
The short answer
Muhammad is a masculine name used in Arabic and Urdu. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Means ‘praised, commendable’ in Arabic, derived from the root حمد (ḥamida) meaning ‘to praise’. This was the name of the prophet who founded the Islamic religion in the 7th century." It ranked #239 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, means ‘praised, commendable’ in Arabic, derived from the root حمد (ḥamida) meaning ‘to praise’. This was the name of the prophet who founded the Islamic religion in the 7th century. The entry lists its usage as Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto and others.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Muhammad ranked #239 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #239 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (Arabic) and that sit near Muhammad in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Muhammad mean?
Muhammad means "praised, commendable", according to Behind the Name.
Is Muhammad a popular name?
Muhammad ranked #239 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Muhammad a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Muhammad appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Muhammad — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.