Is Smith his real name?

Question

Why do most people give Smith as a phoney name, why can't it be Carstairs or Higginbotham or even Wilfred Hyde-White for that matter?

Answer 1

Lack of imagination I think, probably just the first name that springs to mind, along with John as a first name.

I think this is probably more of an urban myth then anything else anyway.

Answer 2

Smith is the most common surname in britain, so there's a higher chance of being a Smith than being a Higginbotham or a Wilfred Hyde-White.

Answer 3

Because Smith is the second most common surname in the world and therefore more likely to be untraceable if you are doing something naughty!

The most common name is Chan, I believe and Smith is most common in the English speaking world.

Answer 4

Because if you look up Smith, there are a ton of them in the phonebook, it would take them forever to find out it was a phoney but the other ones it would be easy to find out that they were phoney.

Answer 5

Because Smith is the most popular English name, and there are thousands of Alestair, or Cedric Smiths let alone John and Bill Smith. Its almost impossible to decipher which one you are.

Answer 6

Smith is the most common American name. If you give a unique name, people will remember it, and thus nullifying the reason for giving the name.

Answer 7

Because Smith is the most common surname ever.

Answer 8

Also Smith is a very common name, alot of Smith's in this world you know...

Answer 9

Smith is easy to spell

Answer 10

Because there are a lot of Smiths