Not Noah or Oliver: How Muhammad became UK's most popular name for boys

For the first time ever, ‘Muhammad’ has claimed the crown as the most popular baby boy name in the United Kingdom.  

According to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), more than 4,600 boys in England and Wales were given the specific spelling of Muhammad in 2023, up almost 500 more than in 2022.

This marks a historic moment as it’s the first time an Islamic name has claimed the top spot on the naming charts, surpassing the long-standing favourite, ‘Noah’.

But what’s driving the rise in popularity of the name Muhammad? And which other names are making waves on the naming charts? Here’s what we know about this baby name shake-up.

Every 1 in 40 boys is a Muhammad

Each year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) analyses baby name trends, revealing the most popular and least chosen names in the United Kingdom . In 2023, the data showcased the undeniable rise of ‘Muhammad’ and its variations.

A total of 4,661 boys were named “Muhammad” in 2023, up from 4,177 in 2022. An additional 3,069 boys were given one of four other popular spellings – Mohammed, Mohammad, Muhammed, or Mohamed.

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In total, 7,730 boys – or one in every 40 – were named Muhammad or a variation of the name. By comparison, 4,382 boys were named “Noah” in 2023. Oliver, which ranked third, also saw a slight drop in prevalence.

However, Muhammad’s popularity in baby names is not new.

According to the Daily Mail, Mohammed, a different spelling to the one named most popular in 2023, first broke into England and Wales’ top 100 names in 1924, debuting at 91st place. Its popularity dipped sharply before and during the Second World War but began to rise steadily from the 1960s.

For decades, Mohammed was the sole version to feature in the ONS’ top 100 list until Mohammad joined in the early 1980s. The spelling ‘Muhammad,’ now the most widely used, entered the top 100 in the mid-1980s and has since seen the fastest growth of all variations.

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The analysis shows that “Muhammad” is the most favoured boy’s name in four out of 10 regions in England and Wales, largely in the North and West Midlands, as well as London.

The name ‘Muhammad’ translates to ‘praiseworthy’ or ‘commendable.’ It is rooted in the Arabic word ‘hamad,’ meaning ‘to praise,’ and is shared by the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, making it a name of deep cultural and religious significance.

Rise in Muslim population

The increasing size of Muslim communities across the UK, driven by gradual immigration over the years, is believed to be a key factor behind the rising popularity of the name Muhammad, according to the Daily Mail.

A spokesperson for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) highlighted this trend in an interview with West Asia news outlet The National. They noted that the Muslim population in England and Wales has more than doubled since 2001.

The population stood at 1.5 million in 2001, increased to 2.7 million by 2011, and further rose to 3.9 million in 2021, the outlet reported, citing ONS data.

However, the ONS spokesperson also pointed out that this rise “coincides with increasing diversity in names for baby boys generally.” They suggested that the growing popularity of the name might also reflect a cultural shift within the Muslim community itself, with many families choosing to honour their heritage more deliberately while living in a non-Muslim country.

The celebrity factor

Celebrities from the worlds of sports, film, and music continue to play a significant role in influencing baby name trends, reports the Daily Mail.

The name ‘Muhammad’ may have been inspired by notable figures such as legendary UK athlete Mo Farah, iconic boxer Muhammad Ali, or football star Mohamed Salah.

This celebrity-driven trend isn’t limited to Islamic names. In 2023, the “Barbenheimer” – a cultural moment that saw audiences flocking to watch Margot Robbie in Barbie and Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer – sparked a noticeable rise in parents naming their children Margot and Cillian, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The influence of pop stars also shaped choices, with Elton John and Kendrick Lamar inspiring more baby boys to be named Elton and Kendrick. There was also a surge in parents opting for names such as Reign, Saint and Psalm, inspired by the children of reality TV star family, the Kardashian-Jenners.

Similarly, Rihanna, Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus, and Lana Del Rey sparked a rise in baby girls named Rihanna, Billie, Miley, and Lana.

Meanwhile, the most popular names for baby girls remained unchanged in 2023. “Olivia” topped the charts for the seventh consecutive year, followed by “Amelia” and “Isla,” just as in 2022.

A dip in Royal family-inspired names

Despite the steady enthusiasm and support for the Royal Family since Queen Elizabeth II’s passing in September 2022, fewer parents in England and Wales seem to be naming their children after members of the world’s most famous family.

Names like George and Archie, the sons of Prince William and the Duke of Sussex, have seen a notable decline in popularity. In 2023, George’s name fell below 4,000 registrations for the first time in nearly a decade.

Similarly, the popularity of the name Camilla, inspired by the Queen Consort, has remained relatively unchanged over the same period, as has Lilibet, the name of Harry and Meghan Markle’s daughter.

With input from agencies