Classified 20ᵉ last year, the first name Mohammed disappears from the classification of trendy first names for 2026. What first name took its place?
The first name Mohamed is one of the most worn names in the world, especially in Muslim countries, because of his association with the Prophet of Islam. In France, it is also the most attributed Arabic first name with 1995 births recorded in 2024. First names of Arab origin are particularly in vogue, especially among parents who wish to transmit their culture through generations. But this year, Mohammed was dethroned by a completely different first name, which simply brought him out of the classification of the most trendy first names for 2026, since he no longer appears in the Top 20.
“Mohammed, who has increased over the past decade, has been reached a ceiling for a few years“, Confirms Stéphanie Rapoport, the author of the first name official (First editions). But then, what first name took the place of Mohammed? This time, it is not a major figure of Islam.”‘There is as a postponement of allocation to first names visibly less associated with great religious figures “analyzes the specialist. Thus, it is the first name Imran which will undoubtedly be positioned in 2026 in 20ᵉ position of the most popular first names, in place of Mohammed. However, the name Imran is not so simple to pronounce with the M and the R which follow one another. “These are not sounds that we are used to hearing” and yet he earns positions.
The first name Imrân translates into “flourishing”, “fulfilled” and refers to prosperity and longevity. Since the 2000s, this name of Arab origin, mentioned in the Koran, has been increasing. In 2024, there were 1855 births, against only 44 births in the year 2000.
For 2026, other names of Arab origin continue to seduce young parents in search of modernity and strong meaning. In addition to Imran, first names like Elias, Samir, Rayan, or even Zayn, who have experienced a significant increase in recent years, should be among the most popular first names. The first name Elias, in particular, is an example of this evolution, with a strong progression observed in recent years, just like Samir, synonymous with light and nobility.
