Namewise

Julian vs Muhammad

Julian 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, Julian was ranked #280 and Muhammad #1 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Julian was ranked #234 and Muhammad #2 among boys in Scotland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2024, Julian was ranked #87 and Muhammad #24 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Julian was ranked #348 and Muhammad #35 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Julian was ranked #54 and Muhammad #94 among boys in Norway.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2023, Julian was ranked #348 and Muhammad #232 among boys in Northern Ireland.

Julian and Muhammad over time

Julian and Muhammad appear together in 3 published lists, across 115 years of shared records. Muhammad held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Julian 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.

Julian 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 1994, Julian moved ahead of Muhammad in Norway · Boys — #155 and #152 the year before became #177 and #238.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Julian and Muhammad changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1992 and 2025, ending at #348 and #35.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 31 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Muhammad rose about as far as Julian fell — from #202 and #337 in 1992 to #348 and #35 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Julian and Muhammad were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 55 years, from 1967 to 2025, ending at #54 and #94.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Julian #267 in 2022, Muhammad #1 in 2023.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys55 shared years, 19672025

    Julian held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Muhammad in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Julian #26 in 2011, Muhammad #70 in 2023.

    The order changed in 1994: Julian moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #155 and #152; by 1994 that had become #177 and #238.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Julian #54, Muhammad #94.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys31 shared years, 19922025

    Julian held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Muhammad in 26.

    Highest recorded here: Julian #183 in 2020, Muhammad #35 in 2025.

    The order changed in 2000: Muhammad moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #290 and #379; by 2000 that had become #390 and #223.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Julian #348, Muhammad #35.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

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

    Highest recorded here: Julian #267 in 2022, Muhammad #1 in 2023.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Julian #280, Muhammad #1.

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 Julian, Muhammad
FieldJulianMuhammad
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 usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #54 (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); Julian does not have one recorded yet.
  • Julian has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Muhammad.
  • A meaning is recorded for Muhammad; Julian doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
  • The available evidence gives Julian 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

Julian

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #191 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1967–2025

    Highest recorded position: #26 among boys in Norway, in 2011 (recorded 1967–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #54 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