diff --git a/src/name.ts b/src/name.ts
index 84f1623d60a..d00094e24b3 100644
--- a/src/name.ts
+++ b/src/name.ts
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ export class Name {
    * @param binary
    * @memberof faker.name
    */
-  gender(binary: boolean): string {
+  gender(binary?: boolean): string {
     if (binary) {
       return this.faker.random.arrayElement(
         this.faker.definitions.name.binary_gender