boy's name
Mohammed
moh-HAM-med
- Origin Arabic
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 3
- Letters 8
- Popularity Top 100 (E&W)
- Births on record 112,054
the United States
#595
2025 births
Mohammed is a boy's name of Arabic origin meaning "praiseworthy." It is one of several English spellings of the same Arabic name, alongside Muhammad, Mohammad and Mohamed, all from the root h-m-d, to praise.
- Mohammed is a name of Arabic origin.
- Peaked in England and Wales in 2008, when 3,442 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade in England and Wales.
- Today about 1 in 308 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1996.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Mohammed over time
Births per decade in England and Wales, 1990s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 9,748 |
| 2000s | 31,709 |
| 2010s | 24,575 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 10,001 |
What Mohammed means
Mohammed means praiseworthy, or one deserving of praise. The meaning is identical to Muhammad — the two differ only in how the Arabic is written in Latin letters.
Where Mohammed comes from
Mohammed transliterates the same Arabic name as Muhammad, from the root h-m-d, to praise. The variation exists because written Arabic omits short vowels, so the consonantal skeleton m-h-m-d can reasonably be rendered with an o or a u, one m or two. The Mohammed spelling reached English largely through French and Ottoman Turkish intermediaries, which is why it was the dominant British form for much of the twentieth century before Muhammad overtook it.
Mohammed in use
Our England and Wales data shows Mohammed and Muhammad on opposite trajectories — Mohammed peaked in 2008 and has been level since, while Muhammad has kept climbing to number one. Families are increasingly choosing the transliteration closest to the Arabic.
How popular is Mohammed?
In 2025, Mohammed was given to 1,712 babies in England and Wales, ranking #20 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Where Mohammed is used
Figures for England and Wales withhold any name given to fewer than three babies in a year, so a gap means the name fell below that floor rather than went unused. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Mohammed
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Mohammed also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Mohammed over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
1 nickname for Mohammed
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Mohammed in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Mohammed
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Mohammed — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Mohammed
What does the name Mohammed mean?
Mohammed means "praiseworthy," from the Arabic root h-m-d, to praise. It is the same name as Muhammad.
Which spelling is more common, Mohammed or Muhammad?
Muhammad now leads in our England and Wales data. Mohammed peaked in 2014 and has held steady since.
Why are there so many spellings of Mohammed?
Written Arabic does not mark short vowels, so the consonants m-h-m-d can be rendered with either an o or a u. Different European languages settled on different conventions.
How popular is the name Mohammed?
In 2025, Mohammed was given to 1,712 babies in England and Wales, ranking #20 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Is Mohammed a girl's or a boy's name?
Mohammed is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Mohammed?
Mohammed has 3 syllables.
When was Mohammed most popular?
Mohammed peaked in 2008, when 3,442 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Mohammed?
Mohammed is usually shortened to Mo.
Is Mohammed a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Mohammed currently ranks #20 in England and Wales. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.