Khan, Ahmed and Ali overtake traditional British surnames

Traditional British surnames are becoming less common among newborns in England and Wales, while surnames such as Khan, Ahmed and Ali are gaining popularity, according to a survey reported by British media. The changing trend reflects a significant shift in the surnames being recorded for children over the past three decades.

Data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that surnames historically common in Britain, including Taylor, Brown and Johnson, are losing ground in the rankings. Meanwhile, Khan, Ahmed, Ali, Hussain, Singh, Patel and Kaur have become increasingly prominent among newborns.

In 1996, Smith, Jones and Williams were among the most common surnames recorded for babies born in England and Wales. Taylor, Brown, Davis, Evans, Thomas, Johnson and Wilson also featured among the top 10 surnames during that period.

Three decades later, the list has changed considerably. The 10 most frequently recorded surnames among newborns in 2025 were Smith, Khan, Ahmed, Ali, Jones, Hussain, Singh, Williams, Patel and Kaur.

The figures indicate a sharp decline in the popularity of several traditionally British surnames. Jones, for example, has fallen by 43 per cent, while Williams, now ranked eighth, has also slipped from its earlier position. Other surnames that were common in the 1990s have dropped to positions between 11th and 17th.

In contrast, Khan, Ahmed and Ali have doubled in popularity over the period covered by the data. Singh and Kaur, surnames traditionally associated with Sikh men and women respectively, have increased at least fivefold, highlighting the changing composition of names recorded among newborns.

The number of distinct surnames given to babies has also declined. More than 23,400 different surnames were recorded among newborns in 2025, compared with more than 21,600 in 1996, according to the reported figures. The number of surnames shared by at least 1,000 babies fell from 57 three decades ago to just 23 last year.

Smith remains the most common surname among newborns, but its numbers have fallen substantially. The surname was recorded for 7,276 babies in 1996, compared with 4,102 in 2025.

The changing rankings point to a broader transformation in the naming patterns of families across England and Wales. Surnames that were once less prominent have gained ground, while several historically dominant British names have become less frequent among newborns.

Meanwhile, Muhammad continued to be the most popular first name for boys born in England and Wales for the third consecutive year. A total of 5,957 boys were registered with the name in 2025, according to the reported statistics.

The findings offer a snapshot of how naming patterns have evolved over 30 years, with traditional British surnames losing their former dominance and surnames associated with different cultural backgrounds becoming increasingly common.