Kowalski is no longer the most popular surname in Poland. Clear fresh ranking leader

Kowalski is simply a surname that has been the most popular in Poland for years. In 2025, however, it fell to second place and the trend changed. Here's the fresh leader.


The most popular names in Poland, as well as in individual voivodships, can be checked on the website data.gov.pl. This data, based on PESEL numbers, is made available by the Ministry of Digital Affairs. Currently, the most common surname in Poland is Nowak.

Nowak is presently the most popular surname in Poland

According to data from 2025, the surname Nowak has over 199,000 people. It is both men (98,859) and women (100,319).

The second place is taken by the name Kowalski, who carries over 135,000 people. The podium closes the name Wiśniewski. It occurs in over 107,000 citizens.

The name Wójcik continued. In 2025, 96 1000 people carry them in Poland. The 5th position belongs to the surname Kowalczyk - over 95 thousand. Kamiński (more than 93 thousand), Lewandowski (more than 91 thousand), Zieliński (more than 89 thousand) and Szymanski and Woźniak, whose names are over 86 1000 people.

According to the net Dictionary Names in Poland, the surname Nowak means "a fresh man in a certain environment". It comes from the word "new man", "visitor" or "novice". It is besides the most popular surname in the Czech Republic and Slovenia, where it is written as "Novák".

With this page you can learn the past of your name

As we wrote in atTemat.pl, people curious in knowing their roots can usage the tool, which is the Online Dictionary of Names in Poland. It covers about 30 1000 most popular names, utilized by 75-80 percent of Poles.

It allows you to view the popularity and geographical distribution of names. It is worth remembering, however, that migrations of the population and the changing rules on names may make it hard to establish their origin clearly.

Those who would like to research their household past should start by examining archival documents, parish books or censuses. Thanks to specified actions we can not only find out where our names come from, but besides discover the stories of ancestors who lived in various parts of Poland and in various communities.