In English-speaking common-law jurisdiction, the nameJohn Doe is used for a defendant or victim in a legal example or for a person whose identity is unknown or is intended to be anonymous. Male corpses whose identity is unknown are also known by the name John Doe. A female who is not known is referred to as Jane Doe. A child whose identity is unknown is referred to as Precious Doe. Additional people in the same family may be called James Doe, Judy Doe, etc.
The Oxford English Dictionary states that John Doe is "the name given to the fictitious lessee of the plaintiff, in the (now obsolete) mixed action of ejectment, the fictitious defendant being called Richard Roe".
An account of the reasons why a fictitious tenant and a fictitious defendant were named is found in Charles Rembar 's book The Law of the Land.
By extension from the law usage, John Doe is often used in computer software needing a default or example first and last name for a form.
There is also a movie, directed by Frank Capra, starring Gary Cooper, called Meet John Doe . It is a political drama.
a defendant is referred to with first name and initial, e.g. "Mohamed B."; Jan Modaal is approximately the Joneses, in particular referring to average wealth
