Laurence Watkins from New Zealand holds the Guinness World Record for the longest personal name in the world, featuring an astounding 2,253 middle names. In 1990, at 24 years old and working in an Auckland library, Watkins legally changed his name by adding over two thousand unique names collected from baby name books, Māori dictionaries, and colleagues' suggestions. His name spans multiple cultures, including European, Māori, Samoan, Japanese, and Chinese origins, forming a global identity.

His motivation stemmed from a fascination with quirky records in the Guinness World Records book, aiming to beat the record for the most number of names. Though computers were rare and the process was complex, including paying hundreds to have the names typed, Watkins was determined. His application was initially accepted by the Auckland District Court but rejected by the Registrar General in Wellington, eventually winning his case in the High Court.

The name is so long it took over 20 minutes to read aloud during his wedding, creating challenges in daily life as most official documents cannot accommodate it. Due to Watkins’ extraordinary feat, New Zealand amended laws to prevent others from attempting a similar record, making his achievement legally unbreakable.

Watkins’ story is a unique testament to individuality, persistence, and creativity—showing that sometimes, an unusual dream can leave a lasting legacy.