Are there 99 names for Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and what is the evidence for that from the Qur’an and Sunnah?

Firstly: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, has explicit and established names in the Quran and Sunnah, including: Muhammad, Ahmad, Al-Mahi (the Effacer), Al-Hashir (the Gatherer), Al-Aqib (the Successor), Al-Muqaffi (the Follower), Prophet of Repentance, and Prophet of Mercy.

Secondly: Scholars differed on the number of names of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Some counted every description mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah as a name, while others considered them descriptions and not proper names.

Thirdly: The correct view is that the names of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, are fewer than what is mentioned in some books that exaggerate in counting them. It is necessary to restrict oneself to what is authentically established in the Book and the sound Sunnah, and not to attribute names and descriptions that were not reported from him, peace and blessings be upon him, in order to protect him from excess and exaggeration.