John Smith and Mary Brown

English translation: Ordinary people

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:John Smith and Mary Brown
Selected answer:Ordinary people
Entered by: vitaminBcomplex

10:29 Dec 25, 2022
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Names (personal, company)
English term or phrase: John Smith and Mary Brown
Hi everyone. This is from Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility:

"The idea of Edward's being a clergyman, and living in a small parsonage-house, diverted him beyond measure;—and when to that was added the fanciful imagery of Edward reading prayers in a white surplice, and publishing the banns of marriage between John Smith and Mary Brown, he could conceive nothing more ridiculous."

There is no other reference to the names John Smith and Mary Brown, so I suspect they are simply random names to refer to any men and women, which the context seems to support. However, I wasn't able to confirm my guess, so I can't be sure.

Thank you.
vitaminBcomplex
Local time: 08:52
Ordinary people
Explanation:
Yes, because the names are qyite common

name rank People Per 100,000 population
name SMITH rank 1 People Per 100,000 population 828.19
name JOHNSON rank 2 People Per 100,000 population 655.24
name WILLIAMS rank 3 People Per 100,000 population 550.97
name BROWN rank 4 People Per 100,000 population 487.16



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Note added at 3 hrs (2022-12-25 14:14:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It is among the most commonly given names in Anglophone, Arabic, European, Latin American, Persian and Turkish countries. Traditionally in the Anglosphere, it was the most common, although it has not been since the latter half of the 20th century.

John (given name) - Wikipedia

19 Sept 2022 — Mary was the most popular baby name for girls in America for over sixty years, from the 1880s until the year 1946.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2022-12-25 14:15:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Margaret and Mary were the only girls' names to have featured in the top 10 for a longer period of time than Emily. In contrast to the top 10 girls' names, there were no new entries in the top 10 boys' names
Selected response from:

AllegroTrans
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:52
Grading comment
Thank you & happy New Year!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +6Ordinary people
AllegroTrans


  

Answers


3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
john smith and mary brown
Ordinary people


Explanation:
Yes, because the names are qyite common

name rank People Per 100,000 population
name SMITH rank 1 People Per 100,000 population 828.19
name JOHNSON rank 2 People Per 100,000 population 655.24
name WILLIAMS rank 3 People Per 100,000 population 550.97
name BROWN rank 4 People Per 100,000 population 487.16



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2022-12-25 14:14:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It is among the most commonly given names in Anglophone, Arabic, European, Latin American, Persian and Turkish countries. Traditionally in the Anglosphere, it was the most common, although it has not been since the latter half of the 20th century.

John (given name) - Wikipedia

19 Sept 2022 — Mary was the most popular baby name for girls in America for over sixty years, from the 1880s until the year 1946.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2022-12-25 14:15:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Margaret and Mary were the only girls' names to have featured in the top 10 for a longer period of time than Emily. In contrast to the top 10 girls' names, there were no new entries in the top 10 boys' names

AllegroTrans
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:52
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Grading comment
Thank you & happy New Year!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard
7 hrs

agree  Daryo: a.k.a. Joe Bloggs, Jean Dupont, ... https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/60003/11-versions-averag...
17 hrs

agree  Tony M
19 hrs

agree  Mark Robertson
21 hrs

agree  Julio Carrero
1 day 8 hrs

agree  Yvonne Gallagher
3 days 8 hrs
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