Boy name · Arabic
Muhammad
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: praised, praiseworthyMuhammad is a boy's name that comes from Arabic and means "praised, praiseworthy". It is used in Arabic, Persian and Indian.
- Meaning
- Praised, praiseworthy
- Origin
- Arabic
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #239 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Muhammad
As a boy's name, Muhammad comes from Arabic and means "praised, praiseworthy". It is used in Arabic, Persian and Indian.
Muhammad is also a surname: the 1,704th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 20,614 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Muhammad on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Muhammad on 1 list.
“Praised, praiseworthy; the name of the Prophet of Islam.”
From Arabic names, arabic boy names
How popular is Muhammad?
- US rank in 2025
- #239
- 1,473 babies, 862 per million boys
- Best rank
- #239 in 2025
- 1,473 babies that year
- Babies since 1929
- At least 21,962
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 1 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 3 per million |
| 1970s | 32 per million |
| 1980s | 55 per million |
| 1990s | 89 per million |
| 2000s | 168 per million |
| 2010s | 415 per million |
| 2020s | 720 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #352 | #369 | #346 | #337 | #310 | #307 | #298 | #272 | #246 | #239 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Nicknames for Muhammad
Established short forms and pet names, not made-up ones.
- Mocommon English nickname
- Moecommon English nickname
- Hamoudicommon Arabic nickname
- Hamadacommon Arabic nickname
- Midocommon Arabic nickname
Other forms of Muhammad
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- MehmetPraised, praiseworthy (Arabic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- AhmadMost praiseworthy (Arabic, boy)
- HamidPraiseworthy, commendable (Arabic, boy)
- JudahPraised (Hebrew, boy)
- MahmoudPraised, commendable (Arabic, boy)
- AbdulhamidServant of the Praiseworthy (Arabic, boy)
- AhmetMost praiseworthy (Arabic, boy)
- AmadouMost praiseworthy, form of Ahmad (Arabic, boy)
- EneaItalian form of Aeneas, praised (Greek, boy)
- HillelPraised (Hebrew, boy)
- JudePraised one (Hebrew, boy)
- MamdouhPraised, acclaimed (Arabic, boy)
- MohamedPraised (Arabic, boy)
- YehudaPraised, thanked (Hebrew, boy)
Middle names for Muhammad
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Arabic
- AliHigh, exalted (Arabic, boy)
- AbdullahServant of God (Arabic, boy)
- AzizPowerful, respected, beloved (Arabic, boy)
- HaiderLion (Arabic, boy)
- HassanHandsome, good (Arabic, boy)
- MansurVictorious (Arabic, boy)
- NoorLight, radiance (Arabic, unisex)
- AdelJust, fair (Arabic, boy)
- AmirPrince, commander (Arabic, boy)
- FalakCelestial sphere, sky (Arabic, unisex)
- FaridUnique, matchless (Arabic, boy)
- FirdausParadise (Arabic, unisex)
- HabibBeloved, darling (Arabic, boy)
- HadiGuide, leader (Arabic, boy)
- HilalCrescent moon (Arabic, unisex)
- KabirGreat (Arabic, boy)
- KamalPerfection (Arabic, boy)
- KamilPerfect, complete (Arabic, boy)
Muhammad: common questions
What does the name Muhammad mean?
Muhammad comes from Arabic and means "praised, praiseworthy".
Is Muhammad a boy or girl name?
Muhammad is mainly a boy's name.
What are nicknames for Muhammad?
Common nicknames for Muhammad include Mo, Moe, Hamoudi, Hamada and Mido.
How popular is the name Muhammad?
Muhammad ranked #239 in the US in 2025, with 1,473 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Muhammad?
Forms of Muhammad with the same meaning and origin include Mehmet (Turkish).
What middle names go with Muhammad?
Middle names that flow well with Muhammad include Chase, Jack, Lee, Rex and River. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.