NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Muslim

An Arabic name meaning "one who submits to God".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Muslim is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Muslim popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 5 births.

This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2013 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Muslim is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 11 living people in the UK are called Muslim. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Muslim ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 5 boys were registered as Muslim.
  • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Muslim as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3688

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2024

5 births

Estimated living

11

2026

Meaning

What does Muslim mean?

The name Muslim has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the root word "salama," which means "peace" or "submission." It is closely linked to the Islamic faith and culture, as it refers to an adherent or follower of Islam.

Muslim is first mentioned in the Quran, the central religious text of Islam, as early as the 7th century CE. The word is used to describe individuals who have submitted themselves to the will of God (Allah) and embraced the teachings of the Islamic faith.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Muslim can be found in historical accounts of the life of the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, who lived from 570 to 632 CE. He is often referred to as the first Muslim, as he received and spread the revelations that form the basis of the Islamic religion.

Throughout history, there have been numerous notable figures who bore the name Muslim. One of the most famous was Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, a renowned scholar of hadith (the recorded sayings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad) who lived from 817 to 875 CE. His extensive work, known as the Sahih Muslim, is considered one of the most authoritative collections of hadith in Sunni Islam.

Another prominent individual with the name Muslim was Muslim ibn Qutaybah, an Arabic scholar and author who lived from 828 to 889 CE. He wrote extensively on various topics, including literature, history, and theology, and his works are considered invaluable sources for understanding the intellectual and cultural landscape of the early Islamic world.

In the 14th century, Muslim al-Naysaburi, a Persian mathematician and astronomer, made significant contributions to the field of mathematics. He is credited with developing advanced techniques for solving cubic equations and is known for his work on the construction of astrolabes, which were important astronomical instruments used for navigation and timekeeping.

Another notable figure was Muslim ibn al-Walid, a renowned Arab general and military strategist who lived from 637 to 701 CE. He played a crucial role in the Muslim conquests of the 7th century, leading successful campaigns in areas such as Persia, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia, which helped expand the reach of the Islamic empire.

During the 19th century, Muslim Khayr al-Din al-Tunisi, a Tunisian statesman and reformer, was instrumental in advocating for modernization and reforms within the Ottoman Empire. His efforts aimed to introduce Western-style educational and administrative systems while preserving Islamic values and traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Muslim over time

The chart below shows babies named Muslim registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2013 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Muslim, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Muslim
01345201320182024

Decades

Muslim by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Muslim was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #4148 8 2
2010s #4685 3 1

Related

Names similar to Muslim

FAQ

Muslim: questions and answers

How popular is the name Muslim in the UK right now?

In 2024, Muslim was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Muslim most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 5 babies registered as Muslim in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Muslim?

An Arabic name meaning "one who submits to God".

How many people are called Muslim in the UK?

A total of 11 babies have been registered as Muslim across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.