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This post had been edited to include several expressions/idioms given by Gil Gaudia, Ph.D. Tara Benwell and Gabriel Sowrian. 

Isn't it interesting that the name 'John' is so generic that two well-known phrases use it?  I wonder if there are other names that are used generically?. Thank you Gil Gaudia, Ph.D.  for the corrections. 

Did You Know?

1. Dear John Letter

Did you know that a 'Dear John letter' means the end of a relationship. Basically it's a letter from a woman to her boyfriend or husband telling him that their relationship is over. This phrase can be traced back during the World War II, when many American servicemen had to be at the battlefields for a long time. This led to many of them receiving letters from their girlfriends or wives ending their relationship. The name John is used because it's a generic name. Due to some political correctness, 'Dear Jane letter' term may also be used to show that a man is ending a relationship with his girlfriend or wife. However, the term 'Dear John letter' is basically reflecting both genders terminating relationship.

2. John Doe or Jane Doe 

Did you know that for unknown person mostly unknown victim, he or she will be named as John Doe or Jane Doe? Sometimes 'John Roe' is also being used. This name is also being used for legal reason if the person wanted to remain anonymous. For a child, the term used is 'Baby Doe'. The origin of this term can be dated back to 1300s. It was during the reign of King Edward III that a legal debate occurred with regard to Act of Ejectment. During that debate, two factious names were created, 'John Doe' for the owner of the land and "John Roe" for the leasor. Both Doe and Roe had no particular significance, except that 'Doe' is a female deer, and 'Roe' is a small deer found in Europe. However, nowadays, Joe Bloggs is also being used. And other variations of these names maybe used such as Juan or Juanita. 

Please tell me if you know any other generic name(s) that's being used for certain term. 

P/S :- Additional expressions/idioms using other generic name(s). Thank you Gil Gaudia, Ph.D. Tara Benwell and Gabriel Sowrian for the additional information.

1."Plain Jane" refers to an unattractive woman. 

2. "Joe Blow" refers sarcastically to some unknown man.

3. "Every Tom, Dick and Harry" refers to any or every man.

4. An "average Joe" is used to describe an everyday person. 

5. A "nervous Nellie" is a timid person. 

6. A "Jack of all trades" is a person who is good at a lot of different kinds of jobs or someone who can do everything.

7. A "smart Alec" is a smart person who shows off his/her knowledge. 

8.  "Doubting Thomas" is used to refer to someone who is skeptical (From the "Apostle Thomas" of the Christian Bible).

9. "Simple Simon" is a name used to refer to a foolish man or boy

10. "Darby and Joan" is a way of referring to an old couple who are happily married  

11. "Johnny-come-lately" is a person who has only recently arrived in a place or started an activity, especially somebody who is more confident than they should be 

12. "Adam’s apple" is a lump at the front of a man’s throat that sticks out and moves up and down when he swallows something 

13. "David and Goliath" is used to describe a situation in which a small/weak person (or organization) tries to defeat another much larger/stronger opponent

Note: This expression came of the Bible story in which Goliath, a giant, is killed by the boy David with a stone. 

My other Did You Know? series:-

1. Did You Know?  2. Did You Know? - Continuation   3. Did You Know - Another Continuation   4. Did You Know - Not Another Continuation!   5. Did You Know? - Gosh! Will it Never Ends?   6. Did You Know? - Oh No! Not Another One!   7. Did You Know? - Here Comes Another One!  8. Did You Know? - Another One?   9. Did You Know? - One, Two, Eighty Six?  10. Did You Know? - Punishment? OMG!