Explanations/etymology also appreciated!

For Joe Shmoe, it means a very average or below average person. It’s a derivation of the practice of using “shm-” to dismiss something (eg “Practice shmactice. We’re already perfect”).

And “John Smith” is meant to be the most average name or person imaginable, so they have the “most common” (citation needed) first and last name as well.

  • Hubi@feddit.de
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    97
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    In Germany there is “Max Mustermann”, which basically translates to Max Template-man. It’s the default German name used for templates of official documents like passports and such.

    • CAPSLOCKFTW
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      45
      ·
      1 year ago

      Don’t forget Otto Normalverbraucher. Nobody cares about Otto Normalverbraucher.

    • Tschuuuls@feddit.de
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      15
      ·
      1 year ago

      In German there are also derogatory uses for the forenames “Kevin” and “Otto” for example. Often used to depict not well educated persons that have made extremely stupid decisions/choices.

      • ndguardian@lemmy.studio
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        14
        ·
        1 year ago

        As someone with a brother named Kevin, I can confirm he’s doing his part to uphold that depiction.

      • dreadgoat@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        9
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        I think this one is pretty confined to my region (southwestern USA) but we use Otto as the moniker of a generic stupid person too, but probably for a different reason: Otto is Oblivious to the Obvious

    • ValiantDust@feddit.de
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      15
      ·
      1 year ago

      Don’t forget his wife, Erika Mustermann, geb. (née) Gabler. She’s usually the one used for passports these days. I think there’s a whole Mustermann family living in these templates.