Joe Bloggs
"Joe Bloggs" and "Fred Bloggs" are placeholder names commonly used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, for teaching, programming, and other thinking and writing.
Examples
In The Princeton Review standardized test preparation courses, "Joe Bloggs" represents the average test-taker, and students are trained to identify the "Joe Bloggs answer", or the choice which seems right but may be misleading on harder questions.[1]
"Joe Bloggs" was a brand name for a clothing range, especially baggy jeans, which was closely associated with the Madchesterscene of the 1990s.[2]
History
The name Bloggs is believed to have been derived from the East Anglian region of Britain, Norfolk or Suffolk, deriving from bloc, a bloke.[3]
Similar cases
In the United Kingdom and United States, John has historically been one of the most common male first names,[4] and Smith is the most common surname in each,[5] so "John Smith" is a recurrent pseudonym and placeholder name in those countries (especially in legal contexts).
In the United States, John Doe, John Q. Public, Joe Blow, Joe Sixpack and Joe Schmoe are also used. In Germany, Max Mustermann (male), Erika Mustermann (female), literally "Max/Erika Example-Person," and Otto Normalverbraucher ("Otto Normal Consumer") are used. Other international variations can be found here.
Other placeholders (e.g. in advertisements for store cards/credit cards) sometimes used are Mr/Mrs A Smith or A. N. Other.
See also
References
- ↑ "SAT Test Prep — The Princeton Review". Retrieved 19 January 2017.
- ↑ Tozer, James (28 December 2009). "Flamboyant market trader who became millionaire with Joe Bloggs jeans empire declared bankrupt". www.dailymail.co.uk. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ↑ "Surname Database: Blogg Last Name Origin". Retrieved 19 January 2017.
- ↑ "Popularity for JOHN". Mike Campbell. 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
- ↑ "Rankings for SMITH". Mike Campbell. 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-05.