The Top Contender: Muhammad Takes the City

While Noah remains the #1 name across the province of Ontario (a title it has held for six consecutive years), the city of Toronto has officially named Muhammad as its most popular name for baby boys in the most recent 2024–2025 data release.

This shift marks a significant milestone.

While Muhammad has appeared in the top 10 for several years, its rise to the #1 spot reflects Toronto’s status as a global multicultural hub.

It highlights a move toward names that carry deep cultural and religious heritage, standing alongside—and now surpassing—Western classics in the urban center.

Top 10 Baby Boy Names in Toronto (2025 Data)

Muhammad (Style: Cultural Heritage)

Noah (Style: Biblical Classic)

Liam (Style: Modern Traditional)

Adam (Style: Short & Timeless)

Ethan (Style: Early 2000s Mainstay)

Lucas (Style: Latinate Popularity)

Theodore (Style: "Grandpa" Chic)

Alexander (Style: Noble Classic)

Ibrahim (Style: Traditional / Religious)

Levi (Style: Biblical / Rugged)

Neighbourhood Trends: A Tale of Four Cities

Naming popularity is rarely uniform across the Greater Toronto Area.

Depending on which neighborhood you visit, the "top" name often changes to reflect the local community.

Scarborough: The Global Hub

In Scarborough, Muhammad and Ibrahim are the clear leaders.

Parents here favor names with religious roots and strong cultural identities.

For girls, names like Fatima and Maryam rank significantly higher here than in the rest of the city.

North York: The Cosmopolitan Mix

North York serves as a bridge between tradition and international modernism.

Noah and Liam often battle for the top spot here, with a strong preference for "Biblical Modern" names—short, sturdy choices like Adam, David, and Daniel.

Old Toronto & Downtown: "Grandpa Chic"

In the downtown core, from Leslieville to the Annex, there is a distinct trend toward vintage, "intellectual" names.

You are much more likely to find an Arthur, Henry, or Felix here.

Theodore (often shortened to Theo) and Oliver are the dominant choices for downtown parents.

Etobicoke: The Modern Traditionalists

Etobicoke parents tend to favor established names with a "clean" feel.

Liam and Lucas are the frequent winners in this region, alongside names like Jack and Ethan.

Key Takeaways for 2025

• Cultural Identity: Toronto's list is distinct from the broader Ontario list primarily due to the dominance of names like Muhammad and Ibrahim in the city's diverse boroughs.
• The "Soft" Trend: Across all neighbourhoods, there is a move toward vowel-heavy, "gentler" masculinity, seen in the popularity of Noah, Theodore, and Liam.
• Ease of Use: Parents are prioritizing names that are globally recognizable and easy to spell, ensuring they "travel well" in an international city.

Sources used in this report:

• ServiceOntario (2025 Release: Ontario’s Most Popular Baby Names)
• Statistics Canada (2024–2025 Baby Names Observatory)
• TorontoToday and Global News (Regional Demographic Analysis)