Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown and Jones remained the most common last names in the United States, unchanged from a decade earlier, but Census Bureau data show that Asian surnames were the fastest‑growing at the start of this decade.
The figures come from the 2020 Census released Tuesday, which tallied last names nationwide as part of the once‑a‑decade head count. While the top rankings remained largely stable, the data highlight demographic shifts reshaping which names are rising fastest across the country.
The 10 Most Common US Last Names
The five most common last names in the United States in 2020 were the same as in 2010, according to the Census Bureau:
Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown and Jones.
Rounding out the top 10 were Garcia, Miller, Rodriguez, Davis and Martinez. The only change in the top 10 from a decade earlier was Rodriguez, which moved ahead of Davis to claim the No. 8 spot.
In all, the Census Bureau counted 7.8 million unique last names nationwide, reflecting the country’s size and diversity.
Asian Surnames Led Growth from 2010 to 2020
While the most popular names were unchanged, most of the fastest‑growing last names over the past decade were Asian, according to the Census Bureau.
The top three fastest‑growing surnames were Zhang, Liu and Wang.
Asians have been the fastest‑growing racial or ethnic group among the nation’s largest groups in the 21st century, and they now make up about 7% of the U.S. population, according to census data. The growth in Asian surnames mirrors broader population trends driven by immigration and higher growth rates.
Most Common Last Names by Race and Ethnicity
The Census Bureau also broke down the most frequent last names among people who identified with a single racial or ethnic group.
For people who identified only as Asian, the most common last names were Xiong, Zheng, Zhu, Zhao and Vang.
Among people who identified as African American only and not Hispanic, the most common last names were Pierre, Washington, Jefferson, Mohamed and Booker.
For people who identified as non‑Hispanic white alone, the most frequent surnames were Yoder, Friedman, Schwartz, Weiss and Krueger.
Among American Indian and Alaska Native residents, the most common last names were John, Lowery, Hunt, Sampson and Jacobs.
First Names Added for the First Time Since 1990
The 2020 Census marked the first time since 1990 that the Census Bureau released data on first names, expanding beyond surnames long tracked in each census.
According to the tally, the most common male first names at the start of this decade were Michael, John, James, David and Robert. The most common female first names were Mary, Maria, Jennifer, Elizabeth and Patricia.
The most popular names changed little over the past 35 years, though officials noted increased variation in female names. In 1990, the most common male first names were James, John, Robert, Michael and William, while the most common female names were Mary, Patricia, Linda, Barbara and Elizabeth.
Unlike the Social Security Administration’s annual list of baby names, which tracks only newborns, the census tally includes people of all ages, offering a broader snapshot of naming patterns across generations. In recent years, Liam and Olivia have topped the Social Security Administration’s rankings for babies.
Why Common Names Change Slowly
Experts say the stability of first‑name rankings reflects the census’s wide age range.
“The names people choose are a function of what they are exposed to, so culture certainly plays a role, but so does social influence,” said Jonah Berger, a professor of marketing at the University of Pennsylvania. People often choose names they hear frequently — and avoid others — based on social exposure, he said.
Sociologist Michelle Napierski‑Prancl of Russell Sage College said the data capture generations shaped by traditional and religious naming patterns.
“You have generations that were likely named Mary or John,” she said, noting that baby boomers and Generation X are heavily represented. “The newer names coming in — Gen Y and Gen Z — will eventually build the next base of names.”
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
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