Human Interest

By Pesach Benson • December 8, 2025

Jerusalem, 8 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — A long-term decline in the popularity of the name Mohammed among Muslim families continued in 2024, according to new data released Monday by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) on the most popular names given to children in 2024.

Among Jewish boys, David claimed the top spot with 1,842 babies receiving the name, representing 2.7 percent of Jewish boys born that year. Levi came in second with 1,518, while Ariel ranked third with 1,479. Nine of the ten most popular names from 2023 remained in the top ten for 2024.

Avigail emerged as the most popular name for Jewish girls born in 2024, given to 1,437 newborns. The name was followed by Ayala in second place with 1,182 babies, and Sarah in third with 1,151. All ten names from 2023’s top rankings remained in the top ten for 2024, though with slight shifts in their positions.

Mohammed was the most common name overall among all babies born in Israel in 2024, with 2,257 boys given the name. However, the statistics reveal a significant long-term trend: the name’s popularity among Muslim families has been steadily declining. In the early 2000s, one in seven Muslim boys was named Mohammed, but by 2024, only one in nine Muslim boys received the name. Among Muslim girls, Maryam was the most popular choice with 566 babies.

One name showed a dramatic decline: Be’eri dropped by 343 babies compared to 2023, the largest decrease of any name. The name saw a surge following Hamas’ attack on Kibbutz Be’eri.

The data show clear geographic patterns in naming preferences. Traditional Jewish names like Esther and Sarah were particularly common in cities with large Orthodox populations, including Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, and Beit Shemesh. Meanwhile, the name Maya was more prevalent in central Israeli cities. Similarly, traditional boys’ names such as Abraham, David, Joseph, and Moses dominated in predominantly Orthodox areas, while Adam was notably popular in Tel Aviv-Jaffa.

The statistics also revealed stark differences across socioeconomic clusters. No single name appeared in the top ten across all socioeconomic groups for either Jewish girls or boys, highlighting how naming choices reflect broader demographic patterns within Israeli society.

Gender-neutral names continue to be a phenomenon, particularly among Jewish families. Ariel and Uri, both appearing in the top ten for Jewish boys, also ranked in the top ten gender-neutral names. The practice of giving gender-neutral names is far less common among Muslim families, according to the data.

The report, based on Israel’s population registry updated through April 2025, covers approximately 97.8 percent of births, with some names not yet registered at the time of data collection. The bureau noted that final figures may change slightly as remaining names are registered and some families make formal name changes.

Among the 3,024 multiple births where all babies received names, popular twin combinations included Mohammed and Ahmed, as well as Rafael and Michael. The pairing of Levi and Ari also proved popular among Jewish families.