How to say it
mu · HAM · mad
məˈhɑm.əd
Masculine
Muhammad
Praised, praiseworthy
What it means
Arabic Muḥammad, 'praised, praiseworthy.' The Prophet Muhammad (c. 570-632) is the founder of Islam; his name is the most common given name in the world, with hundreds of millions of bearers across Muslim communities.
Muhammad comes from the Arabic Muḥammad ('praised, praiseworthy'). The Prophet Muhammad (c. 570-632), founder of Islam and recipient of the Qur'an, makes the name the most-given masculine name in the world, hundreds of millions of bearers across Muslim communities, with the name often given as the first or middle name of male children in traditional families. The name has many spelling variants in English: Muhammad, Mohammed, Muhammed, Mohamad. Muhammad Ali (Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., 1942-2016) brought the name decisive English-language anchor through boxing and his stand against the Vietnam War. The English-speaking US has used Muhammad in earnest since the 1970s. Common shorts: Mo, Hamid.
How to spell Muhammad
The standard spelling is Muhammad. Common variants include Mohammed, Mohamad, Muhammed, but Muhammad is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #239 in 2025, currently #239 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Muhammad is the standard English transliteration; Mohammed, Mohamad, and Muhammed all also circulate. The Arabic is the same name in all cases.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Prophet Muhammad Founder of Islam, c. 570-632
- Muhammad Ali Heavyweight boxing champion, civil-rights and anti-war figure, 1942-2016
Spelling variants
- Mohammed
- Mohamad
- Muhammed
Names with the same feeling
See Muhammad from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Muhammad mean?
- Arabic Muḥammad, 'praised, praiseworthy.' The Prophet Muhammad (c. 570-632) is the founder of Islam; his name is the most common given name in the world, with hundreds of millions of bearers across Muslim communities.
- What does Muhammad mean in Arabic?
- In Arabic, Muhammad means "Praised, praiseworthy." Muhammad comes from the Arabic Muḥammad ('praised, praiseworthy'). The Prophet Muhammad (c. 570-632), founder of Islam and recipient of the Qur'an, makes the name the most-given masculine name in the world, hundreds of millions of bearers across Muslim communities, with the name often given as the first or middle name of male children in traditional families. The name has many spelling variants in English: Muhammad, Mohammed, Muhammed, Mohamad. Muhammad Ali (Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., 1942-2016) brought the name decisive English-language anchor through boxing and his stand against the Vietnam War. The English-speaking US has used Muhammad in earnest since the 1970s. Common shorts: Mo, Hamid.
- How do you pronounce Muhammad?
- Muhammad is pronounced məˈhɑm.əd. Say it as mu-HAM-mad, with the stress on the "ham" syllable.
- How do you spell Muhammad?
- The standard spelling is Muhammad. Common spelling variants include Mohammed, Mohamad, Muhammed.
- Is Muhammad a boy or girl name?
- Muhammad is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Muhammad?
- Muhammad ranked #239 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.