Muhammad was the most popular name given to newborn boys in London in 2015, marking the fourth year in a row that the name has topped the chart in the city. It also reclaimed the top spot in the West Midlands, second place in Yorkshire and the Humber, and joint third in the North West. The name did not feature in the top ten at all in the North East, the East Midlands, the East of England, the South East, the South West or Wales, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS). But when combined with alternative spellings such as ‘Mohammed’ it topped the charts in Yorkshire and the Humber – and the country as a whole. Officially the most popular name given to newborn boys in England and Wales last year was Oliver (bestowed upon 6,941 boys), followed by Jack and then Harry. Muhammad was ranked 12th, with 3,730 boys given the name. But when combined with alternate spellings ‘Mohammad’ (ranked 29), ‘Mohammed’ (ranked 68), and ‘Muhammed’ (ranked 121) the name rises to the top of the charts, given to 7,570 boys. Controversy has raged during the last few years over whether the names should be combined in