Muhammad vs William
Muhammad and Williamcompared 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 William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Muhammad was ranked #2 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Muhammad was ranked #94 and William #3 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Muhammad was ranked #21 and William #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Muhammad was ranked #35 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Muhammad was ranked #154 and William #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Muhammad and William over time
Muhammad and William appear together in 5 published lists, across 168 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Muhammad 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 5 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 2016, Muhammad moved ahead of William in England and Wales · Boys — #12 and #8 the year before became #8 and #11.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Muhammad and William changed places 14 times in Norway · Boys between 1946 and 2025, ending at #94 and #3.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Muhammad and William averaged 31.8 places apart, ending at #1 and #27.
- Longest-running competitions
Muhammad and William were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 77 years, from 1946 to 2025, ending at #94 and #3.
List by list
Norway · Boys77 shared years, 1946–2025
Muhammad held the stronger position in 22 of those years, William in 55.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #70 in 2023, William #1 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Muhammad #94, William #3.
Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1992–2025
Muhammad held the stronger position in 3 of those years, William in 30.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #35 in 2025, William #29 in 1992.
The order changed in 2023: Muhammad moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #86 and #67; by 2023 that had become #63 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Muhammad #35, William #73.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Muhammad held the stronger position in 9 of those years, William in 20.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #1 in 2023, William #7 in 2006.
The order changed in 2016: Muhammad moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #12 and #8; by 2016 that had become #8 and #11.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Muhammad #1, William #27.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 2003–2024
Muhammad held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 15.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #154 in 2024, William #32 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Muhammad #154, William #64.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys14 shared years, 2012–2025
Muhammad held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 14.
Highest recorded here: Muhammad #21 in 2025, William #1 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Muhammad #21, William #11.
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 | William |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Praiseworthy, commendable. | 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 | /muˈħammad/ | /ˈwɪljəm/ |
| 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 #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Muhammad is recorded with a Arabic origin, while William is recorded with a Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) origin.
- Muhammad has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for William.
- Muhammad's recorded meaning differs from William'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 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
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
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 #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys