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.
