Traditional British surnames are becoming less dominant among newborns in England and Wales, according to newly released figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Names including Khan, Ahmed and Ali have climbed the rankings over the past three decades.

The data, covering babies registered between 1996 and 2025, highlights changing patterns in the surnames given to children. While Smith remains the most common surname among newborns, the rankings have shifted considerably since the 1990s, reflecting changes in family backgrounds and the country’s increasingly diverse population.

Traditional British Surnames Slip in the Rankings

In 1996, Smith, Jones and Williams occupied the top three positions among baby surnames in England and Wales. Taylor, Brown, Davies, Evans, Thomas, Johnson and Wilson completed the top 10.

By 2025, the list looked notably different. Smith remained at number one, but Khan, Ahmed and Ali had entered the top 10, alongside Jones, Hussain, Singh, Williams, Patel and Kaur.

Several surnames that were prominent in the 1990s have slipped down the rankings. Jones and Williams remain among the most frequently recorded names, but their relative popularity has declined.

The figures do not mean that traditional surnames are disappearing altogether. Instead, they show that a wider range of surnames is now represented among newborns, changing the composition of the top rankings.

Khan, Ahmed and Ali Have Become More Common

The latest figures show that Khan, Ahmed and Ali have each roughly doubled in popularity among newborns since 1996. Other surnames associated with South Asian heritage have also climbed. Singh and Kaur, for example, have increased substantially, while Patel and Hussain have entered the top 10

Read More: Rapid demographic change: British surnames lose ground as Khan, Ahmed and Ali rise in baby rankings