Muhammad vs Ruben
Muhammad and Rubencompared 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 Ruben #126 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Muhammad was ranked #2 and Ruben #130 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Muhammad was ranked #35 and Ruben #188 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Muhammad was ranked #94 and Ruben #269 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Muhammad was ranked #154 and Ruben #256 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Muhammad and Ruben over time
Muhammad and Ruben appear together in 4 published lists, across 134 years of shared records. Muhammad held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ruben 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.
Ruben 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Muhammad and Ruben changed places 12 times in Norway · Boys between 1956 and 2025, ending at #94 and #269.
- Longest-running competitions
Muhammad and Ruben were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 66 years, from 1956 to 2025, ending at #94 and #269.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Muhammad #1 in 2023, Ruben #110 in 2021.
List by list
Norway · Boys66 shared years, 1956–2025
Muhammad held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Ruben in 31.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #70 in 2023, Ruben #52 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Muhammad #94, Ruben #269.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Muhammad held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Ruben in 0.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #1 in 2023, Ruben #110 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Muhammad #1, Ruben #126.
Republic of Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 2001–2025
Muhammad held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Ruben in 0.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #35 in 2025, Ruben #178 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Muhammad #35, Ruben #188.
Northern Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 2005–2024
Muhammad held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Ruben in 11.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #154 in 2024, Ruben #163 in 2022.
The order changed in 2023: Muhammad moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #192 and #163; by 2023 that had become #232 and #348.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Muhammad #154, Ruben #256.
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 | Ruben |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Mohammed, Mohammad, Mehmed | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #21 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #188 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Arabic); Ruben does not have one recorded yet.
- Muhammad has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Ruben.
- A meaning is recorded for Muhammad; Ruben doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Muhammad a "high" Data Confidence level and Ruben 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
Ruben
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #349 among boys in Norway in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1953–2025
Highest recorded position: #52 among boys in Norway, in 1995 (recorded 1953–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #269 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys