The name Muhammad was the most popular boy’s name in England and Wales last yearand topped the annual ranking for the first time, Britain’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Thursday.
TASR informs about it according to the report of the AFP news agency. This name, which has been in the top ten names most often given to boys in England and Wales since 2016, replaced the name Noah in the first place. In 2022, the name Muhammad became the second most popular.
According to the ONS, 4,661 boys named Muhammad were born in the two countries of the UK last year. This data does not include variants such as Muhammad. Olivia remained the most popular choice for girls, followed by Amelia and Isla – the same trio as in 2022.
The ONS has previously said it does not have a “definitive answer” to why the name Muhammad and its variants have become so popular in England and Wales. The office stated as a possible explanation the growing size of the Muslim community and the dominance of this name within it. In the Muslim community, it is a tradition to name boys after the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, out of reverence and respect for him.
Famous sports personalities with the names Muhammad and Mohamed can also have their share in this – for example boxer Muhammad Ali, footballer Mohamed Salah or runner Mohamed “Mo” Farah. The last census in England and Wales in 2021 recorded 3.9 million Muslims out of a total population of 59.6 million, representing around 6.5 percent of the total.
Compared to 2011, when there were 2.7 million Muslims (4.9 percent), this number has increased. Muhammad appeared on the list of the 100 most popular boys’ names every ten years from 1924 to 1994and every year since 1996, the ONS said.
