(M./Mme)
Machin/Machine (familiar terms, used when one does not take the pain to find another term);[21]
(Un)
Gazier originally, a man who worked in gas transport; nowadays, it is a familiar term to tell "Someone" (mostly for a man, this term is rare for women, and in such a case, the correct orthography is "Gazière").[22]
(Un)
Quidam: someone whose identity is unknown or cannot be disclosed.[23]
Max Mustermann (Max Sample Man, for men), Erika Mustermann (Erika Sample Man, for women), used as a placeholder name in official documents, ID samples etc. since 1978. More recently, other first names have also been used in specific context, such as Leon Mustermann (sample children's passport),[24] Cleopâtre Mustermann (sample travel document for foreigners),[25] or Manu Musterperson (Manu Sample Person, as a gender-neutral form).[26]
Greater China
小明 (
pinyin: Xiǎomíng,
Jyutping: siu2 ming4,
Wugniu: 3siau-min2), a common generic name used in educational or comedic situations.[27]
某某 (
pinyin: Mǒumǒu,
Jyutping: mau5 mau5,
Wugniu: 4meu-meu4), 某甲 (
pinyin: Mǒujiǎ,
Jyutping: mau5 gaap3,
Wugniu: 4meu-ciaq7), 某乙 (
pinyin: Mǒuyǐ,
Jyutping: mau5 jyut3,
Wugniu: 4meu-iq7), etc., equivalent to "Person A, Person B, etc.";
某 meaning "a certain".
Heavenly stems are often used to number the unspecified people.
Mainland China
劉一 (
pinyin: Líu Yī), 陳二 (Chén Èr), 張三 (Zhāng Sān), 李四 (Lǐ Sì), 王五 (Wáng Wǔ), 趙六 (Zhào Lìu), 孫七 (Sūn Qī), 周八 (Zhōu Bā), 吳九 (Wǔ Jiǔ), 鄭十 (Zhèng Shí), all following the scheme of a common surname followed by a number
冬冬 (Dōngdōng), 妞妞 (Niǔniǔ), 妮妮 (Níní) for children[28][29]
Cik Kiah (uncle Kiah), a derivative of the name Makcik Kiah (auntie Kiah), a name made up by
PMTan Sri Muhyiddin to illustrate an average Malaysian: a
Pisang goreng seller earning the median rural income.[40][41][42]
Netherlands
Jan Modaal ("John Modal"), used to refer to those with a median income
Ola Nordmann (male), Kari Nordmann (female), common Norwegian first names and a surname that literally translates to "Norwegian"
Philippines
Juan dela Cruz (male), María dela Cruz or Juana dela Cruz (female)
Poland
Jan Kowalski (male), Anna Kowalska (female), the second most common Polish surname.
For a broader representation of average Poles "Kowalski" may be grouped with some other common surnames, such as
Nowak (the most common Polish surname),
Malinowski, or
Wiśniewski: "Imagine our neighbors, the Kowalskis or Nowaks, who earn
PLN 100 less per month than we do".[43]
Iksiński a surname formed in accordance with the rules of creating
Polish surnames with the common suffix -ski/-ska, but the basis for its creation was the letter X (pronounced "iks" in Polish), which is used to denote unknowns (e.g. in mathematical operations). It is used especially in situations where one wants to emphasise that the person one is talking about is not anyone in particular or that the identity of that person cannot be given.[44][45] When talking about another such person in a single utterance, one can use the surname Igrekowski,[46] which is derived from the letter Y (pronounced in Polish as "igrek"). Both surnames also have female forms,
Iksińska and Igrekowska respectively. No living Polish citizen bears these surnames (as of 2024).[47][48][49][50]
Portugal
Fulano (from Arabic), Sicrano (unknown etymology), Beltrano (from given name Beltrão)[51] "Fulano, Sicrano e Beltrano" equivalent to "Tom, Dick and Harry"
Romania
Cutărescu, general term used in order to avoid a specific surname; a no-name [52]
Russia
Common placeholder first names in Russia are Ivan and Pyotr, due to their ubiquity. Their placeholder function may be seen in old Russian textbooks: in arithmetical problems or sentences to illustrate grammar.[53]
For a group of average persons or to stress the randomness of a selection, a triple common Russian surnames are used together in the same context: "Ivanov, Petrov, or Sidorov". This is a relatively new phenomenon that was unknown in the early 20th century. Ivanov, being derived from the most common first name, is a placeholder for an arbitrary person. In its plural form, "Ivanovs", it may be used as a placeholder for a group of people.[53] There is a military joke: The sergeant asks the rookies: "Your surnames!" - "Ivanov!", "Petrov!", "Sidorov!" - "Are you brothers?" - "No, we are namesakes, sir!"[54]
Spain
Fulano, from Arabic,
Mengano,
Zutano. "Fulano, Mengano y Zutano" equivalent to "Tom, Dick and Harry"
Sweden
Svensson (a common surname) or Medelsvensson (literally "middle/average Svensson")[55][56]
Thailand
Somchai (common name for male – literally meaning "appropriate for a man"), Somsri (common, if somewhat dated, name for female), Sommai (common names of either gender), nai-gor (
นายก equivalent to 'Mr. A')[57]
^Mariusz Rutkowski [
pl], "PRZECIĘTNY KOWALSKI. UWAGI O KONOTACJACH I MEDIALNYCH WYSTĄPIENIACH JEDNOSTKI ONIMICZNEJ", Zeszyty Naukowe KUL, vol 58, no. 3 (231), 2015, pp. 3-9.
(M./Mme)
Machin/Machine (familiar terms, used when one does not take the pain to find another term);[21]
(Un)
Gazier originally, a man who worked in gas transport; nowadays, it is a familiar term to tell "Someone" (mostly for a man, this term is rare for women, and in such a case, the correct orthography is "Gazière").[22]
(Un)
Quidam: someone whose identity is unknown or cannot be disclosed.[23]
Max Mustermann (Max Sample Man, for men), Erika Mustermann (Erika Sample Man, for women), used as a placeholder name in official documents, ID samples etc. since 1978. More recently, other first names have also been used in specific context, such as Leon Mustermann (sample children's passport),[24] Cleopâtre Mustermann (sample travel document for foreigners),[25] or Manu Musterperson (Manu Sample Person, as a gender-neutral form).[26]
Greater China
小明 (
pinyin: Xiǎomíng,
Jyutping: siu2 ming4,
Wugniu: 3siau-min2), a common generic name used in educational or comedic situations.[27]
某某 (
pinyin: Mǒumǒu,
Jyutping: mau5 mau5,
Wugniu: 4meu-meu4), 某甲 (
pinyin: Mǒujiǎ,
Jyutping: mau5 gaap3,
Wugniu: 4meu-ciaq7), 某乙 (
pinyin: Mǒuyǐ,
Jyutping: mau5 jyut3,
Wugniu: 4meu-iq7), etc., equivalent to "Person A, Person B, etc.";
某 meaning "a certain".
Heavenly stems are often used to number the unspecified people.
Mainland China
劉一 (
pinyin: Líu Yī), 陳二 (Chén Èr), 張三 (Zhāng Sān), 李四 (Lǐ Sì), 王五 (Wáng Wǔ), 趙六 (Zhào Lìu), 孫七 (Sūn Qī), 周八 (Zhōu Bā), 吳九 (Wǔ Jiǔ), 鄭十 (Zhèng Shí), all following the scheme of a common surname followed by a number
冬冬 (Dōngdōng), 妞妞 (Niǔniǔ), 妮妮 (Níní) for children[28][29]
Cik Kiah (uncle Kiah), a derivative of the name Makcik Kiah (auntie Kiah), a name made up by
PMTan Sri Muhyiddin to illustrate an average Malaysian: a
Pisang goreng seller earning the median rural income.[40][41][42]
Netherlands
Jan Modaal ("John Modal"), used to refer to those with a median income
Ola Nordmann (male), Kari Nordmann (female), common Norwegian first names and a surname that literally translates to "Norwegian"
Philippines
Juan dela Cruz (male), María dela Cruz or Juana dela Cruz (female)
Poland
Jan Kowalski (male), Anna Kowalska (female), the second most common Polish surname.
For a broader representation of average Poles "Kowalski" may be grouped with some other common surnames, such as
Nowak (the most common Polish surname),
Malinowski, or
Wiśniewski: "Imagine our neighbors, the Kowalskis or Nowaks, who earn
PLN 100 less per month than we do".[43]
Iksiński a surname formed in accordance with the rules of creating
Polish surnames with the common suffix -ski/-ska, but the basis for its creation was the letter X (pronounced "iks" in Polish), which is used to denote unknowns (e.g. in mathematical operations). It is used especially in situations where one wants to emphasise that the person one is talking about is not anyone in particular or that the identity of that person cannot be given.[44][45] When talking about another such person in a single utterance, one can use the surname Igrekowski,[46] which is derived from the letter Y (pronounced in Polish as "igrek"). Both surnames also have female forms,
Iksińska and Igrekowska respectively. No living Polish citizen bears these surnames (as of 2024).[47][48][49][50]
Portugal
Fulano (from Arabic), Sicrano (unknown etymology), Beltrano (from given name Beltrão)[51] "Fulano, Sicrano e Beltrano" equivalent to "Tom, Dick and Harry"
Romania
Cutărescu, general term used in order to avoid a specific surname; a no-name [52]
Russia
Common placeholder first names in Russia are Ivan and Pyotr, due to their ubiquity. Their placeholder function may be seen in old Russian textbooks: in arithmetical problems or sentences to illustrate grammar.[53]
For a group of average persons or to stress the randomness of a selection, a triple common Russian surnames are used together in the same context: "Ivanov, Petrov, or Sidorov". This is a relatively new phenomenon that was unknown in the early 20th century. Ivanov, being derived from the most common first name, is a placeholder for an arbitrary person. In its plural form, "Ivanovs", it may be used as a placeholder for a group of people.[53] There is a military joke: The sergeant asks the rookies: "Your surnames!" - "Ivanov!", "Petrov!", "Sidorov!" - "Are you brothers?" - "No, we are namesakes, sir!"[54]
Spain
Fulano, from Arabic,
Mengano,
Zutano. "Fulano, Mengano y Zutano" equivalent to "Tom, Dick and Harry"
Sweden
Svensson (a common surname) or Medelsvensson (literally "middle/average Svensson")[55][56]
Thailand
Somchai (common name for male – literally meaning "appropriate for a man"), Somsri (common, if somewhat dated, name for female), Sommai (common names of either gender), nai-gor (
นายก equivalent to 'Mr. A')[57]
^Mariusz Rutkowski [
pl], "PRZECIĘTNY KOWALSKI. UWAGI O KONOTACJACH I MEDIALNYCH WYSTĄPIENIACH JEDNOSTKI ONIMICZNEJ", Zeszyty Naukowe KUL, vol 58, no. 3 (231), 2015, pp. 3-9.