Declining since 1985, #1,459 for boys today.
Popularity of Ross since 1880
Babies named Ross per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1985, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ross's real moment was 1889.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 951 |
| 1890s | 851 |
| 1900s | 803 |
| 1910s | 3,692 |
| 1920s | 5,240 |
| 1930s | 4,558 |
| 1940s | 6,153 |
| 1950s | 9,513 |
| 1960s | 9,781 |
| 1970s | 7,936 |
| 1980s | 15,710 |
| 1990s | 10,462 |
| 2000s | 3,562 |
| 2010s | 1,848 |
| 2020s | 812 |
Meaning & origin
Ross is a Scottish surname-turned-first-name derived from the Gaelic 'ros' meaning 'headland'. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1880 and reached its highest popularity in 1889. Since 1985, its usage has been steadily declining; in 2025 it ranks 1,459, with roughly 1 in 14,001 boys receiving the name. The name has been most common in Utah, Louisiana, and Michigan. Despite its downturn, Ross remains a straightforward, strong choice with a clear geographic origin and a long history of use.
Ross is a Scottish surname turned given name, derived from the Gaelic word 'ros' meaning 'headland' or 'promontory'. It originally referred to someone from the region of Ross in northern Scotland. As a first name, it gained popularity in the late 19th century and has remained in consistent use.
Where Ross is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Ross” around the world
Where Ross lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Ireland
12
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rossy, Rossie
Sibling names for Ross
Names that share Ross's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Claire, Grace, Paige, Megan, Lindsay, Leslie, Dawna, Bari, Ainslie, Lynett, Tonna, Lexine, Shar, Grisell, Jinna, Lessa
Brothers: Scott, Grant, Blake, Drew, Reid, Craig, Kent, Brenton, Gale, Scot, Thad, Tod, Ward, Cord, Laird, Ronal, Shad, Torrence, Ewing, Irvine, Lain, Lamond, Lysle, Carr, Craige, Deke, Gill, Gordy, Keath, Neilson, Dub, Frazer, Guinn, Hendry, Huie, Maclean, Pratt, Rahm, Raun
Names like Ross
Names whose popularity has moved with Ross's over the last 50 years.
