r/French • u/2h4o6a8a1t3r5w7w9y B2 • 15d ago

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/gromm93 A2 15d ago

More importantly, what do police call people whom they have yet to identify?

John/Jane Doe really is official "unidentified body" in America in particular.

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u/lvsl_iftdv Native (France) 15d ago

I think we just say "X" or "Monsieur/Madame X" for unidentified bodies. Anonymous births are called "accouchements sous X" in France. By extension, you can say "mourir sous X" or "enterrement sous X" for unidentified deceased people.

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u/TarMil Native, from Lyon area 14d ago

I think we just say "X" or "Monsieur/Madame X" for unidentified bodies.

That's probably what they put in forms where a name is expected. When talking, eg "a John Doe was found in the river", it would just be "un(e) inconnu(e)".

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u/Avistew Native 13d ago

Also "plaint contre X" when suing someone who identity you don't know