How traditional British surnames are dying out: Khan, Ahmed and Ali enter top 10 baby names and replace Taylor, Brown and Johnson
ONS data show a marked shift in the surnames given to babies in England and Wales over three decades, with several traditional British names falling down the rankings as names including Khan, Ahmed and Ali rise. The figures also point to greater variety in newborns’ surnames, though they describe naming patterns rather than directly measuring the population’s heritage or identity.
In 1996, Taylor, Brown, Davies, Evans, Thomas, Johnson and Wilson were among the top ten; in 2025, Khan, Ahmed, Ali, Hussain, Singh, Patel and Kaur joined Smith, Jones and Williams. Khan, Ahmed and Ali doubled in frequency, while Singh and Kaur rose at least five-fold. Jones and Williams fell by about 43 per cent, and Smith was recorded for 4,102 babies in 2025, down from 7,276. More than 23,400 surnames were recorded in 2025, compared with 21,600 in 1996; the data exclude names recorded two times or fewer and treat spelling variants separately.
- Khan, Ahmed and Ali entered the top ten newborn surnames.
- Jones and Williams fell by about 43 per cent.
- Recorded surnames rose from 21,600 to more than 23,400.
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A surname is a family name passed down or chosen for use, and parents register a baby’s surname when the birth is recorded. In England and Wales, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes figures showing which surnames are recorded most often for newborns.
These figures can change as family patterns and naming choices change over time. They show the names given to babies, but do not directly reveal anyone’s heritage or identity.
The rankings give one view of how naming patterns are becoming more varied. They count spelling variants separately and leave out surnames recorded for only a few babies, so they do not include every name in use.