diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.d/check-dco.py b/.gitlab-ci.d/check-dco.py
index d221b16bd5..70dec7d6ee 100755
--- a/.gitlab-ci.d/check-dco.py
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.d/check-dco.py
@@ -78,7 +78,10 @@ of Origin 1.1 (DCO):
 
 To indicate acceptance of the DCO every commit must have a tag
 
-  Signed-off-by: REAL NAME <EMAIL>
+  Signed-off-by: YOUR NAME <EMAIL>
+
+where "YOUR NAME" is your commonly known identity in the context
+of the community.
 
 This can be achieved by passing the "-s" flag to the "git commit" command.
 
diff --git a/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst b/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst
index 83e9092b8c..10b062eec2 100644
--- a/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst
+++ b/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ one-shot fix, the bare minimum we ask is that:
 
    * - Check
      - Reason
-   * - Patches contain Signed-off-by: Real Name <author@email>
+   * - Patches contain Signed-off-by: Your Name <author@email>
      - States you are legally able to contribute the code. See :ref:`patch_emails_must_include_a_signed_off_by_line`
    * - Sent as patch emails to ``qemu-devel@nongnu.org``
      - The project uses an email list based workflow. See :ref:`submitting_your_patches`
@@ -335,6 +335,11 @@ include a "From:" line in the body of the email (different from your
 envelope From:) that will give credit to the correct author; but again,
 that author's Signed-off-by: line is mandatory, with the same spelling.
 
+The name used with "Signed-off-by" does not need to be your legal name,
+nor birth name, nor appear on any government ID. It is the identity you
+choose to be known by in the community, but should not be anonymous,
+nor misrepresent whom you are.
+
 There are various tooling options for automatically adding these tags
 include using ``git commit -s`` or ``git format-patch -s``. For more
 information see `SubmittingPatches 1.12