Muhammad has become the most popular baby boy name in the UK for the first time, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows.
The name has surpassed “Noah,” now the second most popular name, while Oliver is in third place, according to The telegraph.
As for popular girls' names, Olivia remained at the top of the list for the eighth consecutive year, with Amelia and Isla taking second and third place on the list respectively.
The ONS analyzes the latest data on baby names each year to reveal the most popular and unpopular names in the UK.
In its data analysis, the ONS found that 4,661 children were born and named Muhammad in 2023 in England and Wales. The figure in 2022 was 4,177.
Compared to the second most popular name of 2023, only 4,382 Noahs were born, down from 4,586 last year.
The Arabic name Muhammad means someone “worthy of praise” or “commendable.” It is derived from the word “hammada” which means “to praise.”
Muhammad, known as the name of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who was the messenger of Islam, is common in regions where there is a strong Muslim majority, including the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.
In addition, the ONS also discovered some geographical variations in the most popular names: Olivia was the most popular girl's name in five of the nine regions of England and the most popular in Wales, while Muhammad was the most popular boy's name in four of nine. regions of England and is ranked 63rd in Wales.
