Britain's changing names: How variations of Muhammad became the UK's favourite name over the past 30 years - and now account for one in every 40 boys

Muhammad was today officially crowned the most popular name for baby boys in England and Wales.

More than 4,600 boys were given the specific spelling of Muhammad in 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) – almost 500 more than in 2022. 

It marked the first time that one spelling of the Islamic name has topped the naming charts, overtaking Noah. Although when the five most common iterations are grouped together, it has been the most common for over a decade, analysis suggests.