Legal Definitions - fictitious name

A fictitious name is a made-up name that is intentionally created or adopted. It is not the person's real name. For instance, a business may have a fictitious business name. This name is also known as a "doing business as" (DBA) name. It is used to identify the business to the public.

Another example of a fictitious name is when someone files a lawsuit against a person whose name is unknown to them. In this case, the plaintiff may use a fictitious name to refer to the defendant. This is done to conceal the person's identity.

For instance, if John Doe is suing an unknown person who hit his car and drove away, he may use the fictitious name "Jane Smith" in the lawsuit. This way, he can refer to the defendant without knowing their real name.

The examples illustrate that fictitious names are used for various reasons, such as identifying a business or concealing a person's identity. They are not the person's real name and are created intentionally.