Muhammad was the most popular name given to baby boys in England and Wales in 2023, according to the most recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It replaces Noah, which held the title last year.
Muhammad has been a favorite for a long time, ranking in the top 10 since 2016 and had been in second place in 2022. Oliver replaced George as the third most popular.
The six other top names for newborn boys in Britain are – Leo, Arthur, Luca, Theodore, Oscar, and Henry.
For baby girls, Olivia, Amelia, Isla, Lily, Freya, Ava, Ivy, Florence, Willow, and Isabella were the top ten names in 2023. The top three names for girls have not changed from the previous year.
Celebrity Influence on Baby Names
The ONS highlighted the impact of pop culture on naming trends. Names like Reign and Saint, inspired by the Kardashian-Jenner family, saw an increase in popularity. Additionally, names shared with pop stars, such as Billie which is likely influenced by Billie Eilish, are on the rise.
However, it said names shared with members of the royal family, such as Charles, George, William, Harry and Charlotte are no longer popular names for children in the UK.