According to many global demographic and naming surveys, which of the following is often cited as the most common male first name in the world?

Introduction / Context:
This general knowledge question tests awareness of global naming patterns. It asks which male first name is often cited as the most common in the world across different countries and cultures. Such questions appear in quizzes because they reveal how culture, religion and language influence the names that millions of people share.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The focus is on the most common male first name worldwide, not just in one country.
The options given are Peter, Mohammed, Robert and Ahmed.
We assume that the answer reflects widely repeated demographic observations found in many general knowledge sources.
Religious and cultural traditions can make certain names extremely widespread across countries.

Concept / Approach:
In many sources, variations of the name Mohammed are reported as being among the most common male first names globally. This is partly due to the large population of Muslim majority countries where naming children after the Prophet is a respected tradition. The name appears in different spellings, such as Muhammad or Mohamed, but they represent the same underlying name. While names like Peter, Robert and Ahmed are common within particular regions, they do not match the global spread of Mohammed and its variants.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall which names you have often heard described as the most common worldwide in general knowledge books and articles.Step 2: Recognise that Mohammed and its spelling variants are used extensively across North Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and other regions with large Muslim populations.Step 3: Evaluate option B, Mohammed, and see that it matches this global distribution pattern.Step 4: Evaluate option A, Peter, which is common in many Christian majority countries but is not as globally dominant as Mohammed.Step 5: Evaluate option C, Robert, which is popular in certain Western countries but less so in many other parts of the world.Step 6: Evaluate option D, Ahmed, another common Muslim name, but one that does not reach quite the same worldwide prevalence as Mohammed according to many general accounts.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think about how often you encounter the statement in quizzes, books or documentaries that Mohammed is one of the most common first names in the world. This is due to the combination of a large global Muslim population and cultural practices that favour naming sons after the Prophet. You are much less likely to see claims that Peter or Robert hold this title globally. Although precise statistics may vary and some sources debate exact rankings, Mohammed consistently appears at or near the top in general knowledge references.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, Peter, is wrong because, while it is common in many European and American contexts, it does not have the same reach across Africa and Asia as Mohammed.
Option C, Robert, is wrong because it is primarily concentrated in Western countries and is not as globally widespread as the leading Muslim names.
Option D, Ahmed, is wrong because although it is extremely popular in several countries, general knowledge sources more frequently highlight Mohammed as the single most common male name.

Common Pitfalls:
One pitfall is to answer based on personal surroundings. If you live in a region where Peter or Robert is popular, you might mistakenly choose those names. Another pitfall is ignoring spelling variations and thinking that Muhammad, Mohammed and Mohamed are separate names. In reality, these are transliterations of the same Arabic name, and their combined frequency is very high. Remembering the cultural and religious spread of names helps avoid this bias.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Mohammed. Variants of this name are widely used across many countries, making it one of the most common male first names in the world according to many general knowledge references.