Muhammad has been named the most popular boys’ name in England and Wales for the third consecutive year, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Around 6,000 baby boys were given the name in 2025, nearly 2,000 more than Noah, which ranked second. Muhammad and Noah have held the top two positions since 2023, with the gap between them widening from the previous year, The National reported.
Leo and Luca climbed to third and fourth place, ahead of Arthur, Oliver and George.
The ONS records different spellings separately, meaning two other variations of the name also appeared in the top 100. Mohammed ranked 20th and Mohammad placed 55th, together accounting for another 2,600 babies.
Among girls’ names, Olivia remained the most popular, followed by Lily, Amelia, Isla and Florence.
Muhammad has ranked among the top 10 boys’ names since 2016 and has appeared in the top 100 every year since 1997. The spelling Mohammed first entered the top 100 in 1924, while three different spellings of the name featured in the rankings as early as 1954.
The different spellings reflect various transliterations of the Arabic name into English and are associated with different linguistic and cultural traditions. According to the ONS, Mohammed is more commonly linked to the Middle East, while Muhammad is more frequently used within Britain’s Pakistani Muslim community.
The ONS has previously said the continued popularity of the name reflects several factors, including the growth of Britain’s Muslim population, which now stands at nearly four million people, or about 6 per cent of the UK population.
The agency also noted that many of the country’s most popular baby names have international origins, including Freya, Leo, Luca, Isabella and Noah.