Muhammad vs Simon
Muhammad and Simoncompared 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 Simon #524 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Muhammad was ranked #2 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Muhammad was ranked #35 and Simon #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Muhammad was ranked #94 and Simon #159 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Muhammad was ranked #192 and Simon #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Muhammad and Simon over time
Muhammad and Simon appear together in 4 published lists, across 147 years of shared records. Simon held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Muhammad in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Simon 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 1997, Muhammad moved ahead of Simon in England and Wales · Boys — #108 and #87 the year before became #95 and #107.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Muhammad and Simon changed places 18 times in Norway · Boys between 1947 and 2025, ending at #94 and #159.
- Longest-running competitions
Muhammad and Simon were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 75 years, from 1947 to 2025, ending at #94 and #159.
List by list
Norway · Boys75 shared years, 1947–2025
Muhammad held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Simon in 51.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #70 in 2023, Simon #35 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Muhammad #94, Simon #159.
Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1992–2025
Muhammad held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Simon in 17.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #35 in 2025, Simon #66 in 1992.
The order changed in 2012: Muhammad moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #180 and #142; by 2012 that had become #156 and #180.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Muhammad #35, Simon #244.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Muhammad held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Simon in 1.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #1 in 2023, Simon #87 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Muhammad moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #108 and #87; by 1997 that had become #95 and #107.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Muhammad #1, Simon #524.
Northern Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 2003–2022
Muhammad held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Simon in 6.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #192 in 2022, Simon #162 in 2003.
The order changed in 2017: Muhammad moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #314 and #259; by 2017 that had become #318 and #415.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Muhammad #192, Simon #311.
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 | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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) | Norway · Boys #159 (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); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Muhammad has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Simon.
- A meaning is recorded for Muhammad; Simon 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 Simon 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
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys