Mohammed vs William
Mohammed and William compared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Mohammed was ranked #128 and William #3 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Mohammed was ranked #20 and William #25 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Mohammed was ranked #278 and William #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Mohammed was ranked #117 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Mohammed was ranked #468 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Mohammed and William over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Mohammed and William over time
Mohammed and William appear together in 4 published lists, across 158 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Mohammed in 0.
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.
William reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Mohammed in 1. 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 2023, Mohammed moved ahead of William in England and Wales · Boys — #27 and #24 the year before became #28 and #29.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Mohammed and William changed places 11 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #128 and #3.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Mohammed and William averaged 12.4 places apart, ending at #20 and #25.
- Longest-running competitions
Mohammed and William were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #20 and #25.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Mohammed #16 in 2008, William #7 in 2006.
List by list
Norway · Boys80 shared years, 1945–2025
Mohammed held the stronger position in 40 of those years, William in 40.
Highest recorded here: Mohammed #102 in 2002, William #1 in 2012.
The order changed in 1993: William moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #124 and #128; by 1993 that had become #113 and #112.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Mohammed #128, William #3.
Republic of Ireland · Boys38 shared years, 1980–2025
Mohammed held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 38.
Highest recorded here: Mohammed #179 in 1998, William #14 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Mohammed #468, William #73.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Mohammed held the stronger position in 3 of those years, William in 27.
Highest recorded here: Mohammed #16 in 2008, William #7 in 2006.
The order changed in 2023: Mohammed moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #27 and #24; by 2023 that had become #28 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Mohammed #20, William #25.
Northern Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 1999–2024
Mohammed held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 10.
Highest recorded here: Mohammed #255 in 2018, William #26 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Mohammed #278, William #64.
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 Mohammed
Pairs where Mohammed shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Mohammed vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #36 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #20 and #716.
Mohammed · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ben vs Mohammed
In 1996 they stood at #34 and #36 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #487 and #20.
Ben · Mohammed · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mohammed vs Bradley
In 1996 they stood at #36 and #31 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #20 and #352.
Mohammed · Bradley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Andrew vs Mohammed
In 1996 they stood at #29 and #36 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #334 and #20.
Andrew · Mohammed · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving William
Pairs where William shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- William vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #26 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2023 they were #58 and #395.
William · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Brendan
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #73 and #402.
William · Brendan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Bradley
In 1996 they stood at #21 and #31 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #25 and #352.
William · Bradley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Andrew
In 1996 they stood at #21 and #29 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #25 and #334.
William · Andrew · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #66.
Daniel · Samuel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.5 places apart, ending at #66 and #59.
Samuel · Joseph · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from England and Wales lists
Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Hayley vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #478 and #4867.
Hayley · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natalie vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #42 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #634 and #4867.
Natalie · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #4867.
Jennifer · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Nicola
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #87 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #4201.
Lily · Nicola · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Mohammed | William |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | 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. | Commonly interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'will helmet', combining the ideas of desire/will and protection. |
| Origin | Arabic | Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) |
| Pronunciation | /mu.ˈħam.mad/ | /ˈwɪljəm/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Muhammad | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #20 (2025) | Norway · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Mohammed is recorded with a Arabic origin, while William is recorded with a Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) origin.
- Mohammed has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for William.
- Mohammed's recorded meaning differs from William'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 Mohammed a "high" Data Confidence level and William a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in England and Wales, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #20 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
William
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #277 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #25 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys