Muslim Baby Names in London: Meanings & 2027 Guide

Quick answer

To choose a Muslim baby name in London, check three things: the name’s verified meaning and source, a spelling that works in Arabic, your family languages and English, and the registration rules of the borough where your baby is born. In England a birth must be registered within 42 days (GOV.UK), so families who name the baby on the seventh day still have time to book a register office appointment.

How to choose a Muslim baby name in London: a six-point check

London families bring many languages and traditions, so there is no single London pattern. A name that is easy at home can be mispronounced at nursery, in a GP surgery or on a school register, so test each finalist in every setting your child will meet.

1. Confirm the source. Decide whether the name is a prophet’s name in the Qur’an, a Qur’anic word, a name from early Islamic history, or simply an Arabic or Persian name that Muslim families use. These are different claims (see the table below).
2. Say it aloud in every setting. Try it with your family’s language and with a London English accent, and check likely nicknames.
3. Fix one Latin spelling. Write the Arabic, the pronunciation and the exact English letters. Muhammad, Mohammed and Mohammad are separate spellings of the same Arabic name.
4. Decide the full-name structure. Agree which names are forenames, which is a middle name and which is the surname. This matters most for compound names such as Uddin or Ullah and for patronymic naming.
5. Check initials. Read the initials of the complete name for unintended words.
6. Ask a qualified scholar about specific concerns. Questions about a name’s meaning or suitability are best put to someone who can consider your family’s situation.

What “Islamic name” can mean

Names built with Abd (“servant of”) plus one of God’s names, such as Abdullah, are widely used. If you are weighing a name that is itself a divine name, ask a scholar before deciding.

Muslim boy names with meanings

These are starting points for London families, not a ranking. ONS ranks are for England and Wales in 2025 where available (see the data section). Browse more in our Muslim boy names directory.

Muslim girl names with meanings

Browse the full Muslim girl names directory, or start with these well-documented options.

What official data says about Muslim names in England and Wales

The ONS baby-name rankings for 2025, published in July 2026, give the best public view of how often these names are registered. They count names, not religion, and cover England and Wales rather than London alone.

• Muhammad ranked first for boys for the third year running, with 5,957 births. Noah was second.
• The ONS counts spellings separately. Mohammed ranked 20th (1,712) and Mohammad 55th (895). Adding those three spellings gives about 8,560 boys (our arithmetic, not an ONS figure), and other spellings fall outside the top 100.
• Muhammad was the most popular boys’ name in four of the nine English regions, including London.
• Musa and Yusuf both ranked 64th (798 boys each), with Ibrahim 70th and Yahya 81st.

Use these figures as context, not a recommendation. A highly ranked name means more classmates may share it; a lower-ranked one is simply less common.

Muslim baby names by community in London

Ethnic group and religion are different things: a Census figure for an ethnic group does not tell you how many of those residents are Muslim. The community notes below combine ethnic-group data with naming conventions to help you prepare for the registration appointment.

Bengali and Bangladeshi families (Tower Hamlets, Newham and east London)

In Census 2021, 34.7% of Tower Hamlets residents identified as Bangladeshi or British Bangladeshi, the highest share of any single ethnic minority group in a London borough (Trust for London). Bangladeshi communities in London are concentrated in east London boroughs.

Bengali Muslim families often choose names of Arabic origin, followed by Persian and Bengali names, and there is no strictly fixed structure for a full name. Uddin, Ullah, Miah, Ali and Hossain are among the leading Bangladeshi surnames in the UK, while Begum, Bibi and Khatun commonly appear as women’s second names. Examples to explore: Rayyan, Tahmid, Tasnim, Jannat, Maryam, Safiya.

Registration tip: before the appointment, agree which element is the legal surname and write every name in the order you want it recorded.

Pakistani and Kashmiri heritage families (Redbridge, Waltham Forest and beyond)

Only two London boroughs have more than 10% of residents identifying as Pakistani or British Pakistani: Redbridge (14.2%) and Waltham Forest (10.4%) (Trust for London). Families trace roots to different regions and languages, so patterns vary.

Many South Asian Muslim families give a first name such as Muhammad and use a second name day to day. If that is your plan, decide which name appears first on official records, because NHS, school and passport forms often default to the first forename. Examples to explore: Hamza, Bilal, Yusuf, Zainab, Hafsa, Amna.

Indian Muslim families across London

Indian-ethnicity residents are concentrated most strongly in west London (28.8% in Harrow), but that figure covers all faiths. In Census 2021, 5.1% of Londoners were Hindu and 15.0% were Muslim, so do not equate Indian ethnicity with any one religion. Indian Muslim families with Gujarati, Hyderabadi, North Indian or South Indian roots live across the capital and often choose Arabic names with a regional family surname. Examples to explore: Ibrahim, Zayd, Aisha, Khadijah, Noor.

Other London Muslim communities: Somali, Arab, Turkish, Afghan and more

Somali names traditionally follow the pattern of given name, father’s name and paternal grandfather’s name, with no family name. Some families hyphenate the last two or choose one as the legal surname to suit UK forms. HM Passport Office guidance notes that Somali and Arabic names do not translate directly, so spellings can vary between documents. In Enfield, for example, the council’s Census summary counts 8,089 Somali residents (2.5%), alongside 8,142 Bangladeshi (2.5%) and 12,015 Indian (3.6%).

Registration tip: decide your child’s legal forename, middle name and surname before the appointment, then use the same order everywhere.

Borough guide: where to register a birth in London

You register in the district where the baby was born. Council details below were checked on 16 October 2026; confirm opening arrangements when you book.

Hospital boundaries that confuse parents

• Queen’s Hospital, Romford: Havering says every baby born there can be registered at Havering, and Redbridge or Barking and Dagenham residents can use their own borough’s office instead.
• Whipps Cross Hospital: Redbridge says these births must be registered in Waltham Forest.

Ealing, Harrow, Brent, Hounslow and Waltham Forest also have large South Asian Muslim communities. Check each council’s register office page for its own appointment rules.

Registering the birth step by step

1. Confirm the district. Use the register office for the area where the baby was born. If you cannot get there, another office can take your details and forward them, which can delay certificates.
2. Book an appointment. Do this as soon as possible after the birth, well inside the 42-day limit.
3. Bring identification. GOV.UK lists a passport, birth certificate, deed poll, driving licence, proof of address or a Council Tax bill.
4. Know the details. You will give the baby’s name, surname and sex, the place and date of birth, the parents’ names, addresses, places and dates of birth, and other details depending on who registers.
5. Check every letter before you sign. Once signed, the register is a legal record. Corrections follow a formal process and can carry a statutory fee.
6. Buy certificates and claim benefits. You can buy copies at the appointment, and you may be able to claim Child Benefit after registering.

If English is not your first language: Ealing Council says you may bring a friend or relative to help, but you must register the birth yourself. Other boroughs may differ, so ask when you book. Write each name in Latin letters on a card to hand over.

Seventh-day naming and the 42-day rule

Many Muslim families name the baby on the seventh day and hold an aqiqah. That is a religious practice and not a legal requirement. The legal requirement in England is registration within 42 days, so there is time for both. For questions about religious timing, ask your imam or a qualified scholar.

If you have not chosen a name by day 42, you must still register the birth. NCT guidance, citing legislation, says the name can be left blank and added within a year of registration. Ask your register office how this works before relying on it.

Changing or correcting a name after registration

• Forename: Tower Hamlets and Hounslow say a first or middle name can be changed within 12 months of registration. Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea says a forename change can be made once in that first year.
• Surname: This is harder. A deed poll can show a child is known by a different surname, but it does not alter the original register entry.
• Mistakes: Errors are corrected through a formal process, often with a fee. A correction cannot be used to show new information after circumstances change.

If you had a nikah only

In England and Wales, a nikah on its own does not create a legally recognised marriage unless the civil formalities were also met. For birth registration, GOV.UK’s rules for married and unmarried parents decide who must attend for the father or second parent to be included. Ealing and Redbridge both say that unmarried parents must register together for both to appear on the certificate. Check with your register office before you book.

Frequently asked questions

What are good Muslim baby names for London families?

Start with names whose meaning and source you can verify, then test pronunciation and spelling in English. Popular options in the ONS data include Muhammad, Yusuf, Musa, Ibrahim and Yahya for boys (England and Wales, 2025), while Maryam, Noor, Aisha and Khadijah are well-known girls’ names with Qur’anic or early Islamic associations. Official rankings count names, not religion.

How long do I have to register a baby born in London?

You have 42 days from the birth, under GOV.UK guidance for England. Register at the office for the area where the baby was born or, if the hospital offers it, before leaving. Book ahead, because Tower Hamlets, Newham and Redbridge register births by appointment. If you cannot attend that office, another one can take details and forward them, which can delay certificates.

Can we name the baby on day seven and still register in time?

Yes. Naming on the seventh day is a religious custom for many families, and the legal deadline is 42 days, so there is time for both. Book your registration appointment early, keep the chosen spelling written down, and ask your scholar about any religious timing questions.

Where do I register if my baby was born at Queen’s Hospital, Romford or Whipps Cross?

Redbridge says births at Queen’s Hospital, Romford can be registered with Redbridge if you live in Redbridge, and Havering says all babies born at Queen’s can be registered at Havering. Redbridge says Whipps Cross births must be registered in Waltham Forest. Check the borough page before booking.

Do we both need to attend if we only had a nikah?

Possibly. England and Wales law does not treat a nikah on its own as a legal marriage unless civil formalities were met, and GOV.UK’s rules differ for married and unmarried parents. Ealing and Redbridge say unmarried parents must register together for both to be on the certificate. Confirm with your register office before booking.

Can I bring a relative to help if English is not my first language?

Ealing Council says you may bring a friend or relative to help, but you must register the birth yourself. Other boroughs may handle this differently, so ask when you book. Bring identification and write down the exact spelling of every name in Latin letters.

Should I use Muhammad, Mohammed or Mohammad?

They are different Latin spellings of محمد. The ONS counts spellings separately: in 2025 Muhammad ranked first (5,957 babies), Mohammed 20th (1,712) and Mohammad 55th (895). Choose the spelling your family prefers, check it before you sign the register, and use it consistently on every document.

How are Somali or other patronymic names recorded?

Somali names traditionally follow a given name, a father’s name and a grandfather’s name, with no family name. HM Passport Office guidance notes that Somali and Arabic names do not translate directly, so spelling variations can appear in official documents. Decide before the appointment which names will be the forename, middle name and surname, and keep that order consistent.

Can I change my baby’s name after registration?

Councils including Tower Hamlets and Hounslow say a forename can be changed within 12 months of registration, and one council notes this can be done once. Surnames are harder, and later changes typically use a deed poll, which does not alter the original register entry. Corrections to mistakes follow a formal process and may involve a fee.

What if we have not chosen a name within 42 days?

You still need to register the birth within 42 days. NCT guidance citing legislation says the name can be left blank and added within a year of registration, but procedures matter, so ask your register office how it works before relying on this.

Which London boroughs have the most Muslim residents?

In Census 2021, Tower Hamlets had the highest Muslim share of any local authority in England and Wales (39.9%), followed in London by Newham (34.8%). By number, Tower Hamlets had about 124,000 Muslim residents, Newham about 122,000 and Redbridge about 97,000. Across London, 15.0% of residents identified as Muslim.

How should Bengali names like Uddin, Begum or Khatun be recorded?

Bengali Muslim naming has no single fixed structure. Uddin, Ullah, Miah, Ali and Hossain are among the leading Bangladeshi surnames in the UK, while Begum, Bibi and Khatun commonly appear as women’s second names. Before the appointment, agree which element is the legal surname and write the names in order.

Sources and further reading

Official and statistical sources

• GOV.UK: register a birth · who can register a birth
• ONS Census 2021: religion in England and Wales
• ONS: baby names for boys, England and Wales · girls
• Greater London Authority: Census 2021 ethnicity, language and religion release
• Trust for London: Census 2021 deep dive on ethnicity in London
• Enfield Council: 2021 Census headline report
• HM Passport Office: Somalia knowledge base profile

Council register office pages

• Tower Hamlets · Newham · Redbridge · Havering · Ealing

Qur’an references

• Surah Maryam (19) · Surah Yusuf (12) · Surah An-Nur (24) · Surah Al-Mutaffifin (83) · Surah Al-Ahzab (33)

Explore more on this site

• Browse Muslim boy names · Browse Muslim girl names · Islamic naming guide

Editorial note: examples are not a popularity survey for London. Registration rules apply to England; Scotland and Northern Ireland differ. Council details can change, so confirm on the council page when you book. This guide does not give religious rulings; ask a qualified scholar. Last reviewed 16 October 2026.