The name Muhammad has emerged as the most popular choice for baby boys in England and Wales in 2023, surpassing Noah to claim the top spot for the first time, according to the latest data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The name, which has consistently ranked in the top 10 since 2016, was registered for 4,661 boys across the two nations last year.
The rise of Muhammad, a name traditionally associated with the Muslim community, comes after the name held second place in 2022. The increase has been attributed to several factors, including the growing size of the Muslim population in the UK, which now comprises around 6.5% of the total population, as well as the prominence of famous figures such as footballer Mohamed Salah, boxer Muhammad Ali, and Olympic athlete Mo Farah.
The ONS noted that the rising popularity of Muhammad and its variations, including Mohamed and Mohammad, could be linked to cultural and sporting influences.
While the name dominates within the Muslim community, it has become more widely accepted outside it, contributing to its higher rankings.
The ONS further explained that there is no definitive reason for the name’s surge, but pointed to the strong cultural tradition within the Muslim community of naming boys after Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) as a sign of respect and honor.
In contrast, the name Noah, which held the top spot in previous years, has now been pushed to second place. Other names such as Olivia, Amelia, and Isla continue to dominate the top spots for baby girls, with Olivia retaining its position as the most popular name for girls in both 2022 and 2023.
Despite Muhammad’s rise, the name did not appear in the top 10 in all regions of England. The ONS also pointed out that regional variations, along with different spellings of the name, including Mohammed and Mohammad, have contributed to the increasing popularity of this name across the nation.
In addition to the surge in popularity of names like Muhammad, there has been a noticeable rise in hyphenated names for girls. The number of hyphenated girl names jumped to over 19,000 last year, up from 12,000 in 2022.
New names entering the top 100 for girls included Lilah, Raya, and Hazel, while boys’ names like Jax, Enzo, and Bodhi saw an increase in popularity.
Cultural influences, particularly from pop music and entertainment, continue to shape naming trends. Names like Miley, Rihanna, Kendrick, and Elton all saw a rise in 2023, likely due to the prominence of these artists in the media. Additionally, names inspired by days of the week, such as Sunday and Wednesday, became more common, with the latter potentially linked to the success of the Netflix series Wednesday.
While royal names experienced a decline in popularity, the ONS noted that names like George, Archie, and Harry are no longer as popular as they once were, continuing a trend seen in recent years. Similarly, names such as Elizabeth and Charles also saw a drop in favor.
