Mohammad peaked in 2022 and holds at current rank #599, with 16,648 total SSA bearers. This is the South Asian transliteration of the Prophet's name — most common among Pakistani, Iranian, and Indian Muslim communities — sitting alongside Mohammed (North African spelling) and Muhammad (Arab-American spelling) in SSA data. The differences are orthographic; the name and its significance are the same.
The Persian and South Asian Path
Mohammad is the standard Persian and Urdu transliteration of the Arabic name Muhammad, meaning "the praised one." In Pakistan, Bangladesh, and among South Asian Muslim communities globally, Mohammad is the most common spelling — it appears on millions of birth certificates, passports, and official documents across South Asia. The O vowel in Mohammad (vs. the U in Muhammad) reflects Persian vowel shift patterns that became standard in South Asian Islam. Both spellings carry identical religious significance.
Mohammad Mosaddegh and the Name in History
Mohammad Mosaddegh — the Iranian Prime Minister who nationalized Iran's oil industry in 1951 and was overthrown in a CIA-backed coup in 1953 : is one of the most historically significant bearers of this specific spelling. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the Shah of Iran. In Pakistani politics and culture, the name has been carried by prime ministers and poets. The historical depth is immense; the spelling is a geographic signifier rather than a different name.
The Same Name, Three Spellings
Parents choosing between Mohammad, Mohammed, and Muhammad are choosing which community's transliteration system to honor : Persian/South Asian, North African/French, or Arab-American. For families with Pakistani or Iranian heritage, Mohammad is the natural and authentic choice. For families without a strong community affiliation who simply want to honor the Prophet, any spelling is theologically equivalent. Compare Mohammad and Mohammed to see both spellings in SSA context. Together with Muhammad, the combined usage makes this one of the most-given names in America.