Muhammad remained the most popular baby boy name in England and Wales during 2025, holding the top position for the third consecutive year. The latest baby name rankings were published by the Office for National Statistics.
According to the official data, almost 6,000 newborn boys received the name Muhammad in 2025. This figure was nearly 2,000 higher than Noah, which remained the second most common boys’ name for the third year running.
Leo secured third place in the rankings, while Luca became the fourth most popular name. The results also showed that different spellings of Muhammad continued to appear prominently on the list.
Mohammed ranked in 20th place, while Mohammad was listed as the 55th most frequently chosen boys’ name. Around 2,600 additional babies received these two spellings. However, the Office for National Statistics records every spelling as a separate name instead of combining their totals.
For baby girls, Olivia continued to lead the rankings as the most popular name. Lily came in second place, followed by Amelia, Isla, and Florence.
The name Muhammad has maintained a place among the top 10 baby boy names since 2016. It first entered the top 100 names in 1997 and has steadily become more popular over the following years.
Experts explain that the different spellings result from various methods of translating the original Arabic name into English. Muhammad is reportedly more common among British families with Pakistani heritage. Meanwhile, Mohammed is often preferred by families with backgrounds in the Middle East.
The statistics agency did not identify one specific reason behind the name’s continued popularity. However, the trend has developed alongside the growth of the Muslim community and increasing cultural diversity across the United Kingdom.
Recent population estimates suggest that approximately four million Muslims currently live in the UK. They represent around six percent of the country’s total population. The latest rankings highlight how demographic and cultural changes continue to influence the names selected by parents in England and Wale
Also Read: Muhammad is the most widely used first name worldwide.
