Muhammad top name for baby boys in England and Wales

Muhammad was the top choice for parents naming their baby boys in England and Wales in 2023, with more than 4,600 children registered with the name.

It has been among the top 10 names for baby boys since 2016, but has now overtaken the previous favourite, Noah, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

There is, however, a level of regional variation regarding the use of the name, with Muhammad not appearing in the top 10 for three regions of England.

Other spellings of the name Mohammed and Mohammad also made the top 100 list for England and Wales.

Olivia remains the most popular choice for baby girls, followed by Amelia and Isla. These top three have remain unchanged since 2022.

New entries to the top 100 list for girls include Lilah, Raya and Hazel, while Jax, Enzo and Bodhi made it into the top 100 for boys.

The ONS said on Thursday that pop culture "continues to influence" name choices, citing singers Billie Eilish and Lana Del Rey, the Kardashian-Jenner family's children Reign and Saint, and film stars Margot Robbie and Cillian Murphy.

Meanwhile royal names were less popular in 2023 - a decline that forms part of an ongoing trend.

George, Archie, Harry and Charlotte have all become less popular in recent years, as have Elizabeth and Charles.

Data for 2022's top baby names was released last May amid changes to resources.

Publishing dates for 2024's most popular picks have not yet been confirmed.