Muhammad Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: moo-HAH-mad /mʊˈhɑː.məd/
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Praiseworthy
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Muhammad is derived from the Arabic root ḥ-m-d, which means "to thank" or "to praise." The name itself translates to "the praised one" and is a significant figure in Islamic tradition, primarily associated with the Prophet Muhammad, who lived in the 6th and 7th centuries CE. The name appears in various forms across languages, including the Persian "Mohammad" and the Turkish "Muhammet," reflecting its widespread use in Muslim cultures.
The introduction of the name into English can be traced through transliterations from Arabic, particularly during the medieval period as Islamic scholarship and culture began to influence Europe through translations and interactions during the Crusades and the Renaissance. Historically, Muhammad is a pivotal figure in Islam, regarded as the final prophet.
His life and teachings are documented in the Hadith and the Quran, the latter of which was compiled in the 7th century CE. The name gained prominence as Islam spread across the Arabian Peninsula and beyond, with significant milestones including the establishment of the Islamic caliphates in the 7th century and the subsequent translations of Islamic texts into Latin and other European languages during the Middle Ages.
The name Muhammad is often invoked in religious contexts, and its variations have been borne by numerous historical figures, including rulers and scholars throughout Islamic history. Culturally, the name Muhammad carries profound significance in the Muslim world, symbolizing virtues such as leadership, compassion, and moral integrity.
It is common for Muslim parents to name their sons Muhammad in honor of the Prophet, reflecting a tradition that emphasizes respect for his legacy. The name is often accompanied by honorifics such as "Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam" (peace be upon him) when mentioned in religious contexts.
The enduring nature of the name is also evidenced by its various diminutive forms, such as "Hamid" or "Moudi," which maintain the root's meaning of praise and gratitude.
Famous people named Muhammad
In this section, you will find notable people named Muhammad. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Muhammad who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Muhammad who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Muhammad Ali is a professional boxer best known for his fights against Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman.
Muhammad Yunus is a social entrepreneur best known for founding Grameen Bank and pioneering microfinance.
Muhammad Rumi is a poet and philosopher best known for his works such as Masnavi and Diwan-e Shams-e Tabrizi.
Muhammad Salah is a professional footballer best known for playing with Liverpool and the Egypt national team.
Muhammad Iqbal is a poet and philosopher best known for his works Bang-e-Dra and Asrar-e-Khudi.
Fictional characters named Muhammad
The following list of fictional characters named Muhammad is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Muhammad is a fictional character from the video game series Assassin's Creed. He is a prominent figure in the historical narrative, often depicted as a key leader or influential person in various storylines.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Muhammad, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Muhammad. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Muhammad was first seen in the United States in 1929.
Muhammad has ranked as high as #417 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in New York, California, Texas, Illinois, and Virginia.
In the past 5 years the name Muhammad has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Muhammad is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Muhammad was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Muhammad (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 365 | |
| CA | 149 | |
| TX | 123 | |
| PA | 93 | |
| IL | 90 | |
| VA | 62 | |
| OH | 59 | |
| MD | 57 | |
| MI | 40 | |
| FL | 39 | |
| GA | 33 | |
| IN | 26 | |
| WA | 22 | |
| NC | 20 | |
| MA | 18 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Muhammad.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,441 |
| 2023 | 1,240 |
| 2022 | 1,155 |
| 2021 | 1,085 |
| 2020 | 1,063 |
| 2019 | 996 |
| 2018 | 962 |
| 2017 | 897 |
| 2016 | 958 |
| 2015 | 882 |
| 2014 | 774 |
| 2013 | 694 |
| 2012 | 582 |
| 2011 | 545 |
| 2010 | 510 |
| 2009 | 430 |
| 2008 | 403 |
| 2007 | 330 |
| 2006 | 366 |
| 2005 | 299 |
| 2004 | 296 |
| 2003 | 306 |
| 2002 | 284 |
| 2001 | 339 |
| 2000 | 304 |
| 1999 | 240 |
| 1998 | 228 |
| 1997 | 217 |
| 1996 | 190 |
| 1995 | 191 |
| 1994 | 153 |
| 1993 | 145 |
| 1992 | 139 |
| 1991 | 114 |
| 1990 | 106 |
| 1989 | 91 |
| 1988 | 106 |
| 1987 | 110 |
| 1986 | 95 |
| 1985 | 100 |
| 1984 | 122 |
| 1983 | 115 |
| 1982 | 108 |
| 1981 | 91 |
| 1980 | 84 |
| 1979 | 106 |
| 1978 | 85 |
| 1977 | 77 |
| 1976 | 75 |
| 1975 | 55 |
| 1974 | 30 |
| 1973 | 16 |
| 1972 | 25 |
| 1971 | 33 |
| 1970 | 23 |
| 1969 | 12 |
| 1968 | 10 |
| 1967 | 11 |
| 1966 | 8 |
| 1964 | 5 |
| 1961 | 6 |
| 1948 | 5 |
| 1941 | 5 |
| 1929 | 5 |