Muhammad Tops Baby Name Rankings in England and Wales for Second Consecutive Year
- Muhammad has once again claimed the top spot as the most popular baby boy name in England and Wales, according to new ONS data
- Olivia and Amelia continue to lead for girls, while Lily replaces Isla in the top three
- The latest figures reveal shifting cultural influences and a growing preference for diverse, global names
Muhammad has retained its position as the most popular baby boy name in England and Wales, according to newly released figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The name was given to 5,721 boys in 2024, marking a 23 per cent increase from the previous year.
Source: Twitter
This is the second time a single spelling of Muhammad has topped the charts, although analysis by the Daily Mail suggests that when all thirty-plus variations are combined, the name has been the most common for over a decade.
The ONS, however, only reports statistics based on exact spellings, citing the subjectivity of name groupings.
Noah and Oliver follow closely behind
Noah and Oliver maintained their positions in second and third place respectively, mirroring their rankings from 2023. Meanwhile, the name Keir saw a complete drop-off, with no babies given the name in 2024 following the election of Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. In 2023, four babies had been named Keir.
Olivia and Amelia continued to dominate the top spots for baby girl names, holding first and second place for the third consecutive year.
Olivia, which has remained in the top three since 2006, was chosen for 2,761 girls in 2024. Isla, previously in third place, was replaced by Lily.
The biggest climber among girls’ names was May, which surged 14 places to enter the top 25 with 1,592 namings. Bonnie also saw a notable rise, jumping 10 places year-on-year.
Rory and Elijah see fastest growth among boys
Rory emerged as the fastest-rising boy’s name in 2024, followed by Elijah. Other notable entries included Louis at 47th and Charlotte at 23rd for girls.
Despite a surge in popularity following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement in 2017, the name Meghan saw an 83 per cent decline last year, with only 17 babies receiving the name.
Rare and unusual names on the decline
Names given to fewer than five boys in 2024 included Cuthbert, Crispin, Awesome and Beckham. For girls, Orchid, Poem, Sicily and Everest were among the least common.
Experts noted a significant shift in naming trends, with modern parents drawing inspiration from a wider array of cultures and languages. While names at the turn of the millennium were largely of English, Hebrew and Latin origin, today’s top choices include Italian, Arabic, Norse and Scottish-Spanish names.
“There’s a real shift away from traditional choices,” experts said, attributing the change to a broader frame of reference among parents.
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Historical trends show Muhammad’s steady rise
The name Mohammed first entered the top 100 boys’ names in 1924, debuting at 91st. Its popularity waned during the Second World War but began to rise again in the 1960s. Muhammad, now the most popular spelling, broke into the top 100 in the mid-1980s and has since seen the fastest growth among the three main iterations.
The name, which means “praiseworthy” or “commendable,” stems from the Arabic word hamad, meaning “to praise,” and is shared with the founder of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad. Analysts suggest the rise in popularity is linked to the growing size of Muslim communities in the UK, immigration, and the influence of prominent figures such as Mo Farah, Mohamed Salah and Muhammad Ali.
3 strange baby names released by UK government
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has published its 2023 analysis of baby names in the UK, revealing an increase in unconventional, gender-neutral choices.
Among the rarer names for boys were Zoe, Xayvion, and Zimchikachim, each with three registrations.
Source: Legit.ng
