Laurence Watkins: The Man with 2,253 Middle Names
For most people, a name is an identity. For Laurence Watkins of New Zealand, it’s a marathon a Guinness World Record-holding title so long it takes nearly 20 minutes to recite from beginning to end. His journey to secure the world’s longest name wasn’t just a matter of paperwork; it was an odyssey of personal ambition that involved a high-stakes legal battle and ultimately changed the laws of his country.
The quest began with a simple fascination for the extraordinary. A lifelong enthusiast of the Guinness World Records book, Watkins was captivated by the quirky and unusual feats people achieved. He scoured the pages for a record he could realistically challenge and found his opportunity: to have more names than the current record holder.
To assemble his colossal name, Watkins embarked on a global crowdsourcing effort, collecting suggestions from friends, family, and colleagues. The result was a rich and diverse tapestry of 2,253 unique middle names drawn from cultures across the globe, including Asia, Polynesia, and Europe. The list is a testament to its eclectic origins, featuring everything from common words like ‘love’ and ‘math’ to mythological figures like ‘Dionysus’, fictional characters like ‘Sherlock’, and even foods like ‘tofu’.
However, getting this monumental name officially recognized proved to be a formidable challenge. While the District Court initially approved his request, the Registrar-General refused to register it, deeming the name “frivolous” and impractical for official use. Undeterred by the rejection, Watkins took his case to the High Court. After a protracted legal fight, the court ruled in his favor, officially validating his right to the record-breaking name.
Life with a 2,253-middle-name moniker comes with its own set of practical difficulties. Watkins admits his full name is too long to fit on any official documents, and at his own wedding, the recitation of his full name took over 20 minutes. His old New Zealand passport and birth certificate required an extra six pages each just to accommodate his title. Of all his names, Watkins holds a special affection for “AZ2000,” a personal creation signifying that he has “names from A to Z and 2,000 names.”
Perhaps the most significant consequence of his victory was its impact on New Zealand law. To prevent similar attempts in the future, two laws were changed. One of the key changes, prompted by Watkins’ inclusion of titles like ‘Lord’, ‘Duke’, ‘King’, and ‘Saint’, now prohibits the use of official titles as names.
This legal change has cemented Watkins’ legacy in his home country. “Even if I lose the world record, nobody in New Zealand can beat my record, because of the law change,” he stated. While someone else in the world may one day add more names, Laurence Watkins’ unique place in New Zealand’s history is secure—not just in the record books, but in the law itself.