The guide to Naming Conventions here: http://wiki.geni.com/index.php/Naming_Conventions#Naming_Placeholders
suggests using "NN" as a placeholder. However, it does not explain or differentiate between whole name unknown and someone whose first name we cannot find or remember as yet, but know the surname.
Is it acceptable to put "Unknown" in the first name, or should it say "NN" in first name even when the surname is known and used, or....?
Melanie, I think using "Unknown Smith" is fine, but a better place to post this question might be in the project for naming conventions: http://www.geni.com/discussions?discussion_type=project-1357
The problem using any word for unknown is that it is understood only for that specific language. Secondly, including the use of NN (which is more international) is that you risk getting hot-matches and bad merges on those profiles. I prefer ?? since it does not generate profile matches, and is understood in most languages.
Thank you both very much for your input and ideas - I like both!
I don't know how to remove this discussion, but I will also post it in the naming conventions project, which I hadn't come across before.