LONDON (AFP) - Muhammad has become the most popular name for boys in England and Wales.
The figures from the Office for National Statistics do not group together the different spellings of Muhammad, meaning that all the various iterations of the name together have made it the most popular for many years.
Mohammed and Mohammad both appear in the top 100 names for boys born in England and Wales in 2023.
There were 4,661 children registered as Muhammad, increasing from 4,177 in 2022.
The name was popular in regions with higher Muslim populations, such as London, the West Midlands, Yorkshire, and the North West.
There were 4,661 children registered as Muhammad, increasing from 4,177 in 2022.
The name was popular in regions with higher Muslim populations, such as London, the West Midlands, Yorkshire, and the North West.
Mohammed was the 28th most popular, with 1,601 newborns registered, while Mohammad was 68th, with 835.
Other Muslim boys’ names in the top 100 include Yusuf, Ibrahim, and Musa.
The top 100 girls’ names included Layla, Maryam, and Fatima, which are all favorites with Muslim families.
The ONS said popular culture remained a key influence for parents choosing names for their babies.