Mohammed is now the most popular boys' name...
Discussion
...according to AOL news, sorry if it's a repost...
Article said:
Mohammed is now the most popular name for newborn boys in Britain.
The name was in third place but last year shot up to first place, overtaking Jack, which had topped the list for the past 14 years, and now comes third behind Oliver.
A total of 7,549 newborns were given 12 variations of the Islamic prophet Mohammed's name last year, such as Muhammad and Mohammad.
The second most popular boy's name, Oliver, was given to 7,364 babies. Harry and Alfie came in fourth and fifth place.
The official list, which covers all births in 2009 in England and Wales, has Mohammed at number 16 but this does not include the many different spellings, which are all ranked separately.
When they are added in, Mohammed zooms all the way up to top spot for the first time [snip]
http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/10/28/mohammed-is-now-the-most-popular-boys-name/?icid=mainThe name was in third place but last year shot up to first place, overtaking Jack, which had topped the list for the past 14 years, and now comes third behind Oliver.
A total of 7,549 newborns were given 12 variations of the Islamic prophet Mohammed's name last year, such as Muhammad and Mohammad.
The second most popular boy's name, Oliver, was given to 7,364 babies. Harry and Alfie came in fourth and fifth place.
The official list, which covers all births in 2009 in England and Wales, has Mohammed at number 16 but this does not include the many different spellings, which are all ranked separately.
When they are added in, Mohammed zooms all the way up to top spot for the first time [snip]
Telegraph said:
According to the official version, Oliver is recognised today as the most common name for baby boys. But the official version is disguising the truth....in fact, in all its various spellings, Mohammed is now the favourite name for newborn boys in England and Wales.
Although Oliver has overtaken Jack after 14 years, when variations of the Islamic Prophet's name were included it came top for the first time, given to 7,515 boys, compared with 7,364 Olivers.
Even without variant spellings, Mohammed was the most common boy's name in the West Midlands and the fourth most popular in London. In the South West, however, it ranked 145th. It was 16th overall.
Its popularity was "symbolic of Britain's diversity", said Dr Justin Gest, an academic at Harvard and the London School of Economics, and author of Apart: Alienated and Engaged Muslims in the West.
"Where we had many Johns and Jacks we also have plenty of Mohammeds now."
The figures, from the Office for National Statistics, showed that there were 3,300 boys named Mohammed, 2,162 called Muhammad, 1,073 Mohammads and 980 called either Muhammed, Mohamed, Mohamad, Muhamed or Mohammod.
Experts said the development reflected the name's overwhelming popularity among British Muslims rather than any "explosion" in the British Muslim population.
The figures, for 2009, showed the name had grown substantially in popularity in recent years, coming second the previous year once variants were included.
Muslims see Mohammed as "a paragon of excellence" and seek to emulate his life and follow his guidance, making the name an obvious choice for parents, Dr Gest said.
The figures also heralded the dawn of the age of Olives.
Olivia remained in first place for baby girls, chosen for 5,201, while Oliver was first for boys under the ONS rules, which count spelling variations as separate names.
Although Oliver has overtaken Jack after 14 years, when variations of the Islamic Prophet's name were included it came top for the first time, given to 7,515 boys, compared with 7,364 Olivers.
Even without variant spellings, Mohammed was the most common boy's name in the West Midlands and the fourth most popular in London. In the South West, however, it ranked 145th. It was 16th overall.
Its popularity was "symbolic of Britain's diversity", said Dr Justin Gest, an academic at Harvard and the London School of Economics, and author of Apart: Alienated and Engaged Muslims in the West.
"Where we had many Johns and Jacks we also have plenty of Mohammeds now."
The figures, from the Office for National Statistics, showed that there were 3,300 boys named Mohammed, 2,162 called Muhammad, 1,073 Mohammads and 980 called either Muhammed, Mohamed, Mohamad, Muhamed or Mohammod.
Experts said the development reflected the name's overwhelming popularity among British Muslims rather than any "explosion" in the British Muslim population.
The figures, for 2009, showed the name had grown substantially in popularity in recent years, coming second the previous year once variants were included.
Muslims see Mohammed as "a paragon of excellence" and seek to emulate his life and follow his guidance, making the name an obvious choice for parents, Dr Gest said.
The figures also heralded the dawn of the age of Olives.
Olivia remained in first place for baby girls, chosen for 5,201, while Oliver was first for boys under the ONS rules, which count spelling variations as separate names.
Pothole said:
interesting editing of the article:
"There were 706,248 children born in England and Wales last year."
so less than 0.15%? (maths not my strong point) what exactly is your point OP, if you have one and are not just trolling?
Why is the editing of the article intersting, I merely snipped it rather than copy the whole thing, which I always do. What are you implying?"There were 706,248 children born in England and Wales last year."
so less than 0.15%? (maths not my strong point) what exactly is your point OP, if you have one and are not just trolling?
What relevance has 0.15%?? It's either at the top of the heap ot it isn't.
I would have thought my point was obvious, so much so that you acuse me of trolling.
Pothole said:
interesting editing of the article:
"There were 706,248 children born in England and Wales last year."
so less than 0.15%? (maths not my strong point) what exactly is your point OP, if you have one and are not just trolling?
Oh noes, we're being invaded."There were 706,248 children born in England and Wales last year."
so less than 0.15%? (maths not my strong point) what exactly is your point OP, if you have one and are not just trolling?
I might post my "Oh noes, the islamicals are taking over" graph.
Its most popular because pretty much EVERY muslim boy gets given that name.
My mate is called Mohammed out of necessity almost, but he goes by a different name in day to day life. That's pretty common.
So with 0.15% of the total being Mohammed, its hardly anything amazing.
Imagine every boy born in Liverpool was called Craig and then Craig got to the top of the list. It wouldn't mean Liverpudlians were taking over the UK.
My mate is called Mohammed out of necessity almost, but he goes by a different name in day to day life. That's pretty common.
So with 0.15% of the total being Mohammed, its hardly anything amazing.
Imagine every boy born in Liverpool was called Craig and then Craig got to the top of the list. It wouldn't mean Liverpudlians were taking over the UK.
Shay HTFC said:
Its most popular because pretty much EVERY muslim boy gets given that name.
My mate is called Mohammed out of necessity almost, but he goes by a different name in day to day life. That's pretty common.
So with 0.15% of the total being Mohammed, its hardly anything amazing.
Imagine every boy born in Liverpool was called Craig and then Craig got to the top of the list. It wouldn't mean Liverpudlians were taking over the UK.
Yeap; if there were lots of frenchies living here we'd be seeing 'Jean Pauls' at the top, its a traditional name which is often not actually used. They're too proud/lazy to leave france to travel to britain though My mate is called Mohammed out of necessity almost, but he goes by a different name in day to day life. That's pretty common.
So with 0.15% of the total being Mohammed, its hardly anything amazing.
Imagine every boy born in Liverpool was called Craig and then Craig got to the top of the list. It wouldn't mean Liverpudlians were taking over the UK.
Oh, and I know of very few children called Jack or Oliver. Why would I be worried about a marginally larger number of Mohammeds?
deeps said:
Pothole said:
interesting editing of the article:
"There were 706,248 children born in England and Wales last year."
so less than 0.15%? (maths not my strong point) what exactly is your point OP, if you have one and are not just trolling?
Why is the editing of the article intersting, I merely snipped it rather than copy the whole thing, which I always do. What are you implying?"There were 706,248 children born in England and Wales last year."
so less than 0.15%? (maths not my strong point) what exactly is your point OP, if you have one and are not just trolling?
What relevance has 0.15%?? It's either at the top of the heap ot it isn't.
I would have thought my point was obvious, so much so that you acuse me of trolling.
Pothole said:
deeps said:
Pothole said:
interesting editing of the article:
"There were 706,248 children born in England and Wales last year."
so less than 0.15%? (maths not my strong point) what exactly is your point OP, if you have one and are not just trolling?
Why is the editing of the article intersting, I merely snipped it rather than copy the whole thing, which I always do. What are you implying?"There were 706,248 children born in England and Wales last year."
so less than 0.15%? (maths not my strong point) what exactly is your point OP, if you have one and are not just trolling?
What relevance has 0.15%?? It's either at the top of the heap ot it isn't.
I would have thought my point was obvious, so much so that you acuse me of trolling.
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