Billy vs Muhammad
Billy 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, Billy was ranked #127 and Muhammad #1 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Billy was ranked #234 and Muhammad #2 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Billy was ranked #44 and Muhammad #21 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Billy was ranked #39 and Muhammad #35 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Billy was ranked #256 and Muhammad #154 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Billy and Muhammad over time
Billy and Muhammad appear together in 3 published lists, across 77 years of shared records. Billy held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Muhammad in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Billy 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Muhammad moved ahead of Billy in England and Wales · Boys — #71 and #82 the year before became #76 and #69.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Billy and Muhammad changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 2003 and 2024, ending at #256 and #154.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Billy and Muhammad averaged 52.0 places apart, ending at #39 and #35.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Muhammad rose about as far as Billy fell — from #71 and #108 in 1996 to #127 and #1 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Billy and Muhammad were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 33 years, from 1992 to 2025, ending at #39 and #35.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Billy #39 in 2025, Muhammad #35 in 2025.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1992–2025
Billy held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Muhammad in 3.
Highest recorded here: Billy #39 in 2025, Muhammad #35 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Billy #39, Muhammad #35.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Billy held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Muhammad in 25.
Highest recorded here: Billy #68 in 1998, Muhammad #1 in 2023.
The order changed in 2000: Muhammad moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #71 and #82; by 2000 that had become #76 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Billy #127, Muhammad #1.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 2003–2024
Billy held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Muhammad in 2.
Highest recorded here: Billy #169 in 2015, Muhammad #154 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Billy #256, Muhammad #154.
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
| Field | Billy | Muhammad |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Praiseworthy, commendable. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Arabic |
| Pronunciation | /muˈħammad/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Mohammed, Mohammad, Mehmed |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #39 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #21 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Muhammad has a recorded origin (Arabic); Billy does not have one recorded yet.
- Billy has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Muhammad.
- A meaning is recorded for Muhammad; Billy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Billy 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
Billy
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #305 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1970–2025
Highest recorded position: #39 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025 (recorded 1970–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #44 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Muhammad
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #21 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys