Laurence, the current record holder for the world’s longest name, revealed that his full moniker consists of an astonishing 2,308 names and takes approximately 20 minutes to recite, a feat he has only witnessed once. While Laurence typically goes by his first and last names – Laurence Watkins – the multitude of names in between were added when he legally changed his name in 1990 after finding inspiration in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Formerly a delivery driver for a library, Laurence meticulously selected his additional names from the books that surrounded him, ultimately leading to the recognition of his name as the longest in the world. Despite this achievement, having an extensive name has its challenges. Laurence, now retired in Sydney, Australia, shared that his passport includes a note directing to six pages of forenames due to the length of his name.
During his wedding, the marriage celebrant took 20 minutes to announce Laurence’s full name, a moment that remains unique in his memory. The New Zealand native considers the initial 2,309 names to be his “first” names, with Watkins serving as his solitary surname. Drawing from various library books, Laurence incorporated traditional and unique names into his personal collection, highlighting favorites like Kalwhakamatautau and AZ2000, signifying a comprehensive range of names from A to Z.
Despite his impressive world record, Laurence has encountered underwhelming reactions when sharing the extent of his name with others. While the record was initially recognized for 2,310 names, an adjustment to record guidelines revised the count to 2,253, yet Laurence’s full name remains intact at 2,310 individual names. A new certificate reflecting the updated count is expected to be issued to him soon.