“Mohammed Ali” was the most common first-name combination given to newborn boys in Germany in 2025, according to newly published naming statistics compiled by name researcher Knud Bielefeld.
The data show that Sophia and Noah were once again the most popular individual first names nationwide. Among children given two first names, Mia Sophie ranked first for girls, while “Mohammed Ali” topped the list for boys, rising from fourth place the previous year.
The rankings are based on an analysis of around 250,000 births in 2025, covering roughly 40% of all newborns in Germany. According to the study, 37% of children receive at least two first names, while only around 3% are given three or more.
The statistics also reveal marked regional differences. While the name “Mohammed” ranks 17th nationwide, it appears far more frequently in several western and urban regions. In Berlin-Brandenburg and Bremen-Lower Saxony it ranks sixth, seventh in Hesse, and eighth in North Rhine-Westphalia.
By contrast, the name is significantly less common in eastern and southern states. In Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania it ranks 32nd, while in Baden-Württemberg it places 31st, and in Bavaria and Saxony 34th. In Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, “Mohammed” does not appear in the top 35 at all.
Bielefeld notes that the statistics are representative but not official, as Germany does not maintain a single nationwide registry of first names. The rankings are compiled using data from local registry offices, selected cities, and maternity hospitals.
