I've never actually met anyone named John Smith

[Mixolydian]

As I woke up this morning, the first thought that popped into my head: "I've never met anyone named John Smith." Yet people always use this name as an example of one of the most common, generic names. I've met a lot of people in my life but not a single John Smith.

What gives? Where are all these John Smiths hiding? :hmm:

 

[dave_the_nerd]

They're around. I've actually met a couple.

 

[waggy]

i have met a few.

 

[her209]

I've met a Juan Sanchez.

 

[Sixguns]

The dad of my best friend growing up was John Smith. But he is the only one that I have ever known.

 

[AstroManLuca]

There was that study of pornstars posted a few days ago and they said the most common, average name was "Nikki Lee," but there's only one Nikki Lee in the entire IAFD database.

"John" may be the most common first name and "Smith" the most common last name, but I wonder what the most common first+last combination is?

Some googling later:

http://blog.rapleaf.com/blog/2009/0...common-first-last-and-full-names-on-facebook/

John Smith is the most common full name on Facebook, but they also guess that a significant portion of those are fake accounts. Because "Jane Smith" is also in the top ten and that's not even a common name, and probably most of those accounts are fake. Also, if you combine Mike and Michael, that's a more common first name than John.

 

[shortylickens]

A couple of roommates in the navy, 2 in high school, worked with 4 or 5 of them. 2 in college.
yeah, theres plenty.

 

[shortylickens]

There was that study of pornstars posted a few days ago and they said the most common, average name was "Nikki Lee," but there's only one Nikki Lee in the entire IAFD database.

"John" may be the most common first name and "Smith" the most common last name, but I wonder what the most common first+last combination is?

Dave Nelson might be a more popular combo...

 

[Brigandier]

I met one in high school, but he preferred to go by Jonathan.

 

[tboo]

I know one.

 

[dougp]

I worked with a guy named John Smith - good fella.

 

[Printer Bandit]

i've met a michael jackson.

 

[BurnItDwn]

You know, Theres like 30,000 names in the corporate address book here at work, and there isn't a single John Smith in there ...

There are many named John in my family (dad, mom's bro, maternal grandfather (RIP). And my fiance's father's last name is Smith (but nobody named John that she knows about.)

 

[Linflas]

I went to college with a John Smith.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I was looking at cars recently and the sales guy at one of the dealers was named Sean Miller. At work we had a sales rep drop off a card and his name was James Bond.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

You know, Theres like 30,000 names in the corporate address book here at work, and there isn't a single John Smith in there ...

There are many named John in my family (dad, mom's bro, maternal grandfather (RIP). And my fiance's father's last name is Smith (but nobody named John that she knows about.)

No John Smiths in the corporate DB here, either - but two Jennifer Smiths. And a John Schmit.

And... oh my god... John Whitebread.

And he's not even one of the ones here.

 

[JulesMaximus]

No John Smiths in the corporate DB here, either - but two Jennifer Smiths. And a John Schmit.

We have a John Smith working here. I've never met him though.

 

[nageov3t]

I've met tons of Johns and tons of Smiths, so it would make sense that each would be the most common name (if not the most common combination)

the most common first/last name combination I think I've encountered has been Mike/Michael Myers... I personally know like 5.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I've met Michael Jackson and Jennifer Lopez in my workplace, but they are not the ones more commonly known.

I've never met a John Smith, or a John/Jane Doe, either.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've met Michael Jackson and Jennifer Lopez in my workplace, but they are not the ones more commonly known.

I've never met a John Smith, or a John/Jane Doe, either.

No kidding... really? :sneaky:

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I've met tons of Johns and tons of Smiths, so it would make sense that each would be the most common name (if not the most common combination)

the most common first/last name combination I think I've encountered has been Mike/Michael Myers... I personally know like 5.

People love alliteration.

My housemate's family was Diane (mom), Dick (dad), David and Donna. (kids)

I think they overdid it, personally, but that was just two kids - I've seen families with six or seven kids whose names start with the same letter.

And that's still not as bad as the people that name their kids in alphabetical order.

 

[highland145]

People love alliteration.

My housemate's family was Diane (mom), Dick (dad), David and Donna. (kids)

I think they overdid it, personally, but that was just two kids - I've seen families with six or seven kids whose names start with the same letter.

And that's still not as bad as the people that name their kids in alphabetical order.

Better than numerical.

:biggrin:

Went to H.S. with a John Smith.

 

[Chapbass]

Don't know any john smiths, but I do know a Michael Scott....he started preferring Mike Scott several years back, don't know why....

 

[highland145]

Don't know any john smiths, but I do know a Michael Scott....he started preferring Mike Scott several years back, don't know why....

Heh, Our sheriff is Michael Hunt.

:biggrin:

 

[Baked]

People with generic names piss me off. We have a giant client database. When you're trying to find the one John Smith, it becomes a headache. So we tried to put symbols and letters and whatnot in their name to differentiate the clients.