The name Muhammad has become the most popular baby boy name in England and Wales for the first time in 2023, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Muhammad, with 4,661 registrations, surpassed Noah, which had held the top spot for several years, with 4,382 registrations.
Noah ranked second with 4,382 registrations, followed by Oliver in third place.
Muhammad Remains Popular Since 2016
The name Muhammad has been in the top 10 for baby boy names since 2016. Variants of the name, such as Mohammed and Mohammad, also ranked in the top 100, further reflecting its widespread popularity.
For baby girls, Olivia remained the most popular name for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Amelia and Isla.
New names entered the top 100 for both boys and girls in 2023. Popular names for boys included Jax, Enzo, and Bodhi, while girls saw new entries like Hazel, Lilah, and Raya.
Pop Culture Influence
The report also highlighted the influence of pop culture on naming trends, with names like Margot and Cillian rising in popularity following the success of the films Barbie and Oppenheimer. Names inspired by musicians like Elton, Kendrick, Rihanna, Billie, Miley, and Lana also saw increases.
Seasonal and day-inspired names, such as Summer, Autumn, Sunday, and Wednesday, became more popular in 2023, while traditional royal names like George and Harry saw a decline.
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