Unnamed

Unnamed is an adjective used to describe a person, object, place, or idea that has not been given a formal name in a particular context. It often signals that the designation is temporary, unknown, or deliberately withheld.

In literature and film, unnamed characters or narrators appear to create universality, mystery, or to protect real identities. In news media and legal practice, the term is used for parties whose identities have not been disclosed, with common placeholders such as "the unnamed defendant" or "the unnamed informant." Historically, the names John Doe and Jane Roe function as canonical placeholders for unidentified persons in American legal proceedings.

In science, archaeology, and taxonomy, unnamed or unidentified items may be described as "unnamed" until a formal designation is assigned; researchers may use provisional labels like Genus sp. or specimen A to indicate an unidentified organism or artifact.

In data processing and computing, files, columns, or data fields may be labeled unnamed when input data lacks headers or when automated systems generate outputs with missing labels.

While related to anonymity and namelessness, the term unnamed indicates a temporary or context-bound absence of a name rather than a deliberate choice to conceal identity (anonymous) or the permanent lack of a name (nameless). See also placeholder names and related discussions of anonymity.