Rossa
Say it: ROSS-a
BoyIrish5 letters2 syllables
#188
in Ireland (2025)
25
babies in 2025
#188
best rank (2025)
330
babies since 1968
Up 167
10-year rank change
Rossa through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | #188 |
| 2024 | 12 | #317 |
| 2023 | 18 | #237 |
| 2022 | 8 | #413 |
| 2021 | 15 | #285 |
| 2020 | 12 | #332 |
| 2019 | 3 | #724 |
| 2018 | 8 | #411 |
| 2017 | 6 | #495 |
| 2016 | 10 | #372 |
| 2015 | 11 | #355 |
| 2014 | 9 | #403 |
| 2013 | 5 | #535 |
| 2012 | 7 | #457 |
| 2011 | 11 | #366 |
| 2010 | 10 | #373 |
| 2009 | 11 | #337 |
| 2008 | 9 | #386 |
| 2007 | 10 | #326 |
| 2006 | 5 | #423 |
| 2005 | 4 | #448 |
| 2004 | 7 | #322 |
| 2003 | 5 | #375 |
| 2002 | 9 | #249 |
| 2001 | 5 | #317 |
| 2000 | 5 | #312 |
| 1999 | 3 | #379 |
| 1998 | 3 | #369 |
| 1997 | 5 | #303 |
| 1996 | 3 | #369 |
| 1994 | 5 | #263 |
| 1989 | 3 | #307 |
| 1987 | 3 | #303 |
| 1986 | 5 | #256 |
| 1985 | 4 | #269 |
| 1984 | 5 | #250 |
| 1983 | 5 | #258 |
| 1981 | 5 | #260 |
| 1980 | 5 | #264 |
| 1979 | 4 | #292 |
| 1978 | 5 | #255 |
| 1977 | 5 | #273 |
| 1976 | 3 | #316 |
| 1975 | 6 | #251 |
| 1972 | 3 | #307 |
| 1971 | 3 | #304 |
| 1970 | 3 | #305 |
| 1968 | 4 | #243 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Rossa mean?
Uncertain
Irish, an old name of uncertain origin.
Say it right
ROSSa
The story of Rossa
Rossa is an Irish boys’ name with a long history, but its origin is not clear. It is sometimes linked with Irish words such as ros, but no source we trust settles the question, so we leave its meaning open. In Italian, Rossa is a separate girls’ name meaning red.
Many people in Ireland know it first as a surname. Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa was a Fenian leader, and his funeral in Dublin in 1915, with Patrick Pearse’s famous speech at the graveside, is a well-known moment in Irish history.
As a first name Rossa has been given in small numbers throughout the CSO records, and it is growing. It had its best year yet in 2025, with 25 boys and a rank of number 188. It does even better in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 76 in 2024. The CSO counts it separately from Ross, which is a different name.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rossa | 25 | 330 |
In Northern Ireland
#126 in 2025 with 18 babies. Best rank #76 (2024); 262 babies since 2003.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.