Popular Names in the UK: A Regional and National Overview
A new search tool launched by The Daily Mail has provided insight into the most popular names for boys and girls across different regions in the UK. By entering a postcode, users can discover the top names in their local area as well as the most common names in the broader region.
This tool was developed using data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which released figures last month. It highlights the ten most common names across various areas, offering a snapshot of naming trends throughout England and Wales.
For example, Alexander was the most popular name for boys born in Kensington and Chelsea. However, when looking at London as a whole, Muhammad emerged as the most common name, with 1,044 boys given that name in 2024. Noah followed closely behind with 595 births, making it the second most popular name.
The Daily Mail’s analysis shows that nearly 9% of boys born in parts of England and Wales last year were named Muhammad. This name topped the list in 33 out of 318 local authorities, although Oliver was more popular in 109 areas. Despite this, Muhammad remains the most popular name nationwide.
According to the ONS data, 5,721 boys were named Muhammad in 2024, marking a 23% increase compared to the previous year. Noah came in second, while Oliver took third place, mirroring the rankings from 2023.
In Pendle, just outside Bradford, 8.9% of boys born in 2024 were named Muhammad, the highest rate in England and Wales. Blackburn with Darwen (8.6%) and Bradford (7.4%) followed in second and third place, respectively.
The statistics are based on separate birth records published by the ONS. However, the agency only provides the most popular name for each authority, meaning the exact number of boys named Muhammad is not known in most areas.
In the London borough of Hackney, Moshe, a Hebrew name referring to the biblical figure Moses, was the most popular boys’ name. Nineteen boys were given this name, representing a 1% share of the 1,865 male births recorded there in 2024.
Mohammed, a slightly different spelling of Muhammad, first appeared in the ONS’ top 100 boys’ names in 1924, debuting at 91st. Its popularity declined during World War II but began to rise again in the 1960s. In the early 1980s, Mohammad joined the list, and since the mid-1980s, Muhammad has seen the fastest growth among the three spellings.
The name Muhammad means “praiseworthy” or “commendable” and comes from the Arabic word “hamad,” meaning “to praise.” It is also associated with the founder of Islam, the prophet Muhammad. Other spellings listed in the ONS report include Mohamad, Muhamad, Muhamed, and Mohammod, as well as hyphenated variations like Muhammad-Ibrahim and Muhammad-Adam.
The increasing Muslim population in the UK, fueled by immigration, along with the popularity of athletes such as Mo Farah and Mohamed Salah, is likely to have contributed to the rise in the name’s popularity.
The ONS does not group names together, as some groupings can be subjective. For example, if Theodore and Theo were combined, they would surpass Noah in popularity.
In 2023, Muhammad once again topped the charts as the most popular name for boys. For girls, Olivia continued its dominance, holding the top spot for the ninth consecutive year with 2,761 namings. Amelia ranked second, with 2,448 babies given that name, while Lily moved up to third place with 2,185.
Royal names have seen a decline in popularity over the years. George was sixth with 3,257 babies named George, and William came in 27th. Louis ranked 47th for boys, while Charlotte was 23rd for girls.
Some names for baby boys in 2024 appeared less than five times, including Yanky, Teddy-Bear, Awesome, and Beckham. For girls, names such as Orchid, Poem, Sicily, and Everest were also used fewer than five times.
