image sourced from original article at The name Muhammad and its various spellings have seen a dramatic rise across Europe since the start of the Millennium, with some countries recording increases of up to 700%. In England and Wales, Muhammad is now the most popular boys' name, with 3% of newborn boys receiving it or a similar iteration, and in some regions, the figure reaches 9%. Belgium, France, and the Netherlands have also seen notable increases, while countries like Poland report much lower rates.
Experts attribute this trend to the growth of Muslim communities, largely driven by immigration and cultural pride, as well as the influence of prominent figures. The diversity of spellings reflects the varied backgrounds of Muslim families across Europe. Despite differences in data collection methods and limitations in available statistics, the overall pattern points to a broader acceptance and celebration of cultural identity through naming practices.
