select2 placeholder showing empty option

It's a late answer, but it can help someone.

I have modal with a select2 input.

We need to add <option></option> for the placeholder to be shown.

HTML

<select  id="Name">
  <option></option>
  <option value="John">John</option>
  <option value="Brian">Brian</option> 
  <option value="Carl">Carl</option>
</select>

If I want the placeholder to appear.

Jquery

$('#Name').select2({placeholder: 'Select a Name'});

$('#Name').select2('val', '');

If I want to see a value on the select2 input:

$('#Name').select2('val', 'John');

The empty option is actually for placeholder, I solved it using the code below

var s1 = $('#select2id').select2({
                    multiple: true,
                    placeholder: "Select values"
                });
                s1.val([' ']).trigger("change"); 

the s1.val([' ']).trigger("change"); did the trick

You have a syntax error on 2nd line.

<option></option>