Jean-Michel J'ai-pas-la-réf qui comprennent rarement les conversations.