Muhammad was the most popular name for baby boys in England and Wales in 2023, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). With over 4,600 boys given the name, it has overtaken Noah, which held the top spot in previous years. Muhammad has consistently ranked among the top 10 since 2016, the BBC reports.
When considering alternative spellings, such as Mohammed and Mohammad, the name had already been the most popular in England and Wales for almost a decade—however, the ONS treats each spelling as a separate name. This is the first year, then, that a single spelling alone has topped the table.
However, regional variations exist, with Muhammad absent from the top 10 in three English regions.
Olivia remains the most popular choice for baby girls, maintaining its lead alongside Amelia and Isla since 2022.
The news provoked widespread commentary—on both sides of the Atlantic. The American satirical outlet Babylon Bee wrote: “’Allahu Akbar’ Replaces ‘Cheerio, Mate!’ As Most Popular UK Greeting.”
Royal names, once a stronghold, saw a decline, with George, Charlotte, and Harry losing favour. Meanwhile, non-Christian seasonal names like Summer and Autumn rose modestly in popularity.
