For most people, introducing themselves is a quick formality. But for Laurence Watkins, it’s a marathon. Hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, Laurence holds the Guinness World Record for the longest personal name in history—an astonishing 2,253 words. Saying it aloud takes 20 minutes.
He first amazed the world at his 1991 wedding, when his full name was played via audio recording while guests enjoyed their meals. Inspired by the TV show Ripley’s Believe It or Not, he became fascinated with Guinness World Records and decided to claim a record that no ordinary person could.
Born in 1965 as Laurence Gregory Watkins, he worked as a security guard in Auckland before retiring. In 1990, he legally changed his name after months of planning, hiring a typist for $230 to record all 2,253 names spanning six typed pages. After a legal battle with the Registrar General, his new name was officially recognized by Guinness in March 1992, initially listed as 2,310 words, and re-verified in 2025 at 2,253 words—the longest personal name ever recorded.
His massive name is a mix of Latin, Old English, historical figures, and literary references. In daily life, he uses Laurence Alon Elowe Watkins, but his birth certificate stretches seven pages, and his passport needed six extra pages to accommodate his legal name.
Laurence also ran for Auckland mayor four times, using his full record-breaking name in ballots, but was unsuccessful. Following his court victory, New Zealand changed laws, limiting names to 70 characters, and banning symbols, numbers, or official titles in personal names.
Now living in Sydney, Australia, Laurence Watkins continues to amaze the world. His record shows creativity, determination, and the fun of pushing the limits of what a name can be.
