Namewise

Alfred vs Muhammad

Alfred and Muhammadcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.

Head to head

Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Alfred was ranked #81 and Muhammad #1 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Alfred was ranked #278 and Muhammad #2 among boys in Scotland.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Alfred was ranked #26 and Muhammad #94 among boys in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Alfred was ranked #286 and Muhammad #35 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2023, Alfred was ranked #272 and Muhammad #232 among boys in Northern Ireland.

Alfred and Muhammad over time

Alfred and Muhammad appear together in 4 published lists, across 132 years of shared records. Muhammad held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alfred in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Alfred reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Muhammad in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.

Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.

How this pair is related

The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Alfred and Muhammad changed places 10 times in Norway · Boys between 1946 and 2025, ending at #26 and #94.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Alfred and Muhammad were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 71 years, from 1946 to 2025, ending at #26 and #94.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alfred #76 in 2023, Muhammad #1 in 2023.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys71 shared years, 19462025

    Alfred held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Muhammad in 33.

    Highest recorded here: Alfred #18 in 2023, Muhammad #70 in 2023.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #26, Muhammad #94.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Alfred held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Muhammad in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Alfred #76 in 2023, Muhammad #1 in 2023.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alfred #81, Muhammad #1.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 19952025

    Alfred held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Muhammad in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Alfred #271 in 2020, Muhammad #35 in 2025.

    The order changed in 2001: Muhammad moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #301 and #334; by 2001 that had become #317 and #201.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #286, Muhammad #35.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 20092023

    Alfred held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Muhammad in 6.

    Highest recorded here: Alfred #262 in 2009, Muhammad #192 in 2022.

    The order changed in 2019: Muhammad moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #283 and #319; by 2019 that had become #312 and #274.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Alfred #272, Muhammad #232.

Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alfred, Muhammad
FieldAlfredMuhammad
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedPraiseworthy, commendable.
OriginNot yet recordedArabic
PronunciationNot yet recorded/muˈħammad/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedMohammed, Mohammad, Mehmed
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NOAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #26 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Boys #21 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Muhammad has a recorded origin (Arabic); Alfred does not have one recorded yet.
  • Alfred has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Muhammad.
  • A meaning is recorded for Muhammad; Alfred doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
  • The available evidence gives Alfred a "medium" Data Confidence level and Muhammad a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Alfred

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #127 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #26 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Muhammad

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #319 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #21 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys