Muhammad vs Nathaniel
Muhammad and Nathanielcompared 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, Muhammad was ranked #1 and Nathaniel #144 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Muhammad was ranked #2 and Nathaniel #191 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Muhammad was ranked #35 and Nathaniel #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2019, Muhammad was ranked #45 and Nathaniel #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Muhammad was ranked #94 and Nathaniel #170 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Muhammad was ranked #154 and Nathaniel #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Muhammad and Nathaniel over time
Muhammad and Nathaniel appear together in 4 published lists, across 108 years of shared records. Muhammad held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Nathaniel 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.
Nathaniel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 2022, Muhammad moved ahead of Nathaniel in Northern Ireland · Boys — #326 and #326 the year before became #192 and #234.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Muhammad and Nathaniel changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1989 and 2025, ending at #94 and #170.
- Longest-running competitions
Muhammad and Nathaniel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 34 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #94 and #170.
List by list
Norway · Boys34 shared years, 1989–2025
Muhammad held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Nathaniel in 5.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #70 in 2023, Nathaniel #109 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Muhammad #94, Nathaniel #170.
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1994–2025
Muhammad held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Nathaniel in 2.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #35 in 2025, Nathaniel #219 in 2020.
The order changed in 2001: Muhammad moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #379 and #379; by 2001 that had become #201 and #347.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Muhammad #35, Nathaniel #223.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Muhammad held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Nathaniel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #1 in 2023, Nathaniel #114 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Muhammad #1, Nathaniel #144.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 2003–2024
Muhammad held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Nathaniel in 10.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #154 in 2024, Nathaniel #188 in 2006.
The order changed in 2022: Muhammad moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #326 and #326; by 2022 that had become #192 and #234.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Muhammad #154, Nathaniel #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 | Muhammad | Nathaniel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Praiseworthy, commendable. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Arabic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /muˈħammad/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Mohammed, Mohammad, Mehmed | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #21 (2025) | Norway · Boys #170 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Muhammad has a recorded origin (Arabic); Nathaniel does not have one recorded yet.
- Muhammad and Nathaniel both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Muhammad; Nathaniel 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 Muhammad a "high" Data Confidence level and Nathaniel a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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
Nathaniel
Popularity journey
First recorded1978
First recorded at #326 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2003–2014
Highest recorded position: #79 among boys in New Zealand, in 2012 (recorded 2003–2014).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #170 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys