[Newsmax] "Muhammad" became the most popular baby name for newborn males in England and Wales in 2023, according to a report from the United Kingdom's Office for National Statistics (ONS) released Thursday.
"Muhammad," the second most popular name in 2022, overtook "Noah" to become No. 1 a year later, followed by "Noah" and "Oliver." In 2023, 4,661 boys were named "Muhammad," an increase of 484 from 2022, according to the ONS.
The rising popularity of "Muhammad" is attributed to it religious significance, an ONS spokesperson told The National. Muhammad was the founder of Islam and is considered a central figure in the religion. The Muslim population in England and Wales more than doubled in 20 years, from 1.5 million in 2001 to 3.9 million in 2021, according to the ONS. |