Max vs Mohammed
Max and Mohammedcompared 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, Max was ranked #44 and Mohammed #21 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Max was ranked #29 and Mohammed #117 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Max was ranked #30 and Mohammed #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Max was ranked #41 and Mohammed #468 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Max was ranked #72 and Mohammed #128 among boys in Norway.
Max and Mohammed over time
Max and Mohammed appear together in 4 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Mohammed reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Max 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 2008, Max moved ahead of Mohammed in Norway · Boys — #126 and #125 the year before became #95 and #115.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Max and Mohammed changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #44 and #21.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Max and Mohammed averaged 9.7 places apart, ending at #44 and #21.
- Mirrored each other
Over 37 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Max rose about as far as Mohammed fell — from #317 and #256 in 1986 to #41 and #468 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Max and Mohammed were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 62 years, from 1946 to 2025, ending at #72 and #128.
List by list
Norway · Boys62 shared years, 1946–2025
Max held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Mohammed in 41.
Highest recorded here: Max #60 in 2012, Mohammed #102 in 2002.
The order changed in 2008: Max moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #126 and #125; by 2008 that had become #95 and #115.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Max #72, Mohammed #128.
Republic of Ireland · Boys37 shared years, 1986–2025
Max held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Mohammed in 2.
Highest recorded here: Max #27 in 2022, Mohammed #179 in 1998.
The order changed in 1995: Max moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #267 and #238; by 1995 that had become #241 and #301.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Max #41, Mohammed #468.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Max held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Mohammed in 21.
Highest recorded here: Max #18 in 2012, Mohammed #16 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Max #44, Mohammed #21.
Northern Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 1999–2024
Max held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Mohammed in 0.
Highest recorded here: Max #30 in 2024, Mohammed #255 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Max #30, Mohammed #278.
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 | Max | Mohammed |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A short form of Maximilian or Maxim, ultimately from Latin 'maximus' (greatest). | Alternate transcription of the Arabic محمّد, traditionally interpreted as 'praiseworthy, commendable' — the same underlying name as Muhammad, spelled via a different, independently well-established transliteration. |
| Origin | Latin, via Maximilian/Maxim | Arabic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmæks/ | /mu.ˈħam.mad/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Muhammad |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #30 (2025) | Norway · Boys #128 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Max is recorded with a Latin, via Maximilian/Maxim origin, while Mohammed is recorded with a Arabic origin.
- Max has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Mohammed.
- Max's recorded meaning differs from Mohammed's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Max a "medium" Data Confidence level and Mohammed a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Max
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #359 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1992–2023
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New Zealand, in 2016 (recorded 1992–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Mohammed
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #218 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in England and Wales, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #128 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys