Muhammad dethrones Noah as the top baby boy name in 2023

In 2023, the name 'Muhammad' became the most chosen name for baby boys in England and Wales, surpassing 'Noah,' which had held the top spot in previous years. This shift has been confirmed by data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which highlighted that Muhammad has been among the top 10 names since 2016. Despite its overall popularity, there are variations across different regions in England, where 'Muhammad' did not appear in the top 10 names in three regions. Varying spellings of the name, including 'Mohammed' and 'Mohammad,' were also included in the top 100 list. Each spelling is considered a separate name by the ONS, indicating a diverse preference among parents for variations of this name. In contrast, the girls' name 'Olivia' continued to reign as the most popular choice, unchanged since 2022, followed closely by 'Amelia' and 'Isla.' These names remained consistent among the top picks for parents in recent years. One notable trend is the rising popularity of hyphenated names for girls, which increased from around 12,330 to more than 19,140 in a year. New female names making their debuts in the top 100 include 'Lilah,' 'Raya,' and 'Hazel,' while popular new male names incorporate 'Jax,' 'Enzo,' and 'Bodhi.' The ONS also cited influences from pop culture on baby naming trends, pointing out how musicians like Billie Eilish and Lana Del Rey, as well as the offspring of the Kardashian-Jenner family, appear to inspire parents. In 2023, names associated with music artists, including 'Kendrick,' 'Miley,' 'Rihanna,' and 'Elton,' saw a notable rise due to their respective high-profile activities, including album releases and concerts. Additionally, names inspired by days of the week, such as 'Sunday' and 'Wednesday,' gained recognition, possibly linked to the impact of the Netflix series