Ross
Say it: ROSS/ɹɒs/
BoyMeans headland4 letters1 syllable
#329
in Ireland (2025)
#319 with spellings combined
12
babies in 2025
#39
best rank (1998)
4,697
babies since 1964
Down 199
10-year rank change
Ross through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | #319 |
| 2024 | 15 | #269 |
| 2023 | 13 | #308 |
| 2022 | 15 | #285 |
| 2021 | 19 | #242 |
| 2020 | 25 | #198 |
| 2019 | 19 | #241 |
| 2018 | 37 | #160 |
| 2017 | 34 | #175 |
| 2016 | 39 | #159 |
| 2015 | 57 | #120 |
| 2014 | 63 | #117 |
| 2013 | 69 | #102 |
| 2012 | 61 | #116 |
| 2011 | 68 | #109 |
| 2010 | 69 | #105 |
| 2009 | 97 | #84 |
| 2008 | 116 | #73 |
| 2007 | 76 | #93 |
| 2006 | 83 | #80 |
| 2005 | 115 | #66 |
| 2004 | 139 | #55 |
| 2003 | 94 | #68 |
| 2002 | 85 | #74 |
| 2001 | 106 | #63 |
| 2000 | 124 | #56 |
| 1999 | 155 | #43 |
| 1998 | 171 | #39 |
| 1997 | 211 | #40 |
| 1996 | 178 | #48 |
| 1995 | 116 | #66 |
| 1994 | 102 | #67 |
| 1993 | 151 | #51 |
| 1992 | 121 | #64 |
| 1991 | 95 | #68 |
| 1990 | 108 | #66 |
| 1989 | 109 | #65 |
| 1988 | 134 | #54 |
| 1987 | 121 | #62 |
| 1986 | 114 | #67 |
| 1985 | 98 | #74 |
| 1984 | 95 | #73 |
| 1983 | 136 | #63 |
| 1982 | 132 | #68 |
| 1981 | 137 | #67 |
| 1980 | 130 | #70 |
| 1979 | 94 | #82 |
| 1978 | 82 | #83 |
| 1977 | 75 | #88 |
| 1976 | 78 | #89 |
| 1975 | 15 | #177 |
| 1974 | 12 | #196 |
| 1973 | 9 | #215 |
| 1972 | 16 | #168 |
| 1971 | 17 | #159 |
| 1970 | 4 | #278 |
| 1969 | 7 | #216 |
| 1968 | 5 | #222 |
| 1966 | 6 | #199 |
| 1965 | 7 | #181 |
| 1964 | 6 | #191 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Ross mean?
Headland
Scottish, from a surname and place name, from Gaelic ros (headland, promontory).
Say it right
ROSS
The story of Ross
Ross comes from Scotland, where it is a surname and also the name of a Highland region. Both go back to the Gaelic ros, meaning a headland or promontory. The same word is found in many place names in Ireland, such as New Ross in County Wexford. English and Cornish families called Ross took their names from other places, so the surname has more than one root.
It has been used as a first name since the early nineteenth century, mostly for boys.
In Ireland Ross was one of the most popular boys’ names of the 1990s. Its biggest year was 1997, with 211 boys, and it reached number 39 in 1998. It has fallen back a long way since, with 12 boys in 2025. It was just as familiar in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 30 in 1997.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Ross (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Ross (name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Ross | 12 | 4,697 |
In Northern Ireland
#395 in 2025 with 3 babies. Best rank #30 (1997); 961 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.