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Muhammad Becomes Most Popular Baby Name for Boys in Historic First for England

Muhammad is a variation of the Arabic name “Mohammad,” the most popular name in the world.

For the first time in history, Muhammad has become the most popular baby boy name in England and Wales.

The name, which entered the top 10 in 2016 after breaking into the top 20 in 2012, has now surpassed Noah, a long-standing favorite that claimed the second spot. Oliver rounded out the top three, according to The Guardian. Muhammad was also the leading choice in four out of nine regions in England, including London. Variations of the name Muhammad, derived from Arabic and meaning “praiseworthy” or “commendable,” make it the most widely used name globally, according to Letter Solver.

Other names dominating the list included George, Leo, Arthur, Luca, Theodore, Oscar, and Henry. New entries to the top 100 were Jax, Enzo, and Bodhi, as reported by The Mirror.

For baby girls, Olivia retained the top spot for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Amelia and Isla in second and third place, respectively.

Muhammad has officially overtaken Noah to become the most popular baby boy name in England and Wales, figures released today show.

A total of 4,661 boys were named Muhammad in 2023, an increase of 484 from the previous year. Meanwhile, Noah dropped to second place with 4,382 babies given the name, down from 4,586 in 2022. This is the first time Muhammad has taken the top spot.

The Office for National Statistics lists three different spellings in its top 100 for the name—Muhammad, Mohammed, and Mohammad. Of those, however, Muhammad was the clearly preferred spelling. The other two were ranked 28th and 68th, respectively. Muhammad, at least, has figured in the top 10 since 2016. Since 1997 it has been a regular on the top 100 list.

Historically, the spelling Mohammed first entered the top 100 boys’ names at 91st place back in 1924. A spokeswoman for the ONS attributed the name’s enduring popularity to its deep religious significance.

Other factors highlighted by the ONS in Muhammad’s ascension include the growing Muslim population in England and Wales, from 1.5 million in 2001 to 3.9 million in 2021. The popularity of the name speaks to its significance in Muslim tradition and is also a way for Muslim families in the UK to retain a connection to their cultural heritage in a non-Muslim-majority country.