<P> A Dear John letter is a letter written to a man by his wife or romantic partner to inform him their relationship is over because she has found another lover . The man is often a soldier stationed overseas, although the letter may be used in other ways, including being left for him to discover when he returns from work to an emptied house . </P> <P> While the exact origins of the phrase are unknown, it is commonly believed to have been coined by Americans during World War II . "John" was the most popular and common baby name for boys in America every single year from 1880 through 1923, making it a reasonable' placeholder' name when denoting those of age for military service . Large numbers of American troops were stationed overseas for many months or years, and as time passed many of their wives or girlfriends decided to begin a relationship with a new man rather than to wait for the original one to return . </P> <P> As letters to servicemen from wives or girlfriends back home would typically contain affectionate language (such as "Dear Johnny", "My dearest John", or simply "Darling"), a serviceman receiving a note beginning with a curt "Dear John" would instantly be aware of the letter's purpose . </P>

Where did the phrase dear john come from
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