Muhammad overtakes Noah to become the most popular baby boy name in England and Wales

In a significant shift, the name Muhammad became the most popular name for baby boys in England and Wales in 2023, surpassing Noah, which had held the top spot for several years. The name Muhammad saw over 4,600 registrations, according to a report from BBC, citing data from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS). This marks an achievement as Muhammad has consistently ranked in the top 10 baby boy names since 2016.

Muhammad surpassed Noah as the most popular baby boy name in England and Wales.(Pixabay)

The ONS reports that different spellings of Muhammad, such as Mohammed and Mohammad, also made an impact, each ranking in the top 100 baby names for boys in England and Wales. These variations further reflect the name's widespread popularity, contributing to its overall ranking.

While Muhammad took the lead for boys, Olivia continued to reign as the most popular name for girls, a position it has held since 2022. Amelia and Isla followed closely behind in second and third place, maintaining their positions from the previous year.