The Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the United Kingdom has revealed that Muhammad was the most popular name for baby boys in England and Wales in 2023, with over 4,600 registrations recorded.
This milestone marks the first time Muhammad has surpassed Noah, the previous frontrunner, after consistently ranking in the top 10 since 2016.
According to the BBC, despite Muhammad’s nationwide popularity, regional variations persist. The name does not feature in the top 10 for boys in three English regions. Alternative spellings, including Mohammed and Mohammad, also secured spots within the top 100, reflecting the name’s enduring appeal in its various forms. However, the ONS treats these variations as distinct names.
For baby girls, Olivia retained its position as the most popular name, followed by Amelia and Isla, continuing a trend unchanged since 2022. The report also noted a significant rise in the use of hyphenated names for girls, with registrations increasing from approximately 12,330 in 2022 to more than 19,140 in 2023.
ALSO READ: England: Junior doctors begin five-day strike over lingering demands
New entrants to the top 100 girls’ names included Lilah, Raya, and Hazel, while Jax, Enzo, and Bodhi debuted in the boys’ rankings. Pop culture continued to influence baby name trends, with names such as Billie, Margot, Miley, and Kendrick gaining popularity—likely inspired by figures like Billie Eilish, Margot Robbie, and Kendrick Lamar.
The ONS also reported a spike in the popularity of names associated with days of the week, such as Sunday and Wednesday, attributing this trend to the Netflix series Wednesday. Seasonal names like Autumn and Summer also climbed the rankings, although Summer, ranked 86th, remains far less popular than a decade ago.
In contrast, royal-inspired names experienced a decline in 2023, continuing a downward trend. Names like George, Harry, Elizabeth, and Charlotte have all seen diminished usage over recent years.
The ONS plans to release data on the most popular baby names for 2024 later next year.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
