Typically, the process of name registration is just a brief, procedural step that takes mere seconds. However, for Lawrence Watkins, this seemingly simple task evolves into an extraordinary feat requiring remarkable endurance. Pronouncing his full name, which consists of 2,253 words, takes a full 20 minutes.
This was particularly evident during his first wedding ceremony in 1991, where the officiant had to prepare the lengthy list of names in advance.
As the guests mingled and enjoyed champagne, the lengthy registration continued until the moment Watkins finally stated, “I do.”
At 60 years of age, Watkins, a retired security guard from Auckland, New Zealand, holds the world record for the longest personal name—an accolade recently awarded to him by the Guinness World Records, which updated his original record from 1992 for the longest Christian name.
Born Lawrence Gregory Watkins in 1965, he was fascinated by the television show “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” that showcased extraordinary facts about people, places, and remarkable events worldwide.
This interest quickly extended to the Guinness World Records book, which he read cover to cover, igniting his ambition to appear within its pages.
Watkins remarked, “I was amazed by the record holders – the fastest man in the world, the tallest, the strongest. There were people with the longest hair and nails, and so on.”
However, he soon realized that as an “ordinary person without a specific talent,” his best chance was to create the longest name in the world. He said, “The only other option was the largest height difference between a married couple.”
At the time, the record holder was a man from South Africa who stood 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall, while his wife was only 3 feet (91 cm) tall. Thus, unless he married someone shorter, it wouldn’t happen.
Legal Challenges
Watkins, now an Australian resident in Sydney, spent the following month deciding on his new name, paying a typist NZD 400 (USD 230) to document it officially.
He drew inspiration for the names from Latin, Old English, famous figures, the “Name Your Baby” book at the Auckland library where he worked, as well as a Māori language dictionary.
Despite lacking any cultural ties to Māori, Watkins expressed admiration for those who speak the native Polynesian language of New Zealand.
His name choices also included options like Love and Florence, Basil Brush (inspired by a British children’s TV character), along with several Samoan names suggested by friends, three Japanese names, and two Chinese names, including Xiao, written as Shal. He also added the name Gaylord in tribute to American Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics, Mitch Gaylord.
Watkins stated, “He was a very handsome man, so I borrowed his last name.” He added, “But my favorite name is AZ2000, indicating that I have over 2000 names from A to Z.”
With his name spanning six pages filled with occasional typographical errors that were extremely difficult to correct with the typewriter, Watkins formally requested a legal name change in 1990.
His application was accepted by the Auckland District Court, but it was ultimately denied at the last moment by the registrar. Watkins recalled, “The registrar said the only way I would receive my new name was if I took it to the Supreme Court.”
He added, “The government had no legal basis to refuse my name change at that time, so I won.”
Watkins was granted his new name and received a Guinness World Records certificate for the longest Christian name with 2,310 words two years later, in March 1992. Last month, this record was recalibrated and reclassified as the “longest personal name in the world,” with a corrected total of 2,253 unique names to reflect his record more accurately.
Watkins stated, “Not all of my names are Christian; they combined the records, and I assume it was for clarity’s sake. Otherwise, there would be a discrepancy between someone with the longest single name and someone like me, who has over 2000 names in total.”
For daily use, Watkins now shortens his name to Lawrence Alon Alloy Watkins and signs it as Watkins V, representing the fifth generation.
However, his full name occupies seven pages on his birth certificate, and his original passport required six additional pages.
“My new passport only shows my shorter name and indicates that I have 2,249 additional names in the notes section,” he explained, adding, “But when I travel, I still have to carry a copy of my birth certificate in case anyone asks to see it.”
Watkins acknowledged that he took “an eccentric approach” to name changing, though not everyone shares his enthusiasm. “It’s nice to have something unique,” he said. “But others don’t see the humor or can’t comprehend that I truly have this many names.”
During one of his four campaigns for Auckland mayor, he ran under the name “Lord Earl Duke King Saint Watkins,” along with other titles he has adopted: Baron, Pope, and Count.
Following Watkins’ Supreme Court victory, New Zealand amended two laws that effectively closed the door behind him. Today, citizens are prohibited from adopting names that include titles or ranks, offensive terms, numbers, symbols, or any name exceeding 70 characters, including spaces.
Watkins expressed no regret regarding his chosen titles, saying, “If I were crazy enough to change my name again, I would have to give up 98% of them under the new law, and I would lose my Guinness World Record, which was the whole point.”
Thanks to the new regulations, his legacy is solidly secured—at least in New Zealand.
New Zealand is not alone in having strict rules governing official names. In Iceland, individuals are limited to three specific names, all subject to committee approval to ensure conformity with Icelandic spelling and grammatical standards.
Japan witnessed its own prominent naming case in 1994, when a family’s attempt to name their son Akuma (meaning devil) led to government intervention and a debate regarding state involvement in naming conventions.
After a prolonged legal battle, the family abandoned the name. In Portugal, new parents are required to choose from a pre-approved list of names, conforming to traditional Portuguese spelling; for instance, Tom is only allowed in its Portuguese form, Thomas.
Names can consist of a maximum of two first names and four surnames, while Denmark also applies a pre-approved list of names, with alternatives requiring special permission.