Wikipedia:Sandbox

This is going to be your guide for distinguishing between the seemingly synonymous expressions "last" and "most recent." Both expressions indicate an event that is the last of its kind at the time the statement is spoken. For example, would you say that your trip to the dentist last week was your "last visit" or your "most recent visit"? You would say it was your most recent visit. You will learn why in a minute, but it is strictly incorrect to say that your visit was your "last" visit unless you can demonstrate with a valid argument that you will likely never need a dentist again. You use "last" when it is expected to never happen again. For example, August 2017 was the last time the name Harvey was used as an Atlantic hurricane name. As the name Harvey was retired from the rotating list (and replaced with Harold) in response to the massive destruction and loss of lives it caused along its path in Houston, Texas, upending daily life there, the name Harvey will never again be used to name another Atlantic hurricane. You use "most recent" if it is expected to happen again in the future. For example, August 2017 was the most recent time August 1 fell on a Tuesday. The next time August 1 falls on a Tuesday will be in 2023. Any given date (other than February 29) falls on a given day of the week four times every 28 years. Over the course of those 28 years, the gaps are 6 years, 5 years, 6 years, and 11 years in length, in that order, after which the cycle repeats.

Examples of "last"

• 0001. Hurricane Names. September 2018 was the "last" time the name Florence was used as an Atlantic hurricane name. Out of all the hurricane names, Florence has the most extensive history. It was used ten times, extending as far back as 1953, back when the modern practice of using human names to name hurricanes was in its infancy state. Starting in 1979, names were recycled on a six-year basis. Florence was used every six years. Being a name that starts with F, the sixth letter of the alphabet, it was almost certain to be used in any year it was on the list. The name Florence was used in 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018. It was used nine times between 1953 and 2012, inclusive, before the big bad one in 2018 that carved its name into the history books and will not be forgotten any time soon. Fifty-four (54) people lost their lives and damages are estimated at $24.2 billion. In the spring of 2019, the name Florence was retired permanently and will never again be used for another Atlantic hurricane. There were ten storms named Florence, and there will never be an eleventh. It was replaced with Francine for the 2024 season.
• 0002. National Dex. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire were the last main series Pokémon games to include the full National Pokédex. There was no National Dex in any of the Alola games, and after the controversial E3 announcement on June 11, 2019, we know now that the removal of the National Dex is permanent.
• 0003. MandJTV & JubileeBlais. June 20, 2020 was the last time Jubilee was mentioned in an MandJTV video. That video was the Isle of Armor Tier List video. Jubilee is mentioned at the 9:50 mark of that video, when MandJTV talks about Urshifu. Over the next six days, there was a controversy on Twitter when Jubilee said something extremely hurtful that caused another woman to relive her trauma and pain, thereby opening old wounds. MandJTV retweeted it, and as he is one of, if not the, biggest names in the Pokémon community, with hundreds of millions of views on his YouTube channel, the tweet spread like wildfire. Both MandJTV and Jubilee had popular Twitter accounts with large followings. By the time the calendar switched from June to July, the accounts no longer existed. Neither MandJTV nor Jubilee has a Twitter account today. Although both are currently active on Instagram, it is known that they are no longer dating. They broke up on June 26, 2020. Since then, neither MandJTV nor Jubilee has mentioned the other in any newer public videos. Jubilee prohibits questions about her ex-boyfriend. During her streams, she can and will block anyone who asks her about her ex-boyfriend. On the first offense, viewers who ask such questions are timed out for ten minutes, and all previous comments by such rude viewers are removed. On repeated offenses, intrusive viewers risk being blocked or even banned.
• 0004. YouTube Video Stats. August 3, 2017 was the last day that "See You Again" was the most-viewed video on YouTube. The next day, it was surpassed by "Despacito" and it is unlikely that "See You Again" will ever surpass "Baby Shark Dance," the current most-viewed video.
• 0005. Internet Kids. December 31, 2013 was the last day on which a user born during the second millennium could be blocked for being underage due to COPPA. The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) prohibits the collection of personal information from users younger than 13 years of age. Although popular culture often holds the millennium to have ended on December 31, 1999, the millennium actually ended a year later on December 31, 2000. Babies born on that day turned 13 on December 31, 2013. Starting in 2014, nobody born in the second millennium is twelve or under.

Examples of "most recent"

• 0001. Mersenne Prime Discovery. December 7, 2018 was the most recent time a Mersenne prime was discovered. The Mersenne prime 2^82,589,933-1 has 24,862,048 digits and is the largest known prime number to date. Before you get comfortable and assume this will be the last discovery, don't. Although unproven, mathematicians believe there are infinitely many Mersenne primes.
• 0002. Calendars. May 2016 was the most recent time May 1 fell on a Sunday. The next time it does will be in 2022.