In 2023, Muhammad topped the list of baby boy names in England and Wales, with over 4,600 newborns registered with the name. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS),
Muhammad has been a top 10 name since 2016 and has now surpassed Noah, which previously held the top spot.
Despite its national prominence, Muhammad did not make the top 10 in three regions of England, highlighting some regional variation. Alternative spellings such as Mohammed and Mohammad also featured in the top 100, though the ONS treats each spelling as a distinct name. Different variations of Muhammad have been consistently popular in recent years.
For baby girls, Olivia retained its crown as the most popular name, followed by Amelia and Isla, which have held steady in the top three since 2022. Hyphenated names for girls saw a surge, increasing to over 19,140 registrations in 2023, compared to approximately 12,330 in 2022.
New Trends and Pop Culture Influence
The 2023 list saw new entries for girls, including Lilah, Raya, and Hazel, while Jax, Enzo, and Bodhi made their debut in the top 100 for boys. The ONS attributed some of these trends to pop culture, noting the influence of artists like Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey, and Rihanna, as well as celebrities such as Margot Robbie and Cillian Murphy. Names like Miley, Rihanna, Kendrick, and Elton gained popularity, likely fueled by high-profile events like album releases and performances.
Names inspired by days of the week, such as Sunday and Wednesday, also rose in popularity, with the ONS linking the latter to the Netflix series Wednesday, released in late 2022. Seasonal names remained in vogue, with Summer climbing to 86th place and Autumn ranked at 96th.
Royal Names See Decline
In contrast to these emerging trends, royal names have continued to decline in popularity. Names like George, Archie, Harry, Charlotte, Elizabeth, and Charles have all seen reduced usage in recent years.
The ONS emphasized the dynamic nature of baby name trends, influenced by cultural shifts and personal preferences. Data for 2022's baby names was published last May, but release dates for 2024’s most popular picks have not yet been confirmed. Photo by Andrés Nieto Porras from Palma de Mallorca, España, Wikimedia commons.