Khan could overtake Smith as the most common surname among babies born in England and Wales by 2027, according to a projection based on recent birth-registration trends.

The figures show that 4,120 babies born in 2025 were registered with the surname Smith, compared with 3,772 with the surname Khan, placing the names first and second, respectively.

Smith’s frequency among newborns has reportedly been declining by an average of 4% annually, while Khan’s has been increasing by approximately 1.9% a year. If those trends continue, Khan would move into first place in 2027.

Smith has historically been England’s most common surname, but its prevalence among newborns has fallen over the past three decades. Khan’s frequency has reportedly more than doubled in recent years.

The projected change concerns surnames registered at birth, rather than the most common surname across the entire population.

The findings come amid wider attention to changing naming patterns, including Muhammad’s rise in popularity among baby boys.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)