Muhammad vs Oscar
Muhammad and Oscarcompared 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 Oscar #9 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Muhammad was ranked #2 and Oscar #22 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Muhammad was ranked #21 and Oscar #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Muhammad was ranked #35 and Oscar #31 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Muhammad was ranked #154 and Oscar #34 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Muhammad was ranked #94 and Oscar #51 among boys in Norway.
Muhammad and Oscar over time
Muhammad and Oscar appear together in 5 published lists, across 162 years of shared records. Oscar held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Muhammad in 1.
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.
Oscar 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 1994, Oscar moved ahead of Muhammad in Norway · Boys — #152 and #217 the year before became #238 and #156.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Muhammad and Oscar changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1 and #9.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Muhammad and Oscar averaged 7.0 places apart, ending at #1 and #9.
- Longest-running competitions
Muhammad and Oscar were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 71 years, from 1946 to 2025, ending at #94 and #51.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Muhammad #21 in 2025, Oscar #17 in 2025.
List by list
Norway · Boys71 shared years, 1946–2025
Muhammad held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Oscar in 37.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #70 in 2023, Oscar #35 in 2013.
The order changed in 1994: Oscar moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #152 and #217; by 1994 that had become #238 and #156.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Muhammad #94, Oscar #51.
Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1992–2025
Muhammad held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Oscar in 32.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #35 in 2025, Oscar #30 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Muhammad #35, Oscar #31.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Muhammad held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Oscar in 9.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #1 in 2023, Oscar #7 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Muhammad #1, Oscar #9.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 2003–2024
Muhammad held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oscar in 15.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #154 in 2024, Oscar #25 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Muhammad #154, Oscar #34.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys14 shared years, 2012–2025
Muhammad held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oscar in 14.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #21 in 2025, Oscar #17 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Muhammad #21, Oscar #17.
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 | Oscar |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Praiseworthy, commendable. | Possibly 'deer friend' (Irish), or possibly derived from an Old English/Old Norse name meaning 'god spear' — the origin is genuinely disputed. |
| Origin | Arabic | Disputed — possibly Irish, possibly Old English/Old Norse |
| Pronunciation | /muˈħammad/ | /ˈɑskər/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| 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) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #17 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Muhammad is recorded with a Arabic origin, while Oscar is recorded with a Disputed — possibly Irish, possibly Old English/Old Norse origin.
- Muhammad has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Oscar.
- Muhammad's recorded meaning differs from Oscar's — see the table above for each.
- 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 Oscar 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
Oscar
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #263 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: #7 among boys in England and Wales, in 2013 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys