Khan, a Muslim surname, is expected to replace Smith next year as the most common surname among babies born in England, according to an investigation by The Telegraph. This comes after Muhammad has already become the most popular name for baby boys in the kingdom.
Smith has been England’s most common surname for hundreds of years, but its prevalence has been declining over the past three decades. Khan is projected to overtake it in 2027, after more than doubling in frequency in recent years.
The data shows that in 2025, 4,120 babies were born in England and Wales with the surname Smith. Khan ranked second, with 3,772 babies born during the year with that name.
Despite Smith still leading on paper, there’s an average annual decline of 4% in Smith’s prevalence, alongside an average annual increase of 1.9% in Khan’s prevalence. These figures indicate that Smith could lose the top spot as early as next year.