Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 12:55pm on 15 Oct 2026,Thursday International
The surname Khan could overtake Smith as the most common surname among newborns in England and Wales by 2027, according to an analysis by The Telegraph of official data. In 2025, 4,102 babies were registered with the surname Smith, compared with 3,772 named Khan. The gap has narrowed sharply over the past 3 decades. The analysis found that Smith registrations have declined by an average of 4% annually, while Khan registrations have risen by 1.9%. Experts link the shift to migration patterns, changing birth rates and the growing diversity of the population. The projection depends on these trends continuing. (PC: X)
