The most common surname in Australia for the general population remains Smith, a traditional British name, but for newborns, names like Singh, Kaur, and Nguyen have recently overtaken it, reflecting Australia's growing cultural diversity with significant migration from India and Southeast Asia, according to recent 2024/2025 data.
The top 10 most common last names vary by country, but globally, names like Wang (China), Nguyen (Vietnam), and Devi (India) are incredibly prevalent, while in the United States, the list is dominated by English/Welsh and Hispanic names: Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, Jones, Garcia, Miller, Davis, Rodriguez, and Martinez.
There isn't one single "rarest last name" globally, as rarity changes by region, but some names are incredibly scarce, with examples including Pober, Mirren, Febland in England, Gambello (around 60 globally), and unique historical names like Marsvin (Danish noble, extinct male line) or names that have nearly vanished like Twelvetrees or Birdwhistle. Rarity often comes from geographic origins, recent migration, or names dying out, with some existing with only a handful of people.
Of the approximately 292,318 babies born in Australia in a year, only 1,805 were given the most popular name, "Oliver", and only 1,601 were given the next most popular, "Noah". Girls names are even more diverse, with the most popular, "Charlotte", used for just 1,330 babies.
Some Australian favorites, like Bindi, Colbee, Hamish, Lachlan, and Mirri offer a fresh alternative to the more common names found in the US. These distinctive choices allow parents to embrace individuality and tradition.
The rankings are based on more than 350,000 babies born to parents that use the BabyCenter app. The top names are Olivia and Noah, which is the same as last year. Also the same as last year are the second most popular names, Amelia and Liam.
The wealthiest dynasties in the world have never been richer — and the Waltons lead the pack with a net worth of $513.4 billion.
Extinct Surnames
Although the official surname of the Royal Family is Mountbatten-Windsor, some members of the family use different 'surnames'. These stem from the senior title of the head of each branch of the family.
The most common last name in the world is, without a shadow of a doubt, Wang. Yep, you heard that right. This Chinese surname is currently estimated to be shared by over 100 million people worldwide. That's a colossal number, folks!
Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff Sr.
(4 August 1914 – 24 October 1997; surname also given as Wolfstern, Wolfe + 666, Wolfe+585, Wolfe+590, and others) was a German-born American typesetter who held the record for the longest personal name ever used.
A 'preferred' name/s must not be recorded in place of a person's full name/s as they appear on a formal identity credential. An alias, previous or preferred name/s should be recorded in a data field that is distinguished from name/s linked to identity. Names are generally not unique.
It is widely believed that Kushim, a name of Babylonian origin, is the first surname on record in the world, dating back to approximately 3400 to 3000 BCE. However, when looking at older last names, Victorian surnames often spring to mind.
Australian names are traditionally patrilineal, whereby children are given their father's family name. However, this is not an enforced custom. Some parents may choose to give their children a hyphenated surname that contains the family name of both parents (e.g. Jack Samuel WILSON-ADAMS).
There isn't one single "rarest last name" globally, as rarity changes by region, but some names are incredibly scarce, with examples including Pober, Mirren, Febland in England, Gambello (around 60 globally), and unique historical names like Marsvin (Danish noble, extinct male line) or names that have nearly vanished like Twelvetrees or Birdwhistle. Rarity often comes from geographic origins, recent migration, or names dying out, with some existing with only a handful of people.
In Asian cultures
An exception pertains to the Emperor of Japan. In Japan, the emperor and his family have no surname, only a given name, such as Hirohito, which in practice in Japanese is rarely used: out of respect and as a measure of politeness, Japanese prefer to say "the Emperor" or "the Crown Prince".
Baby Name Extinction Trends 🦖
The world's 10 richest families
An old money name isn't just one person's name—it's the name of a family whose legacy, traditions, and pockets go back centuries. For instance, when you hear the name "Rockefeller," you likely don't think of an individual person, but a whole timeless lineage of wealthy, influential people.
Notable British Aristocratic Surnames: Windsor – The surname of the British royal family, adopted in 1917. Cavendish – Associated with the Dukes of Devonshire, one of the most influential noble families in Britain. Howard – A powerful family that has held the title of Duke of Norfolk for centuries.
Pretty girl names often blend classic elegance with modern softness, featuring popular choices like Olivia, Amelia, Charlotte, Sophia, and Ava, alongside romantic and whimsical options such as Aurora, Isla, Willow, Luna, and Aria, with many finding beauty in vintage revivals like Eloise, Violet, and Florence.
Octuplets (8)
A set of octuplets was born on 16 August 1979, to Pasqualina and Stefano Chianese in Naples, Italy. Six of the babies died, and two survived. The couple had previously lost a set of sextuplets in 1976.
If you want the most ancient of ancient baby names, consider Kushim. According to some historians, Kushim may be the oldest recording of a name. It was the name of an accountant and appears on tablets from ancient Persia as early as about 3400 B.C.E.