Muhammad () is an Arabic given male name meaning "praiseworthy". The name comes from the passive participle of the Arabic verb (حَمَّدَ), meaning "to praise", which itself comes from the triconsonantal Semitic root Ḥ-M-D. Other spellings of the name include Muhammed, Muhamad, Mohammad, Mohammed, Mamed, Mahammad, Maxamed, Mehemmed, Mehemmet, Mohamad, Mohamed, Mehmed/Mehmet, Memet, Mamadou, Magomed, and a variety of other ways. Believed to be the most popular name in the world, by July 2014 it was estimated to have been given to 150 million men and boys.
The name has been banned for newborn children in the Xinjiang region of China since 2017, as well as for the Ahmadi community in Pakistan.
Lexicology The name is the standard, primary transliteration of the Arabic given name, , that comes from the Arabic passive participle of ḥammada (), praise, and further from triconsonantal Semitic root Ḥ-M-D (praise); hence praised, or praiseworthy. However, its actual pronunciation differs colloquially, for example, in Egyptian Arabic: , while in exclusively religious contexts, talking about Islam: ."Muhammad- Dictionary"
The name has one of the highest numbers of English spelling variants in the world.Humanism, Culture, and Language in the Near East: Asma Afsaruddin, A. H. Mathias Zahniser - 1997, p. 389. Other Arabic names from the same root include Mahmud, Ahmed, Hamed, Tahmid, and Hamid.
The name may be abbreviated to Md., Mohd., Muhd., Mhd., or simply M.
Statistics According to the sixth edition of The Columbia Encyclopedia (2000), Muhammad is probably the most common given name in the world, including variations. The Independent reported in 2014 that more than 150 million men and boys in the world bear the name Muhammad, which would make it the most popular name in the world. Approximately 60% of people named Muhammad live in Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan.
In 2024, the Office for National Statistics, which represents England and Wales collectively, reported that the name Muhammad was the most popular baby name for boys in that region in 2023.
Mohammed and Mohamed were the most popular baby name in Département Seine-Saint-Denis (2002, 2008) and in Marseille (2007, 2009), France. Similarly, since 2008 it has been the most popular baby boy name in Brussels and Antwerp, Belgium's most Muslim-populated cities.
In May 2006, it was reported that statistics indicate that some 8,928 Danish Muslims carry the name Muhammad and that in 2004 alone, 167 new-born babies were registered.
In 2009, Muhammad, the most common spelling variant, was ranked 430th in the US.http://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi; searched for MOHAMED According to the Social Security Administration, Mohammad was ranked 589th, Mohammed 633rd, and Muhammad the 639th most popular first name for newborns in 2006. In the 1990 United States census, the Muhammad variant of the spelling was ranked 4,194 out of 88,799 for people of all ages.Unless otherwise noted, figures are from http://www.name-stats.com/search.php?subject=MUHAMMAD&submit=Search. They don't include different forms of spelling except for 2009 and 2010 for the UK.
In April 2017, the Chinese government prohibited parents from choosing the name Muhammad as the given name for a child. The list included more than two dozen names and was targeted at the 10 million Uighurs in the western region of Xinjiang.
If all variants of Muhammad are counted, there are 15,723 people in Finland named Muhammad, accounting for 0.7% of the Finnish male population. The most common spelling is Mohamed, accounting for 38% of the Muhammad name carriers.
In 2022, it was the 35th most popular name given to boys in Canada.
Given name Mochamad Mochamad Ridwan Kamil (born 1971), Indonesian architect and politician Mochamad Basuki Hadimuljono (born 1954), Indonesian bureaucrat
Mochammad Mochammad Al Amin Syukur Fisabillah (born 1994), Indonesian football player Mochammad Sanoesi (1935–2008), Indonesian police general
Mohamad Mohamad Ashiek Salleh, Singaporean convicted killer Mohamad Aziz (1940–2020), Malaysian politician Mohamad Bazzi (born 1975), Lebanese-American award-winning journalist Mohamad Jawad Chirri (1905–1994), American imam Mohamad Elzahabi, Lebanese militant Mohamad Haidar (born 1989), Lebanese footballer Mohamad Nor Ismail (born 1982), Malaysian footballer Mohamad Kasebi (1951–2025), Iranian actor and film director Mohamad Jalal Kdouh (born 1997), Lebanese footballer Mohamad Tavakoli-Targhi (born 1957), Iranian-born Canadian scholar, editor, author, professor Mohamad Zbida (born 1990), Syrian footballer
Mohamed Mohamed Abdelaziz (1947–2016), president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara) from 1982 until his death in 2016 Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (born 1962), President of Somalia from 2007 to 2022 Mohamed Aboelgheit (1988–2022), Egyptian investigative journalist Mohamed Aboussalam (born 1996), Moroccan basketball player Mohamed Amine Amami (born 1983), Tunisian footballer Moustafa Ahmed Mohamed Hassan Amar (born 1966), Egyptian musician and actor Mohamed Amsif (born 1989), Moroccan footballer Mohamed Anwar el-Sadat (1918–1981), Egyptian politician and President from 1970 to 1981 Mohamed Anwar Esmat Sadat (born 1955), Egyptian politician and nephew of former Egyptian President Mohamed Anwar el-Sadat Mohamed Abu Arisha (born 1997), Israeli basketball player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the Israeli national basketball team Mohamed Atta (1968–2001), Egyptian Islamist terrorist and ringleader of the hijackers of American Airlines Flight 11 in the September 11 attacks Mohamed Bah (died 2012), African man who was shot dead by police officers Mohamed Bahi (born ), American-Algerian former Chief Liaison of New York City Mayor Eric Adams to the Muslim community Mohamed Bairouti (born 1976), Syrian footballer Mohamed ElBaradei (born 1942), Director General of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed Siad Barre (1919/1921?–1995), President of Somalia from 1969 to 1991 Mohamed Choua, Moroccan basketball player Mohamed Diab (born 1978), Egyptian director and screenwriter Mohamed Diaby (born 1990), Ivorian footballer Mohamed Diaby (footballer, born 1996), French footballer Mohamed Diamé (born 1987), French-Senegalese footballer Mohamed Diarra (born 2001), college basketball player Mohamed Emam (born 1984), Egyptian actor Mohamed Elsayed (born 1973), Egyptian boxer Mohamed Fadl, Egyptian footballer Mohamed Farah, British Somali runner Mohamed Fakhir (born 1953), Moroccan footballer Mohamed al-Fayed (1929–2023), Egyptian-born, British-based multi-millionaire Mohamed Fayez (born 1989), Emirati footballer Mohamed Hamri (1932–2000), Moroccan painter Mohamed Harbi (1933–2026), Algerian historian Mohamed Fouad Abd El Hamid Hassan (born 1961), Egyptian musician Mohamed Henedi (born 1965), Egyptian comedy actor Mohamed Ibrahim (disambiguation), multiple people Mohamed Kamal Fadel, Polisario Front diplomatic Mohamed Kouradji (1952–2020), Algerian football referee
Mohamed Osman Jawari (1945–2024), Somalia attorney and politician Mohamed Osman Mohamud, Somali-born terrorist who nearly set off a bomb in Oregon Mohamed Mrsal (born 1978), Libyan basketball player Mohamed Namiz, Sri Lankan cricketer Mohamed Niang (born 1976), Senegalese basketball player Mohamed Nur, Mayor of Mogadishu Mohamed Ofkir (born 1996), Norwegian footballer Mohamed Salah (born 1992), Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salama Badi (born 1966), Sahrawi ambassador to East Timor Mohamed Salem (footballer, born 1940) (1940–2008), Algerian footballer Mohamed Salem (footballer, born 1994), Egyptian footballer Mohamed al-Shehhi (born 1988), Emirati footballer Mohamed Sissoko (born 1985), Malian footballer Mohamed El-Tabii (1896–1976), Egyptian journalist Mohamed Touré (disambiguation), several people with this name Mohamed El Yaagoubi (born 1977), Moroccan footballer Mohamed Yehia Zakaria (born 1938), Emirati of Egyptian origin pioneer of the beverage industry in the Arab world Mohamed Youssef (basketball) (born 1986), Libyan basketball player Mohamed Zein Tahan (born 1988), Lebanese footballer Mohamed Zidan (born 1981), Egyptian footballer Mohamed II of the Maldives, Sultan of the Maldives
Mohammad Arif Mohammad Khan (born 1951), Indian politician and current governor of Kerala Askia Mohammad Benkan, ruled the Songhai Empire from 1531 to 1537 Askia Mohammad I (c. 1442–1538), king of the Songhai Empire (1493–1528) Kazem Mohammad (born 1938), Iranian biostatistician and academic Mohammad Abdul Hamid, President of Bangladesh from 2013 to 2023 Mohammad Ahsan, Indonesian badminton player Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Indian politician Mohammad Amin Fatemi, Afghan physician Mohammad Asghar (1945–2020), Welsh politician Mohammad Ashraful (born 1984), Bangladeshi cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin, Indian former cricket captain Mohammad Azizi, Iranian footballer Mohammad Bakri (1953–2025), Palestinian actor and film director Mohammad Barghouti, Palestinian politician Mohammad Bhar (c. 2000–2024), Palestinian mentally disabled man Mohammad Dawran, Afghan military personnel Mohammad Farid, Egyptian political figure Mohammad Hashim, Iraqi politician Mohammad Hatta, first Vice President of Indonesia Mohammad Hejazi (1956–2021), Iranian general Mohammad Hisham Mahmoud Mohammad Abbas (1963–), Egyptian musician Mohammad Hossein Shahriar (1906–1988), Iranian poet, writing in Persian and Azerbaijani Mohammad Hussain (disambiguation), multiple people Mohammad Ibrahim (disambiguation), multiple people Mohammad Jasmir Ansari, Indian politician Mohammad Kaif (1980–), Indian cricketer Mohammad Khadem (1935–2020), Iranian wrestler Mohammad Khatami (born 1943), the President of Iran, 1997 to 2005 Mohammad Mahseiri (died 2013), Jordanian politician Mohammad Mokri, Kurdish scholar Mohammad Najib Abdul Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister Mohammad Najibullah (1947–1996), President of Afghanistan from 1987 to 1992. He was assassinated in 1996 Mohammad Nami, Saudi footballer Mohammad Navazi, Iranian footballer Mohammad Nazir, Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Yousuf (disambiguation), multiple people Mohammad Oraz (1969–2003), Kurdish mountain climber Mohammad Panjali (born 1955), Iranian footballer Mohammad Rafique (born 1970), Bangladeshi cricketer Mohammad Reza Sharifinia (born 1955), Iranian actor and film director Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi as the last Shah of Iran Mohammad Rona (born 1985), Afghan-born Danish politician Mohammad Sadli (1922–2008), Indonesian politician Mohammad Saleh (born 1946), second Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Indonesia for judicial affairs Mohammad Yusuf Siddiq (born 1957), Bangladeshi epigraphist Mohammad Sidique Khan (1974–2005), English suicide bomber in the 7/7 attacks Mohammad Taghi Bahar (1886–1951), Iranian poet, politician, mathematician, logician, journalist, essayist, and historian Mohammad Toaha, Bangladeshi politician Mohammad Ali Varasteh (1896–1989), Iranian statesman Mohammad Va'ez Abaee-Khorasani (1940?–2004), Iranian cleric and reformist politician Mohammad Yousuf (born 1974), Pakistan Test cricketer Mohammad Abubakar Durrani, Pakistani canoeist and filmmaker Mohammad Ridzwan bin Samad, a convicted rioter and gang member of Salakau in Singapore. Mohammad Fahmi bin Abdul Shukor, a convicted rioter and gang member of Salakau in Singapore. Mohammad-Ali Abtahi (born 1960), Iranian theologian and scholar Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem (1962–2024), Iranian jurist and Twelver Shia cleric Mohammad-Ali Angaji, Iranian Shia cleric and politician Mohammad Ali Araki (1894–1994), Iranian Twelver Shia Marja
Mohammad Ali Gerami Qomi Mohammad Alavi Gorgani Mohammad Ali Esmaeelpoor Ghomsheie
Mohammad Ali Mousavi Jazayeri
Ali Movahedi-Kermani Mohammad Ali Qazi Tabatabaei Mohammad-Ali Rahmani
Mohammad-Ali Shahidi Mohammad Ali Shomali Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri
Mohammad-Bagher Bagheri
Mohammad Bagher Kharazi
Mohammed Emami-Kashani