Mohamed tops Ceuta surname rankings in Spanish enclave

The Spanish enclave of Ceuta has witnessed a striking demographic milestone, with Mohamed emerging as the most prevalent surname among its residents, according to 2024 data from Spain's National Statistics Institute.

Overwhelming presence of Arabic surnames

The statistical analysis reveals that 7,750 residents carry Mohamed as their first surname, while an additional 7,479 bear it as their second surname. Remarkably, 1,731 individuals possess the double surname combination Mohamed Mohamed, underscoring the name's profound cultural significance within the territory.

Ahmed secures the second position with 3,097 residents using it as their first surname and 2,880 as their second. The Spanish surname García, traditionally dominant across mainland Spain, occupies third place with 2,217 and 2,059 occurrences as first and second surnames respectively.

Demographic contrast with mainland Spain

The surname distribution in Ceuta diverges dramatically from patterns observed across mainland Spain, where García, Rodríguez, and González maintain their historical dominance. The National Statistics Institute reports that 26.3% of mainland Spaniards possess one of the twenty most frequent surnames as their primary family name.

The remaining top surnames in Ceuta follow a mixed pattern, including Abdeselam, Sánchez, González, Rodríguez, López, Pérez, and Fernández. The complete top fifteen incorporates Martín, Ruiz, Jiménez, Gómez, and Abdelkader, reflecting the territory's bicultural composition.

Global Muhammad naming trends

This demographic shift in Ceuta aligns with broader international patterns. Muhammad claimed the top position as the most popular first name for newborn boys in England and Wales during 2023, marking a historic first according to the Office for National Statistics.

The Arabic name displaced Noah, with 4,661 babies named Muhammad born across England and Wales in 2023, representing an increase from 4,177 in 2022. Alternative spellings Mohammed and Mohammad also featured prominently in national rankings, placing 28th and 68th respectively.

Projected demographic transformation

These naming trends reflect wider demographic transformations across Europe. The Pew Research Center projects that by 2050, Muslims will constitute 20% of Germany's population, 18% in France, and 17% in Britain.

France currently maintains the highest proportion of Muslims among major European nations, with studies indicating that 10% of French citizens identify as Muslim, though some estimates suggest figures reaching 15%.

Ceuta's unique position

The seven-square-mile territory on Morocco's northern coast remains under Spanish administration despite its geographic and cultural proximity to Morocco. The surname statistics illuminate the enclave's predominantly Muslim population and its deep-rooted connections to Moroccan identity, highlighting the complex demographic realities that define this strategic Mediterranean location.