Mohammed: How this popular name tells story of changing nation

Mohamed Asani, 40, Pakistan-born music teacher and celebrated classical sitarist, Leeds

The "Mohamed" in my name is unusual because it is actually my first name - not a prefix, as is the case with many who have the name. Of course, I am aware of the link to the Prophet, but I do not associate my name with religion for this reason - and that surprises some of the people I meet, who expect it to carry a spiritual resonance. As far as I'm concerned, whatever your name might be, it's more about how you look, how you feel and how you treat people. I have no beard and I dress casually. My colleagues in Yorkshire (I'm a visiting lecturer in Indian music and Ensemble technique at the University of Huddersfield and teach sitar at the University of Leeds) will tell you that my outlook is very eclectic.

That said, I do wonder if a name has an inherent destiny - so yes, perhaps being called Mohamed has changed my life. I certainly wouldn't change my name and don't feel uncomfortable with it as some might possibly do. It is a beautiful name and it should be used freely - however it is spelt - and I do not believe those who share my name should be afraid of being different. I don't want the common use of the name to make me like everyone else. I want to be a different type of Mohamed.

Mohammed Avais Bhutta, 26, Software Consultant, London

I went to a community high school where I grew up in Rochdale. In all my new classes when the teacher took the register, they called out, "Mohammed". I remember sitting there waiting to hear my name and would only realise after a while they meant me. I had to remind them that while Mohammed is on my birth certificate, I've always been called by my middle name - Avais.

Recently, some of my friends started to call me Momo. They meant no harm, but I asked them to stop using it: the name Mohammed is a sign of respect to the Prophet and turning it into a nickname is disrespectful. I might not use the name, but it's part of who I am.

I would have thought the name would have decreased in popularity, with all the negative press Muslims get. I have not been discriminated against, but I know a lot of Muslims who have. Perhaps that, and the increasingly multicultural demographic of Britain, is why Mohammed is becoming common - Muslim parents are trying to hold on to certain traditions.

I'm not sure I'd call my own children Mohammed. I might copy my brother, who has called his son Ayaan Mohammed Bhutta, which keeps the name as a sign of respect but would put an end to all the confusion in the classroom.

Muhammad Anwar, 61, Professor of Ethnic Relations at Warwick University, Warwick

I came to the UK from Pakistan aged 25 to take a PhD at Bradford University and, strange though it may sound to some, my name has always given me strength; a confidence to draw on. I am proud of my name and I like it very much, for a number of reasons. It shows a link with the Prophet and that gives me confidence. My surname, Anwar, means "more light". I think my parents wanted me to play some leading role in this world. Others feel the same about their names and their meanings: the name Rasool means "messenger", for instance.

I feel I've been rewarded for my work in the race relations industry [an OBE in recognition of his contribution to higher education], but my message for many years is that British Asians should broaden their identity and join a more diverse number of professions and not just concentrate on law and medicine. I'm glad that increasing numbers are going into teaching - but would like to see far more doing so.

Mohammed Iqbal, 50, Pharmaceutical Manager, Bradford, West Yorkshire

I was born in the Pakistan side of Kashmir and came here in 1967. We lived in the border area, which was partitioned and it was very unsettling and unsafe. The other reason why we came was for our education. My eldest brother came first, in 1961.

My name means "praiseworthy" and at this stage of my life it's the most wonderful thing to have. But if you had asked me the same question when I was 17, 18 or 19 I wouldn't have said the same thing. I had major difficulties because of the cultural mix and turmoil of growing up in a migrant society. Britain was a very different place in terms of understanding different cultures in the late Sixties and early Seventies. You were picked on because of your name, colour and culture. Now I take great pride in it.

My father changed my name from my original birth name to Mohammed when I was very young. I used to be extremely poorly and the name Mohammed has a lot of blessings associated with it. Mohammed Iqbal is also one of the most famous philosophers and poets of Asia. The name drives the character and personality in our culture. It has been very much a feature of my personality, development, standing and being. I know hundreds of people called Mohammed.

In Western culture a lot of names get shortened. I've resisted that because I value mine so much. My name has shaped my life more than anything else, probably, because of its link and the blessings associated with it.

I'm very pleased I came to Britain. I think it's a fantastic place. The education has been the greatest thing. When I grew up there were still grants. My God, how I valued that and I still do. I came from what was virtually a mud hut in Kashmir.

Muhammad Salmin, 44, Support Worker, Bordesley Green, Birmingham

I was born in Uganda and came to the UK in 2000 to look for work. Before that I was in Holland studying medical biology, having left Uganda in 1996. Britain is a good country. I like the people, the social life and the freedom. The weather is moderate and the winters aren't like those in Canada or Russia.

Muhammad is a good and very important name. It belonged to the greatest person in the world, our Holy Prophet, peace be upon him. I couldn't count the number of people I know called Muhammad, but it's not confusing. Our characters are all different. I called my third child Muhammad.

The name is very important. It shapes your life. If you are named after the greatest prophet in the world, then you have to lead by example. He was sociable, friendly and very humanitarian. It's not easy to follow his example. If you are about to lie, for example, you can tell yourself you can't because Muhammad wouldn't have liked it. I don't feel unworthy of the name. I lead a good moral life.

If you see another person called Muhammad doing something bad you try to caution them and say that what they are doing is very shameful, and that it doesn't match their name.

As Muslims, we believe that Muhammad was most beloved of all Allah's creatures and his light was created before the whole world was created. I feel honoured that it's the second most popular name in Britain. Maybe in a few years it will be the most popular.

Mohammad Ashraf, 55, Surgeon, Kings Heath, Birmingham

I was born in Alipur in the Punjab district of Pakistan. I came to England in 1986 for the training. Once you begin it, and your children start growing up, it becomes more and more difficult to go back. I tried to go back home, but they didn't want to give me a job. When you are highly qualified they don't want you to sit on their private practices. They discourage you. There's a mafia in every profession and they will not allow you to enter if they can. It wasn't just a question of salary, you are better trained and that's a threat to them. I gave up.

I'm pleased I came to the UK. The good thing about having come here is that it's a free country and you can express yourself. I'm very, very proud of my name. The Prophet Muhammad was the first person ever to be given this name.

My family call me Ashraf, but here that's my surname. No one in Pakistan would call me Mohammad, but here everyone calls me that. I don't mind. I've got one son, and I called him Mohammed as well. I gave him the name for religious identity. I can't remember why I spelt it differently from mine. His friends call him Mo. Some people at work call me Mo, too.

Mohammad Tufael Chowdhury, 40, Works for IBM, London

I was born in Shoreditch, east London, within the sound of Bow Bells, and when I was a little kid my parents, whose families come from Bangladesh, opened an Indian restaurant in Lewisham, south London, in 1966. I live in Regent's Park now, just next to the mosque. It's great because I'm a massive cricket fan and I'm five minutes walk from Lord's. My joke is that I live next to my place of worship and there's a mosque nearby as well!

I'm trying to finish a book and do a TV programme. Most Muslim commentators in the UK aren't accepted as British in the public eye. People think, " What's their agenda?" I regard myself as a regular British citizen and people like myself have a responsibility to speak up.

My name has a lovely meaning: "someone who is praised". I hate being called Mo and I'm not a big fan of short forms, but I get called MC Hammer by colleagues.

I've always been happy with my name. There are lots of Muslims in this country who have an Arab name but only about 10 per cent of them are Arabs; most are Asians. So a lot of Asian parents don't know what the name means. I do: my middle name is Tufael, meaning "small boy" - I like it because I'm a bit of a kid, really.

It's incredible that Mohammad is the UK's second most popular name. I would have thought there'd be thousands of Mohammads because of Muslim tradition. This survey is an interesting way to see how the demographics of this country have evolved. If I have a son, Mohammad would definitely be part of his name.

Muhammad Arif, 52, Part-time Shopkeeper, Birmingham

I'm a retired naval officer and came from Chakwal in the Punjab district of Pakistan a year-and-a-half ago. I came to join my wife and children. I shifted my family here four years ago so my children could get a better education. I wanted them to do their GCSEs here. I planned to join them after my retirement and had a hard time living alone in Pakistan.

I have mixed feelings about living here. My friends are in Pakistan. But this is a fine country and my family is here. The people are nice. But there are many things that I don't like. The crime rate is alarming. Three times someone has come and damaged our car and gate. There is a drinking problem, too. People get drunk and it's scary. But otherwise people are very loving. I really appreciate being here.

I like my name very much. The Prophet was a dear, fine person. Most people call me Arif, but English people call me Muhammad. I am one of five brothers, and we are all called Muhammad. But we don't use it as a first name. I haven't called my children Muhammad, though. It's great news that it's the second most popular name for baby boys in Britain. I would be even more proud if it was the most popular.

Mohammed Bediako, 56, Security Officer, Walsall, West Midlands

I was born in Ghana and came to the UK five years ago from Holland. I wanted to bring my children to Holland, but they didn't speak Dutch and preferred England. The UK is important for education. With opportunities, children can make it. I'm very, very happy here. I hope to stay.

When you live here you have to do what the Government wants because you are a foreigner. You must try to be thankful.

My name is important to me. I am the only Muslim in the family; the others are Christians. When I learnt the Bible, I saw that Christians were not using it as they should; I converted to Islam at the age of 10.

I chose Mohammed as my name to use it as an example. Mohammed means trustworthy. If you choose that name you must be faithful, loyal and abide by everything. If your name is Mohammed and you are a terrorist, it means you are not in the fold of the Islamic religion.

Mohammed Ali, 28, Artist, Birmingham

I'm an artist, combining street graffiti with classical Islamic calligraphy. I was born and raised in Birmingham. Though my name is Mohammed, I was actually not known by it for many years. As is common in grammar schools like the one I attended, I was known for a long time to teachers and pupils simply by my surname, Ali. But, for reasons I didn't anticipate, the use of "Ali" stopped once my artwork gained recognition. That's when I found my first name being repeated in conversation. Everyone was saying, "Have you heard about Mohammed? Have you seen Mohammed's artwork? Have you seen Mohammed on TV?" It seems to have been a natural evolution, somehow, and it's had an effect on my faith, too. I've rediscovered myself as a Muslim and want to be known to all as Mohammed Ali.

Sharing my name with the Prophet Mohammed makes me feel strong and proud. This is who I am - Mohammed is who I am. The name has in no way hampered my life. Never, for the life of me, would I change it.

Mohamed Iqbal Dar, 62, Radio and TV Engineer, Birmingham

I was born in Tanzania. I named the country, actually. There was a competition to change the names of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. I was a student and I picked the letters from the two words.

I came to the UK in 1962 to study. It was easy to get used to Britain. There is a bit of racism, but I cope well. I love this country. I was educated here and I'm proud to be British. People are very civilised here.

My name is great. The Holy Book was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, so most people prefer to have his name. We follow his footsteps and most parents want to name their children after him.

I have two brothers and they are both named after the Prophet, too. It's not confusing: we call each other by the middle name. The name is easy to remember. It is spelt differently from the Prophet because that is the way it is on my birth certificate. But it's the same thing. I'm proud of it.

Mohamed Hachem, 43,Freelance Cameraman, London

When I was growing up I had a famous nickname. I used to play with a lot of electronic stuff and would build things like little robots. People said I had a brain for electronics so they called me Thomas, after Thomas Edison. My real name is Mohamed Hachem. I would grow old if I listed all the names on my birth certificate. In the old days, many Muslim parents named a new baby with the name of his father and grandfather and great-grandfather and so on. But I only use Mohamed.

I was born and grew up in Lebanon but I left in 1989 to escape the civil war. I moved to London and I am still here today, running my own business.

As a child I never thought about being called Mohamed. But growing up you start to understand more what it means. It means you have to be honest and good to other religions. I am proud to have this name and I think in this country a lot of parents choose it to keep their Muslim tradition going on. It's never been a problem for me. In fact it can be a good thing. Because I have a Muslim name, people often like to speak about religion with me, which is good because many people understand Islam in a wrong way. Not all Muslims are the same.

I have four daughters and no sons. If I had a son I wouldn't call him Mohammed, because I couldn't have two people with the same name in the family.

Mohammed Abdul, 66, Doctor, Working in Trauma and Orthopaedics, Margate, Kent

I think it was one of my family - an aunt or an uncle maybe - who wanted me to be named Mohammed. There was a tradition that because a boy is Muslim, s omewhere in their name there should be a Mohammed. (I was born in Bangladesh, and grew up in Dhaka before I came to the UK in 1969.)

My family thought that linking me to religion would benefit me spiritually. My father, Abdul Fateh, ensured that many of my five brothers were " Mohammed", too; it was a prefix.These days, I'm known to my friends and colleagues as Mo or Mobin. That's partly because I have distanced myself from the name. I'm just not keen on relating myself to religion since the Al-Qa'eda attacks.

The name Mohammed is falling into disuse in Bangladesh. None of my nephews has the name. It is no longer fashionable ; people are giving their children fancy names.

Mohammed Waji, 20, Student, London

I live in Harrow, north-west London, which is where I grew up. My parents were both born in East Africa and moved here in the Seventies. I'm a student at the School of Oriental and African Studies, studying politics and I've just finished my second year.

I think it's fantastic that Mohammed has become one of the UK's favourite names - it will definitely give me something to talk about.I like my name. Obviously, sometimes it gets a bit confusing because there are lots of Mohammeds around, but you do get used to it. I've grown up with it, and I have my nicknames. Mo is the usual one, but it's always been good to be called Mohammed.

Mohammed Ahmed, 37, Managing Director/Founder of Translate Uk, Halifax

I would describe myself as a moderate Muslim but my name, Mohammed, is very important to me. When you have it, you are carrying a big name - with the obvious religious link to the Prophet. My middle name is Ali, but I have also found the name Mohammed to be extremely lucky in everything I do in my career in Britain. (I was born in Halifax.) Everything has seemed to work out for me and my work at Translate UK has turned out well since I established it a few years ago. Knowing the meaning of the name is important, and it gives you confidence. It is an honour. My brother is known by the same name, so it was significant to our parents.

The name is a blessing on the whole family, as well as the individual. I would never change my name, and I can say that with confidence. The same might be true for my children: I have been married for four years and have a baby due next month.