Names for a typical ordinary /unknown or unidentified man around the world:

  • Joe Bloggs, The Man on the Clapham Omnibus (UK English)
  • Joe Schmoe, Joe Blow, John Doe, Joe Sixpack (US English)
  • Joe Meatball (The Simpsons)
  • John Citizen, Fred Nurk, The Man on the Bondi Tram (Australian)
  • Johnny Canuck (Canadian)
  • Jean Dupont, Monsieur Tout-le-monde, Monsieur Untel, Ducon (derog.) (French)
  • 
Joe Little Carrot (Slovakian)
  • Mid-range Vasya (Russian)
  • Jan Modaal = John Midrange/Average, Jan met de Pet = John with a Cap, Jan Jansen, Piet Pietersen, Jan Alleman (Dutch)
  • 
Average Svensson (Swedish)
  • Ola Norseman (Norwegian)
  • Morten Menigmand = Morten Simpleman, Navn Navnesen = Name Nameson (Danish)
  • Svenne Banan = Sven Banana (slang for average, ethnic, ordinary guy with somewhat socially conservative views), Gemene man eller Medelsvensson (Swedish)
  • Matti Meikäläinen = Matti One-of-Us or One-of-Ours (Finnish)
  • Mr Mehmet with the Yellow Boots (Turkish)
  • Jón Jónsson, Meðal-Jón, Meðaljón (Icelandic)
  • Juan de la Cruz / Juana de la Cruz (Philippino)
  • Lágbájá ọmọ Tàmẹ̀dò (Yoruba)
  • Fulano, Mengano (Cuban)
  • Fulān al-Fulāni = so & so of so & so
 (Arabic)
  • Otto Normalconsumer, Max Mustermann (German)
  • Statistical Kowalski (Polish)
  • Hong Gildong (Korean)
  • Israel Israeli (Hebrew)
  • Wang Number Five (Mandarin)
  • Taro (Japanese)

Names for a typical ordinary woman around the world:

  • Susi Specimen-woman (Austria)
  • Kari Norwegian (Norway)
  • Voghera Housewife (Italy)
  • Mrs Swiss (Switzerland)
  • Biddy Gilhooley (Ireland)
  • Janey Canuck (Canada)
  • Jane Doe (US)
  • Sally Housecoat (The Simpsons)

Tom, Dick and Harry equivalents from other languages:

  • Wang Wu (Wang Five) has two friends called Zhang San (Zhang Three) and Li Si (Lee Four) (Mandarin)
  • Pierre, Paul, Jacques (French)
  • Fulano, Mengano, Sutano (Spanish)
  • Ivanóv, Petróv, Sídorov (Russian)
  • Jan, Piet, Klaas (Dutch)
  • Hans und Franz (German)
  • Catso, Stunado, Brutto (Italian)
  • Ionescu, Popescu, Georgescu (Romanian)

Source: Edited from a thread started by @AdamCSharp on Twitter

Can you add any more? If yes, please email me.

Categories: Wordy humour

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