AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Muhammad has become the most popular baby name for boys in England and Wales in 2023.
This marks a significant change, as the name has been in the top 10 since 2016 and was the second most popular in 2022, Express reported on Thursday.
The name of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH), which in Arabic means "praiseworthy" or "commendable," has now surpassed Noah, which held the top spot in 2021 and 2022.
The ONS compiles this data based on registered live births in England and Wales, analyzing it annually to determine the most and least popular names.
While Muhammad was the leading name in four out of nine regions in England, it ranked 63rd in Wales. In total, 4,661 babies were named Muhammad across England and Wales, compared to 4,382 named Noah.
The data also indicates that Muhammad was particularly popular among mothers aged 25 and above.
The name has various spellings, and if these had been combined in previous years, Muhammad would have ranked number one earlier.
Despite the different spellings, the overall popularity of the name is increasing in multicultural societies.
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