How to Find Fake and Test Names (John Doe, asdf, Mickey Mouse) in a Lead List
To find fake names in a lead list, flag placeholder words, keyboard mashing and repeated letters in the name columns, then review the flagged rows. Upload the list to the fake name detector, tick the name columns and download all rows with the reason, the rows to keep or only the flagged rows. It runs in your browser, and your file is not uploaded.
Why remove them before outreach
Test and junk names usually come with test or junk addresses: signup form tests, bots, or people who gave a false name to download something. They cost sending reputation without any chance of a reply, and a merge field that says "Hi Test" makes the rest of a campaign look careless. The same signals show up in fake signups.
The by-hand way in Sheets or Excel
Filter on a short list of words with a helper column:
=IF(OR(LOWER(A2)="test",LOWER(A2)="asdf",LOWER(A2)="n/a",ISNUMBER(SEARCH("qwerty",A2))),"fake","")
It only catches words you thought of, and you must repeat it for first and last name and for the two read together, such as John and Doe in separate columns.
Step 1: upload and tick the name columns
Upload a CSV or .xlsx file, or paste the cells with the header row first. Columns with name in the header are ticked for you, except company, account, organisation, domain and user columns.
Step 2: read the flags by reason
| Flag | Examples |
|---|---|
| Placeholder word | test, sample, n/a, John Doe, Mickey Mouse |
| Keyboard mashing | asdf, qwerty, hjkl |
| Repeated letters | aaaa, xxxx (four or more in a row) |
| No letters | digits or symbols only |
| No vowels | a long word with no vowel |
| Same in every name column | the same text in first and last name |
A row can carry more than one reason, and each flag names why, so you can see why a row was caught.
Step 3: download and review
Download all rows with the Name flag column, the rows to keep, or only the flagged rows to check. Scan the flagged rows and add back any real person. A flagged name often has an address that is also fake; run the rows you keep through the fake email checker, and see checking whether an email address is fake.
What this tool cannot do
- Rules use English placeholders and Latin letters; other scripts are only checked for letters and repeats.
- A real person can share a name with a placeholder.
- It reads names only, not the address or any other column.
- Only the first sheet of a workbook is read.
Check the addresses before you send
Tidy columns do not make an address deliverable. Upload your list on the verify page: the first 100 email checks are free with a Google sign-in, no card. Each address comes back valid, risky or invalid with a reason, and nothing is sent to anyone on the list. For larger or recurring lists, see bulk email verification, list cleaning and pricing.
Find the fakes now
Open the fake name detector.
Common questions
How do I find fake names in a list?
Filter the name columns for words such as test, asdf and John Doe. The fake name detector checks placeholder words, keyboard mashing, repeated letters, names with no letters and names that repeat across columns, and says why each row was flagged.
What counts as a fake name?
Placeholder words and stand-ins such as test, sample, n/a, John Doe and Mickey Mouse, keyboard runs such as asdf and qwerty, four or more of the same letter in a row, names with no letters, long words with no vowel, and rows where every name column holds the same text.
Can a real person be flagged?
Yes. Real people are named Test, Bar or Hi. A flag is a prompt to look, so scan the flagged rows and add back any real person.
Does it read the email address?
No. It reads the name columns only. Use the fake email checker for addresses.
Is my file uploaded?
No. It is read in your browser and goes nowhere.
Check your list before you send
Real mailbox checks over SMTP, and nothing is sent to the address. Sign in with Google and your first 100 email checks are free, no card. Plans for bigger lists are on the pricing page.