Ismail vs Muhammad
Ismail 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, Ismail was ranked #286 and Muhammad #1 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ismail was ranked #404 and Muhammad #2 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ismail was ranked #577 and Muhammad #35 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Ismail was ranked #252 and Muhammad #94 among boys in Norway.
Ismail and Muhammad over time
Ismail and Muhammad appear together in 3 published lists, across 105 years of shared records. Muhammad held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ismail in 0.
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.
Ismail 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Ismail and Muhammad were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 67 years, from 1949 to 2025, ending at #252 and #94.
List by list
Norway · Boys67 shared years, 1949–2025
Ismail held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Muhammad in 64.
Highest recorded here: Ismail #218 in 2007, Muhammad #70 in 2023.
The order changed in 1978: Muhammad moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #293 and #314; by 1978 that had become #417 and #216.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ismail #252, Muhammad #94.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ismail held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Muhammad in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ismail #219 in 2004, Muhammad #1 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ismail #286, Muhammad #1.
Republic of Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 2005–2025
Ismail held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Muhammad in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ismail #472 in 2024, Muhammad #35 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ismail #577, Muhammad #35.
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 | Ismail | 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 | Not yet recorded | /muˈħammad/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Mohammed, Mohammad, Mehmed |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #252 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #21 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Muhammad has a recorded origin (Arabic); Ismail does not have one recorded yet.
- Ismail has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Muhammad.
- A meaning is recorded for Muhammad; Ismail doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Ismail 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
Ismail
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #305 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1949–2025
Highest recorded position: #218 among boys in Norway, in 2007 (recorded 1949–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #252 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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