Yes, sample was actually the word I was looking for. You’ve got it precisely right.
According to this list, it is called a placeholder name. (Someone on another thread just recently commented on how many lists Wiki comes up with):
List of placeholder names by language
Don’t you hate it when you find a last that takes out all the fun of making a list in a thread?
Just saw this, in Wiki, on placeholder names in general and specifically in English, and in other “languages” or context, such as “foo” in Unix programming.
I actually saw one name on that list in the phone book once, which seems unlikely to be an actual name: Joe Baggadonuts.
I knew someone who was listed under Adrian IV, Pope. Tinkled him pink when he was looked up as Pope Adrian.
No, not at all! I’m thrilled! I never would have expected someone wrote a whole (two whole!) wiki articles on the topic. Great find.