Green’s Dictionary of Slang

used for a name one has temporarily forgotten.

1964		in Current Sl. (1967) I:4 5/2: What’s his face, n. One whose name is forgotten.
1972		A. Theroux Three Wogs 201: Why, the only impediment, of course, was this little Miss-What’s-Her-Face.
1977		H. Crews Feast of Snakes 28: Get us a ramp and jump the thing like Evel what’s-his-fucking-face.
1978		S. King Stand (1990) 1234: This Andros what’s-his-face.
1981		J. Wambaugh Glitter Dome (1982) 86: I got a bad feeling I ain’t gonna meet whatzerface with the four nipples.
1982		W. Safire What’s The Good Word? 86: ‘Whatsisface’ is similar to ‘whatsername.’ Both are old New England terms.
1983		A. Payne ‘Willesden Suite’ Minder [TV script] 23: I’ve had the official story from whatsherface, Norma.
1996		Eble Campus Sl. Sept. 7: whats-her-head – a female whose name has been forgotten.
1999		Indep. Rev. 31 Aug. 1: Er, whatsherface. You know.
2000		J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 175: I’m not saying Freddie what’s-his-face Hurst deserved a thrashin.
2000		Guardian 16 Feb. 18: That Matthew Wotsisface rang.
2001		S. King Dreamcatcher 162: Tina Jean What’s-Her-Face’s pussy.
2012		R. Milward Kimberly’s Capital Punishment (2023) 398: ‘Thingy’s dead [...] Whatsherface’.
2021		L. McInerney Rules of Revelation 112: Oh great, there’s Whatshisface, that’s my day ruined.
2024		J. Meades Empty Wigs (t/s) 763: Like in that painting Unpolished Pewter by whatsisface.