Namewise

Hugh vs Muhammad

Hugh 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, Hugh was ranked #500 and Muhammad #1 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Hugh was ranked #330 and Muhammad #2 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Hugh was ranked #179 and Muhammad #35 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Hugh was ranked #339 and Muhammad #154 among boys in Northern Ireland.

Hugh and Muhammad over time

Hugh and Muhammad appear together in 3 published lists, across 77 years of shared records. Hugh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Muhammad 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.

Hugh reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 2024, Muhammad moved ahead of Hugh in Northern Ireland · Boys — #126 and #232 the year before became #339 and #154.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Muhammad rose about as far as Hugh fell — from #220 and #108 in 1996 to #500 and #1 in 2024.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Hugh and Muhammad were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 33 years, from 1992 to 2025, ending at #179 and #35.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Hugh #126 in 2023, Muhammad #154 in 2024.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 19922025

    Hugh held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Muhammad in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Hugh #89 in 1995, Muhammad #35 in 2025.

    The order changed in 2016: Muhammad moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #110 and #119; by 2016 that had become #119 and #83.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Hugh #179, Muhammad #35.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

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

    Highest recorded here: Hugh #198 in 1997, Muhammad #1 in 2023.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Hugh #500, Muhammad #1.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 20032024

    Hugh held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Muhammad in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Hugh #126 in 2023, Muhammad #154 in 2024.

    The order changed in 2024: Muhammad moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #126 and #232; by 2024 that had become #339 and #154.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Hugh #339, 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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Muhammad

Pairs where Muhammad shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Hugh, Muhammad
FieldHughMuhammad
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedPraiseworthy, commendable.
OriginNot yet recordedArabic
PronunciationNot yet recorded/muˈħammad/
Syllables13
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedMohammed, Mohammad, Mehmed
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #179 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Boys #21 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)92/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Muhammad has a recorded origin (Arabic); Hugh does not have one recorded yet.
  • Hugh has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Muhammad.
  • A meaning is recorded for Muhammad; Hugh doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
  • The available evidence gives Hugh 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

Hugh

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1955

    First recorded at #91 among boys in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #53 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · 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