What do you call to a period or dot placed at the top of the small letter i and j?

Answer 1

The dot at the top of the lower case letters i and j is called a dot.

A dot is a diacritic mark, one of about twenty different types of diacritic marks that are placed over, on or below certain letters in various alphabets.

Examples of letters with other diacritic marks: á, à , ā, ȉ , Îî ,ň, ø, ů

IS IT A TITTLE?

A diacritic mark is sometimes called a 'tittle', which, in lexicography, just means a small distinguishing mark. This could be a dot, or an accent or any other diacritic mark.

The word tittle simply means something small, as in the word tittle-tattle, meaning small talk, or idle chatter. A related word is titter, a giggle, tiny short suppressed laughter.

The word tittle is found in older English. e.g. "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle('the smallest detail' TEV ) of the law to fail." -Gospel of Luke, ch 16 v 17, KJV (1611)

IS IT A DOT?

When discussing the presence or absence of a dot over certain letters in various fonts and alphabets, the terminology used is dotted or dotless, not tittled or tittleless.

THE LIGHTER SIDE

The dot on the i is called the dottus on the i'us.

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Answer 2

A period or dot placed at the top of the small letter i and j is called a "tittle."