Mohammed to become favorite name in UK
Daily Telegraph report says name second only to Jack in 2007. 'Muslim parents like to have something that shows a link with their religion or with the Prophet,' ethnic relations professor says
The name was second only to Jack in 2007, which has been top for the last 13 years, the newspaper reported.
According to the report, there were just 385 more children called Jack and because of the high birth rate among Muslim families, the name is set to become the most popular boy's name by next year.
While Mohammed is in 17th place, its position would be number two if all 14 variant spellings of the name were taken into account, the Telegraph said.
While 6,772 boys were called Jack, 6,387 were called Mohammed or a variant.
'One who is praiseworthy'
An analysis by the Daily Telegraph of the names, compiled each year by the Office for National Statistics, shows there were 3,009 babies called Mohammed, the most popular spelling; 1,595 Muhammads, 903 Mohammads, 429 Muhammeds, 349 Mohameds, 39 Mohamads, 12 Muhameds, 11 Mohammods, nine Mohmmeds, eight Mohamuds, seven Mahammeds, six Muhammeets, five Mohmmads and five Muhammods.
There were 5,803 babies called Thomas, which is listed by the ONS as the second most popular name.
According to the Telegraph's report, Muhammad is regularly cited as the most common name in the world. It means "one who is praiseworthy", and is often given to boys as an honorary prefix and is followed by the name by which they are commonly known.
Muhammad Anwar, professor of ethnic relations at Warwick University, was quoted by the British newspaper as saying "Muslim parents like to have something that shows a link with their religion or with the Prophet."
Overall, Muslims account for three per cent of the British population, about 1.5 million people, the report said, adding that the name Mohammed first entered the top 30 in 2000.
Grace is the most popular girls' name.
