Muhammad is England’s most popular boys’ baby name for first time | Baby names

Muhammad has grow to be the most well-liked child identify for boys in England and Wales for the primary time, new information from the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) has revealed.

The identify has been among the many high 10 names for child boys since 2016, however has now overtaken the earlier favorite, Noah. Oliver was third within the 2023 rankings for England and Wales.

For child ladies Olivia remained the most well-liked identify for the eighth yr in a row, with Amelia and Isla the second and third hottest.

Annually, the ONS analyses the most recent child identify information, revealing the most well-liked – and unpopular – names in England and Wales. The rankings have been created utilizing the precise spellings of names given at delivery registration, which means related names with totally different spellings have been counted individually.

Three variant spellings of the Arabic identify Muhammad made the listing of the highest 100 child boys’ names in England and Wales in earlier years, however that is the primary yr that only one spelling of the identify has managed to high the listing.

In 2023 there have been 4,661 Muhammads born throughout England and Wales, up from 4,177 in 2022, whereas Mohammed got here in twenty eighth with 1,601 and Mohammad got here 68th with 835.

The info exhibits that Muhammad was the most well-liked boys’ identify in 4 out of 9 areas in England and 63rd hottest in Wales. In the meantime, Olivia was the most well-liked ladies’ identify in 5 out of 9 areas in England and the most well-liked in Wales. It has been within the high three for women’ names yearly since 2006.

Data on child names is collected individually by the Northern Eire Statistics and Analysis Company. It reported in April that “Noah took the highest spot for boys in 2023, after being within the high 3 since 2019. Whereas Isla took the highest spot for the ladies, after Grace had beforehand held it for five years.”

Nationwide Information of Scotland reported earlier this yr that in 2023 Luca turned the most-chosen identify for boys for the primary time since information started in 1974, overtaking the 2022 chief, Noah. For child ladies, “Isla returned to first place once more for the primary time since 2021, overtaking Olivia, which has been the most well-liked identify for women lately.”

Talking of England and Wales, the ONS’s Greg Ceely mentioned, popular culture continued to affect identify decisions, with a rise in music artists’ names reminiscent of Billie, Lana, Miley and Rihanna for women and Kendrick and Elton for boys. The summer time blockbuster movie Barbie, starring Margot Robbie, was additionally influential, with 215 extra child ladies named Margot than in 2022, which means the identify ranked forty fourth out of the 100 hottest child lady names.

However whereas popular culture appears to affect dad and mom, the royal household appear to be having the other impact, with royal names falling in reputation in 2023. George ranked fourth with 3,494 infants being given the identify – the primary time George has fallen under 4,000 in almost ten years. William got here in twenty ninth and Louis forty fifth for boys, and Charlotte ranked twenty third for women.

The time of yr additionally had an affect for child ladies, with Autumn and Summer time rising in reputation, notably throughout their respective seasons; each names have been within the high 100. In December the names Holly, Robyn and Joseph have been extra standard.

Different new entries into the highest 100 in England and Wales included Hazel, Lilah, Nevaeh and Raya for women, and Jax, Enzo and Bodhi for boys.