by Stefanina Hill

Created on: November 23, 2007

To quote The Columbia Encyclopedia (2000, sixth edition), Muhammad is "probably the most common given name" worldwide when all variations are taken into considered and there an estimated fifteen million people worldwide who have the name Muhammad.

Going by the United States Social Security Administration Muhammad ranks as the 639th most popular name for babies born in the United States in 2006, Mohammed ranked 633rd and Mohammad at 589th.

Muhammad is also very common as a surname and in the Arab world it can be used as a generic name in situations where someone does not know the actual name of the man they wish to address. Outside of the Arab continent Muhammad can be used as a prefix or as a suffix to another name. Application of this name is considered an honourable and respectful form of address.

The name itself is given in tribute to the prophet Muhammad (born 570 CE) who was the founder of Islam and, according to the Muslim faith, the last messenger and prophet of God (Allah). Muhammad is said to have received his first revelation from God at the age of 40 and by his death (632 CE) most of Arabia had converted to Islam. The name literally means one who is praiseworthy' and it is popular with Muslim families wishing to honour their religion and it's prophet, the name is also considered to be an honour to bear and is a mark of the parent's faith in the child's future as a someone worthy of the prophet's name.

In England Muhammad'(with all spelling variations taken into account) is the second most popular boy's name, Jack' takes first place and in third place is Thomas'. The spelling Mohammed' ranked in at number 23 on the official names register when counted independently of the other spelling variations.

One of the most well known men named Muhammad in the modern day is Muhammed Ali, born Cassius Clay, the famous American boxer who changed his name after joining the Nation of Islam in 1964.

There are fourteen legitimate spellings of the name which are derived from replacing the original Arabic with the closest Latin equivalent, variations come into play when things like pronunciation and region are taken into play.

'Muhammad' is a common anglicized spelling of the Arabic however the most common transliteration is 'Mohammed', below are listed the fourteen variant spellings;

Mohammed
Muhammad
Mohammad
Muhammed
Mohamed
Moh amad
Mahammed
Mohammod
Mahamed
Muhammod
Muhamad
Mohmmed
Moh amud
Mohammud

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