# John Does

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-does/18239>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 1, 2000, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-does/18239 "2000-05-01T09:13:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![projecttwilight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dbc845/32.png) [@projecttwilight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/projecttwilight)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2000, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-does/18239/1 "2000-05-01T09:13:29Z")

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Alright, most people know that “John[or Jane] Doe” is the name given to unidentifiale victims in police reports, medical records, etc. My question is, was there ever really a John Doe? Or is “John Doe” just a convienent common-sounding name?

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2000, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-does/18239/2 "2000-05-01T09:50:41Z")

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Here’s what Cecil has to say about [John Doe and Richard Roe](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_168a.html).