Muhammad

Lexicology

The name Muḥammad is the standard, primary transliteration of the Arabic given name, محمد, that comes from the Arabic passive participle of ḥammada (حَمَّدَ), 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: IPA: [mæˈħæmːæd], while in exclusively religious contexts, talking about Islam: IPA: [moˈħæmːæd].

The name has one of the highest numbers of English spelling variants in the world. Other Arabic names from the same root include Mahmud, Ahmed, Hamed, Tahmid, and Hamid.

Transliterations

The name may be abbreviated to Md., Mohd., Muhd., Mhd., or simply M. because of its ubiquity. Its popularity has meant that it can become hard to distinguish people. In some cases, it may be to keep a personal name less tied to a religious context. This is only done if the person has a second given name. Some men who have Muhammad (or variant) as a first name choose not to use it, as it is such a common name. Instead, they use another given name. For example, Anwar Sadat, Hosni Mubarak, Siad Barre, Zia-ul-Haq, Yusuf Khattak, Ayub Khan and Reza Pahlavi use their given name, second given name, or surname.

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. 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.

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.

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 1983/1984), American-Algerian former Chief Liaison of New York City Mayor Eric Adams to the Muslim community

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

Mohammed

Mohammed Abequa, Jordanian kidnapper and murderer

Mohammed Afroz, Indian juvenile rapist and murderer who was one of the culprits of the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder

Mohammed Ahmed (businessperson), Ethiopian businessman

Mohammed Ajeeb (born 1938), British politician

Mohammed Ammouri (died 2004), murder victim

Mohammed Amer, Palestinian-American stand-up comedian

Mohammed Anas (born 1994), Ghanaian footballer

Mohammed Al Aqib, Qatari footballer

Mohammed Ashi, Saudi Arabian fashion designer

Mohammed Assaf (born 1990), Libyan-born Palestinian singer

Mohammed Atef (1944–2001), Egyptian al-Qaeda chief

Mohammed Awad (politician), Iraqi politician

Mohammed Ayade (born 1999), Iraqi para-athlete

Mohammed bin Salman, crown prince and prime minister of Saudi Arabia

Mohammed Boujassoum (1948–2025), Qatari actor

Mohammed Bouyeri, Moroccan-Dutch Islamic terrorist

Mohammed El-Bakkar (born 1959), Lebanese tenor

Mohammed Dib (1920–2003), probably Algeria's most prolific and well-known writer

Muhamad

Muhamad Ali Aman, Southeast Asian politician

Muhamad Salih Dilan, Kurdish poet

Muhamad Radhi Mat Din (born 1965), Malaysian football assistant coach

Muhamad Khalid Jamlus (born 1977), Malaysian footballer

Muhamad Husain Kadir, Iraqi prisoner

Muhamad Kanan (born 1955), Israeli Arab politician

Muhamad Aly Rifai, Arab American internist and psychiatrist

Muhamad Hasik bin Sahar, Singaporean gang member and convicted killer serving life imprisonment in Singapore

Muhamed

Muhamed Alaim (born 1981), Bosnian football goalkeeper

Muhamed Bešić (born 1992), Bosnian football midfielder

Muhamed Haneef (born 1979), Indian physician

Muhamed Keita (born 1990), Norwegian football striker

Muhamed Zulić (1928–2008), Croatian politician

Muhammad

Muhammad (570–8 June 632), Arab religious, social, and political leader and central figure of the world religion of Islam.

Muhammad ibn Maslamah (588 or 591–665), an Arab knight and companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He was known as "The Knight of Allah's Prophet"

Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya (637–700), an Alid political and religious leader, and also the third son of caliph Ali

Muhammad ibn Marwan, an Umayyad prince and general of the Caliphate in the period 690–710

Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan was an Umayyad prince, the son of Caliph Abd al-Malik (r. 685–705), who played important role in the politics of the Umayyad Caliphate

Muhammad ibn al-Walid was an Umayyad Prince and son of Caliph Al-Walid I who ruled from October 705 to 715.

Muhammad ibn Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik, an Umayyad Prince and son of seventh Umayyad Caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik

Muhammad ibn Yazid ibn Abd al-Malik an Umayyad Prince and son of the ninth Umayyad Caliph Yazid II.

Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Muhammad known by his regnal title al-Mahdi, was the third Abbasid Caliph and ruled from 6 October 775 to 24 July 785

Abu Muhammad Musa (died 786), an Abbasid caliph, better known by his regnal name Al-Hadi.

Muhammad ibn Harun al-Rashid, known by his regnal title al-Amin, was the sixth Abbasid Caliph and ruled from 24 March 809 to 27 September 813

Muhammad ibn Harun al-Rashid, known by his regnal title Al-Mu'tasim, was the eighth Abbasid Caliph and ruled from 9 August 833 to 5 January 842

Muhammadu

Muhammadu Buhari (1942–2025), Nigerian politician who served as military dictator from 1983 to 1985, and democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.

Muhammed

Muhammed al-Ahari (born 1965), American essayist

Muhammed Amin Andrabi (1940–2001), Indian academic

Muhammed Demirel (born 2002), Turkish judoka

Muhammad Jafar Moravej (1910–1999), Iranian Shia scholar

Muhammad Javad Haj Ali Akbari, Iranian politician

Muhammed Kanteh, Gambian politician

Muhammed Yusuf Khan, Indian military leader

Muhammed Latif, Iraqi major general

Muhammed Lawal (born 1981), American professional wrestler and retired mixed martial arts fighter

Muhammed Mansooruddin (1904–1987), Bengali author

Muhammed Siddique, Bengali politician

Muhammed Suiçmez (1975–), German musician

Muhammed Taib (born 1939), Saudi Arabian lawyer

Muhammed Tokcan, Turkish hijacker of the Avrasya in 1996

Muhammed Hamdi Yazır (1878–1942), Turkish philosopher and theologian

Muhammed bin Saud Al Saud (1934–2012), member of the Saudi Royal Family

Muhammed ibn Umail al-Tamimi (900–960), Arab Alchemist

Muhammed Yıldırmış (born 2004), Turkish recurve archer

Muhammet

Muhammet Akagündüz (born 1978), Austrian footballer

Muhammet Demir (born 1992), Turkish footballer

Muhammet Hanifi Yoldaş (born 1983), Turkish footballer

Muhammet Özdin (born 1978), Turkish footballer

Moegamat

Moegamat Yusuf Maart (born 1995), a South African soccer player

Patronymics

ibn

Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Hazm (?–737), scholar

Ibrahim ibn Muhammad (630–632), the Islamic prophet's son

Qasim ibn Muhammad (598–600), the Islamic prophet's son

Abdullah ibn Muhammad (600–614), the Islamic prophet's son

Abd al-Raḥmān ibn Muḥammad (1332–1406), Arab historiographer and historian

Marwan ibn Muhammad

Abdallah ibn Muhammad, better known as Al-Saffah (r. 750–754), was the first Abbasid caliph and founder of Abbasid Caliphal dynasty.

Abu Ja'far Abdallah ibn Muhammad, better known as Al-Mansur, was the second Abbasid caliph from 754 to 775.

Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi, also known as Ibrahim ibn Muhammad, was the Abbasid princess, singer and composer.

Ubaydallah ibn al-Mahdi, also known as Ubaydallah ibn Muhammad, was the Abbasid princess and officer.

Ali ibn al-Mahdi, also known as Ali ibn Muhammad, was the son of Abbasid caliph al-Mahdi and his wife Rayta.

Musa al-Hadi, also known as Musa ibn Muhammad, was the fourth Abbasid caliph from 785 to 786.

Harun al-Rashid, also known as Harun ibn Muhammad, was the fifth Abbasid caliph from 786 to 809.

Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Mahdi, the son of Abbasid caliph al-Mahdi.

bint

Fatimah bint Muhammad (605–632 disputed), the Islamic prophet's daughter

Zainab bint Muhammad, the Islamic prophet's daughter (according to most Sunnis)

Ruqayyah bint Muhammad, the Islamic prophet's daughter (according to most Sunnis)

Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad, the Islamic prophet's daughter (according to most Sunnis)

Fatimah bint Muhammad was the wife of Arab caliph Al-Mansur.

Abbasa bint al-Mahdi also known Abbasa bint Muhammad was the Abbasid princess.

Ulayya bint al-Mahdi also known as Ulayya bint Muhammad was an Abbasid princess and Arab poet.

Banuqa bint al-Mahdi also known as Banuqa bint Muhammad was elder sister of caliph Harun ar-Rashid.

Aliyah bint al-Mahdi, also known as Aliyah bint Muhammad, was an Abbasid princess.

Teknonymy

Hasan ibn Ali also known as Abu Muhammad Hasan ibn Ali, was the son of Ali ibn Abi Ṭalib, and caliph in 661.

Al-Hadi, also known as Abu Muhammad Musa al-Hadi, was the 4th Abbasid caliph.

Al-Muktafi also known as Abu Muhammad Ali, was the 17th Abbasid caliph from 902 – 13 August 908.

Al-Mustadi also known as Abu Muhammad Hasan ibn Yusuf al-Mustanjid was the Caliph in Baghdad from 1170 to 1180.

Fictional

Mohammed Avdol, an Egyptian supporting character from the Japanese manga and anime series JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.

Mohammed, a minor character in Grand Theft Auto IV. He is a cab driver for Roman Bellic's taxi business.

Derived names

Umm Muhammad

Umm Muhammad bint Salih, was the wife of Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid.

Hubshiya also known as Umm Muhammad was the mother of Abbasid caliph Al-Muntasir

Qurb, also known as Umm Muhammad, was the mother of al-Muhtadi.

Ashin, also known as Umm Muhammad, was the mother of 12th-century caliph of Baghdad al-Muqtafi.

Famous derived names

Muhammad Ali

Mohammad-Reza

Mohammad Taqi (disambiguation), multiple people

Legality and restrictions

China

In 2017, legislation made it illegal in China to give children names that the Chinese government deemed to "exaggerate religious fervor”. This prohibition included a ban on naming children Arabic transliterations of Muhammad. The legislation was officially intended to prevent "religious extremism" among the country's Uyghurs, but was described by external observers as an act of persecution.. The traditional Uyghur transliteration Memet (Uyghur: مەمەت; Chinese: 买买提; pinyin: Mǎimǎití) was not banned.

Pakistan

The government of Pakistan forbids members of its Ahmadi community from naming their children Muhammad. Al Jazeera reported in 2021 that blasphemy charges had been filed against Ahmadis who wrote "Mohammed" on a wedding invitation in an unspecified amount of instances.