In a historic shift, the name Muhammad has claimed the top spot for baby boys in England and Wales, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), released on December 5. This marks the first time Muhammad has overtaken Noah, which had been the previous favourite. Oliver rounded out the top three boys’ names for 2023.
The name Muhammad has been a consistent presence in the top 10 for boys’ names since 2016, but this year, it surpassed its competition. Interestingly, three variations of the Arabic name Muhammad have appeared in the top 100 names in previous years. However, this is the first year that a single spelling—Muhammad—has taken the top spot.
In 2023, there were 4,661 baby boys named Muhammad, a rise from 4,177 in 2022. Meanwhile, the variant spellings of Mohammed and Mohammad also featured in the rankings, coming in 28th and 68th place, respectively, with 1,601 and 835 registrations.
For baby girls, Olivia continued its reign as the most popular name, holding the top spot for the eighth consecutive year. Amelia and Isla followed in second and third place, respectively. Olivia has been in the top three girls’ names every year since 2006, and in 2023, it was the most popular girls’ name in five out of nine regions of England, as well as the most popular name in Wales.
The ONS compiles the rankings by analysing birth registration data, using the exact spellings provided. This method ensures that different spellings of the same name are counted separately, which contributes to the diverse representation in the rankings across the country.
The latest data highlights regional variations in naming preferences, with Muhammad topping the list for baby boys in four out of nine regions in England, while Olivia dominated in five regions for girls.
