The surname Khan could overtake Smith as the most common surname among newborn babies in England and Wales by 2027, ending centuries of dominance by one of Britain's most traditional surnames.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that 4,102 babies were registered with the surname Smith in 2025, compared to 3,772 with the name Khan, leaving a gap of just 330.
In 1996, Smith predeceased 5,464 births. Over the past three decades, Smith's records have dropped 44%, while Khan's has more than doubled.
The demographic change extends beyond these two surnames. In 1996, all ten of the most common newborn surnames were traditional British. By 2025, only three remain, with Khan, Ahmed, Ali, Hussain, Singh, Patel and Kaur among the top ten. Since 2008, births to UK-born mothers have fallen by 29%, while births to foreign-born mothers have increased by 18%. Births to mothers born in Asia and the Middle East increased by 41%.
Meanwhile, Mohammed remains the most popular boys' first name in England and Wales since 2023.