The British Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced that in 2023, the name Muhammad has become the most popular name for baby boys in England and Wales, overtaking Noah. According to Tribun News, 4,661 children were registered with the name Muhammad, surpassing Noah's 4,382 registrations.
This marks a significant rise from the previous year; The Independent reported that the number of boys registered with the name Muhammad increased from 4,177 in 2022 to 4,661 in 2023. The name had been among the top ten boys' names since 2016 and has now moved from second place in 2022 to the top spot.
The ONS considers each spelling of 'Muhammad' as a separate name, and variations such as Mohammed and Mohammad also feature in the top 100 baby names for boys. According to T-Online, Mohammed ranked 28th with 1,601 registrations, and Mohammad ranked 68th with 835 registrations in 2023. The single spelling 'Muhammad' topping the list without combining variations is unprecedented, as reported by The Guardian.
The increasing popularity of the name reflects the increasing size of the Muslim community in England and Wales. According to Die Welt, approximately 3.9 million Muslims live in England and Wales, making up 6.5 percent of the total population of 59.6 million, as per the 2021 census.
Muhammad is the most popular boys' name in four out of ten regions, including the North, West Midlands, and London.
In contrast, the most popular girls' name has remained consistent. According to The Independent, 'Olivia' consistently remained the most favored name for girls in England and Wales, dominating for eight consecutive years with 2,906 registrations in 2023. The top three girls' names have not changed since 2022, with 'Amelia' and 'Isla' following 'Olivia' in the rankings.
The ONS also noted the influence of pop culture on naming trends. The Guardian reported that after the release of the Barbie film, the name Margot was given to 215 children, marking a 27 percent increase in popularity. Names inspired by musical icons have also gained popularity. Baby girls have been named 'Billie' after pop star Billie Eilish, and 'Lana' after singer Lana Del Rey.
BBC News reported that there has been a significant increase in the popularity of hyphenated names for girls in England and Wales, with 19,140 registered in 2023 compared to approximately 12,330 in 2022. Seasonal patterns are also prominent, with names like 'Summer' and 'Autumn' increasing in popularity during their respective seasons, as noted by The Guardian.
The name Noah, which Muhammad overtook, saw a decrease in registrations. According to the South China Morning Post, Noah dropped from 4,586 registrations in 2022 to 4,382 in 2023. The name Oliver ranked third among male names in England and Wales in 2023, with 3,556 registrations, although it has lost popularity, as reported by The Guardian.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq