Our British name database contains 53.141 British surnames and 69.382 British first names categorized by gender and frequency. After payment you can download the British name database in CSV, SQL or JSON format. In United Kingdom we received a name and gender database from the British government and merged it with publicly available data sets. To create the British name database we used 2.490.483 validated British social media profiles. We have a detailed explanation of our methodology and illustrate our approach with several examples.

Popular British surnames

This table show popular British surnames. In the United Kingdom, the surname is traditionally passed down from the father to the children. The surname is also used as a form of identification and is required for official documents such as passports and identification cards. In some cases, individuals may choose to change their surname through marriage or legal process.

Surname Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Smith 28.135 1.1% American Canadian Australian
Jones 23.332 0.9% American Canadian Australian
Williams 16.646 0.7% American Canadian Australian
Brown 13.656 0.5% American Canadian Australian
Taylor 13.168 0.5% American Canadian Australian
Davies 12.098 0.5% American Australian Jamaican
Wilson 10.533 0.4% American Canadian Australian
Evans 9.472 0.4% American Australian Canadian
Roberts 8.007 0.3% American Canadian Australian
Johnson 7.995 0.3% American Canadian Australian
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 2.490.483 British social media profiles.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this surname also is used. They are sorted on popularity.

British first names

In the United Kingdom, parents typically pick a first name for their child by considering a variety of factors such as family tradition, personal preference, and popular name trends. They may also look to significant people in their lives, such as grandparents or favorite celebrities, for inspiration. Some parents may also consider the meaning or origin of a name before choosing it for their child. Ultimately, the decision is a personal one and the parents will choose a name that they feel is the best fit for their child.

Popular British male names

First name Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
James 31.802 2.2% American Australian Canadian
David 30.352 2.1% American Spanish Canadian
Paul 29.034 2.0% American Dutch Canadian
Chris 28.386 2.0% American Canadian Australian
Mark 25.521 1.8% American Dutch Canadian
John 22.428 1.6% American Canadian Irish
Tom 20.959 1.4% American Dutch German
Andrew 19.363 1.3% American Canadian Australian
Michael 18.122 1.3% American German Canadian
Ben 17.847 1.2% American Australian Canadian
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 2.490.483 British social media profiles from which 1.446.576 (58%) is male.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.

Popular British female names

First name Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Sarah 21.018 2.0% American Canadian Australian
Emma 17.704 1.7% American Irish Australian
Laura 15.373 1.5% American Spanish Colombian
Claire 11.170 1.1% American French Irish
Hannah 10.924 1.0% American Jamaican Australian
Rachel 10.773 1.0% American Canadian Irish
Amy 10.687 1.0% American Canadian Irish
Lauren 10.082 1.0% American Australian Canadian
Katie 9.958 1.0% American Canadian Irish
Sophie 9.519 0.9% French American Canadian
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 2.490.483 British social media profiles from which 1.043.907 (42%) is female.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.